Occupational Therapy Assistant Salary in Pleasant Prairie, WI: $56,510 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time occupational therapy assistant in Pleasant Prairie, WI earns a median $56,510/year (≈ $27.17/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 31-2011). Once you factor in Pleasant Prairie's price level (7% below national, BEA RPP 93.4), that paycheck buys what $60,503 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 5.0% below the Wisconsin state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In 2026, occupational therapy assistants in Pleasant Prairie, WI can expect to earn a median annual salary of $56,510. The salary range for this role spans from $41,578 at the tenth percentile to $68,329 at the ninetieth percentile. These figures, sourced from estimates based on 2025 BLS data and adjusted for regional price variations, reflect how the local job market positions itself against the national average of $74,332. With productivity expectations playing a key role in compensation, the performance of COTAs in patient visits and program efficiency significantly influences their earnings in this growing field.
About the Pleasant Prairie Market
Salary estimated from Wisconsin average ($64,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $41,578 | $19.99 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $48,458 | $23.30 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $56,510 | $27.17 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $59,732 | $28.71 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $68,329 | $32.85 |
Median Salary Position
23.98% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Pleasant Prairie
In Pleasant Prairie, WI, the occupational therapy assistant salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $26,751 (2026 est.). At $56,510, the local median is 23.98% below the national median of $74,332.
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At 40 hours/week in Pleasant Prairie: You'd be above the median
How Pleasant Prairie Occupational Therapy Assistant Pay Compares
Pleasant Prairie median: $56,510/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Pleasant Prairie Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin Average | $59,484 | -5.00% less |
| National Average | $74,332 | -23.98% less |
Occupational Therapy Assistants in Pleasant Prairie, WI earn a median of $56,510 per year (2026 est.), which is 23.98% lower than the national median of $74,332 and 5.00% below the Wisconsin state average of $59,484.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Pleasant Prairie has a cost of living 6.60% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Pleasant Prairie, WI has a cost-of-living index of 93.4 (below the national average of 100). A occupational therapy assistant earning $56,510 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $60,503 in an average-cost city — an effective 7.07% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$46,762
2025 BLS Actual
$54,965
2026 Current Est.
$56,510
2019–2027 Growth
+24.2%
Salary Trajectory for Occupational Therapy Assistants in Pleasant Prairie (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.81% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $46,762 | Actual |
| 2020 | $47,849 | Actual |
| 2021 | $46,929 | Actual |
| 2022 | $48,845 | Actual |
| 2023 | $50,943 | Actual |
| 2024 | $56,781 | Actual |
| 2025 | $54,965 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $56,510 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $58,097 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Pleasant Prairie metropolitan area, the median occupational therapy assistant salary grew 17.5% from $46,762 (2019) to $54,965 (2025). At a 2.81% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $58,097 by 2027 — a total increase of $11,335 (24.24%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Pleasant Prairie 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) | $41,578 – $48,458 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $48,458 – $56,510 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $56,510 – $59,732 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $59,732 – $68,329 |
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 Pleasant Prairie
As Pleasant Prairie employs just four occupational therapy assistants, the job market is relatively limited, which can impact both salary and opportunities. The cost of living in the area is indexed at 93.4, which may enhance local purchasing power despite the lower salary scale compared to the national average. Many employers, including skilled nursing facilities and outpatient clinics, tend to offer competitive pay, particularly for COTAs who can align their productivity with the demands of outpatient services or rehabilitative care, where compensation may be higher than in school district settings. Additionally, the variances in pay can be attributed to factors such as weekend premiums, year-round versus school-year contracts, and the effects of the 15% Medicare reimbursement cut. For those looking to maximize their occupational therapy assistant pay in Pleasant Prairie, seeking positions at outpatient clinics and enhancing one's qualifications through the COTA-to-MOT bridge pathway can offer substantial advantages in an evolving job market.
More salary data for Pleasant Prairie, WI:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do occupational therapy assistants make in Pleasant Prairie, WI in 2026?
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Can occupational therapy assistants make $100K in Pleasant Prairie?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted occupational therapy assistant salary in Pleasant Prairie?
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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 $54,965 for occupational therapy assistantsin the Pleasant Prairie 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
Salary data for Pleasant Prairie is estimated from official BLS state-level occupational wage data (2025), adjusted for regional cost-of-living differences using BEA RPP (Regional Price Parities).
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