Occupational Therapy Assistant Salary in Cincinnati, OH: $69,356 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time occupational therapy assistant in Cincinnati, OH earns a median $69,356/year (≈ $33.34/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 31-2011). Once you factor in Cincinnati's price level (5% below national, BEA RPP 95.4), that paycheck buys what $72,723 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 6.3% above the Ohio state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In Cincinnati, the projected median annual occupational therapy assistant salary in 2026 is $69,356, reflecting a slight decrease compared to the national average of $74,332. Pay for this role varies significantly within the city, with salaries ranging from $60,319 at the lower end to $83,070 at the higher end. This data, gathered from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, illustrates the financial landscape for occupational therapy assistants in the area. The structure of compensation in Cincinnati typically aligns with visit-per-day productivity expectations, which can influence effective compensation in settings like outpatient clinics and skilled nursing facilities.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $60,319 | $29.00 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $62,807 | $30.20 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $69,356 | $33.34 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $77,313 | $37.17 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $83,070 | $39.94 |
Median Salary Position
6.69% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Cincinnati
In Cincinnati, OH, the occupational therapy assistant salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $22,751 (2026 est.). At $69,356, the local median is 6.69% below the national median of $74,332.
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At 40 hours/week in Cincinnati: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Cincinnati Occupational Therapy Assistant Pay Compares
Cincinnati median: $69,356/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Cincinnati Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Ohio Average | $65,245 | +6.30% more |
| National Average | $74,332 | -6.69% less |
Occupational Therapy Assistants in Cincinnati, OH earn a median of $69,356 per year (2026 est.), which is 6.69% lower than the national median of $74,332 and 6.30% above the Ohio state average of $65,245.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Cincinnati has a cost of living 4.63% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Cincinnati, OH has a cost-of-living index of 95.37 (below the national average of 100). A occupational therapy assistant earning $69,356 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $72,723 in an average-cost city — an effective 4.85% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$61,720
2025 BLS Actual
$67,460
2026 Current Est.
$69,356
2019–2027 Growth
+15.5%
Salary Trajectory for Occupational Therapy Assistants in Cincinnati (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.81% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $61,720 | Actual |
| 2020 | $62,460 | Actual |
| 2021 | $62,680 | Actual |
| 2022 | $62,380 | Actual |
| 2023 | $64,520 | Actual |
| 2024 | $64,060 | Actual |
| 2025 | $67,460 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $69,356 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $71,305 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Cincinnati metropolitan area, the median occupational therapy assistant salary grew 9.3% from $61,720 (2019) to $67,460 (2025). At a 2.81% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $71,305 by 2027 — a total increase of $9,585 (15.53%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Cincinnati metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 2.81% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $60,319 – $62,807 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $62,807 – $69,356 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $69,356 – $77,313 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $77,313 – $83,070 |
OTA salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual occupational therapy assistant compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Occupational Therapy Assistant Job Market in Cincinnati
Approximately 480 occupational therapy assistants are currently employed in Cincinnati, a robust figure that showcases demand within this healthcare segment. The cost of living index for this area is notably lower than the national average, at 95.37, suggesting that the take-home pay for COTAs may stretch further in local purchasing power. Among various employers, skilled nursing facilities and hospital inpatient rehabilitation programs tend to offer the most competitive pay. However, fluctuations in compensation can arise from factors such as the setting of employment, productivity expectations, and the impact of the 15% Medicare reimbursement cut that took effect in 2022. To maximize pay in Cincinnati, professionals might consider pursuing opportunities in high-demand environments and exploring advanced education, such as COTA-to-MOT bridge pathways, which could lead to higher compensation in the long term.
More salary data for Cincinnati, OH:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Written by Jordan Lee, MS, OTR/L
Career Analyst
Jordan Lee has 10 years of experience as an occupational therapist. Their specialty is working with children with developmental disorders. They have worked in various healthcare settings including schools and rehabilitation facilities.
Methodology & Data Source
Salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $67,460 for occupational therapy assistantsin the Cincinnati metropolitan area. A 2.81% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.81%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for occupational therapy assistants (SOC 31-2011).
Compiled and verified by Jordan Lee, MS, OTR/L, a licensed occupational therapy assistant with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov