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    Salary guides / COTA

    COTA salary guide

    What we see Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant roles advertised at across the US, and what actually moves the number.

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    Advertised range
    $28/hr – $42/hr
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    Basis
    Roles we recruit, US
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    How much does a COTA earn in the US?

    Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant roles we recruit are advertised at roughly $28/hr – $42/hr: $28/hr at entry, $34/hr mid-career and $42/hr at senior or supervisory level. Setting, caseload size and payer mix move the figure more than years of experience do, and the same credential prices differently in center-based, school, in-home and telehealth work.

    By experience

    Advertised COTA pay by experience level in the United States
    ExperienceAdvertised payWhat that looks like
    Entry$28/hrFirst role after certification
    Mid-career$34/hrTwo to five years, full caseload
    Senior$42/hrSupervisory scope or specialist skill

    Ranges reflect what we typically see advertised on roles we recruit for in the US. They are a market guide, not a survey, and vary by setting, caseload and experience. Last reviewed August 2026.

    What moves the number

    • Setting: center-based, in-home, school and telehealth all price differently for the same credential
    • Caseload size and supervision responsibility
    • State and metro cost of living, and how scarce the credential is locally
    • Payer mix and billable expectation, which decide how achievable any bonus really is
    • Bilingual capability and specialist skills such as feeding, AAC or severe behavior

    Read the whole package

    Base pay is only part of it. Before comparing two offers, get the caseload cap, the billable or productivity target, PTO, CEU allowance, supervision provided, drive time and mileage policy, and how cancellations affect pay. A lower base with a sane caseload routinely beats a higher one without.

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    COTA pay by state

      COTA jobs by state

      • Behavioral health only
      • Recruiting across all 50 states
      • Pay published on every role
      • Recruitment partnerships, not job spam