Occupational Therapy Assistants pay range in San Diego
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $71,000 a year or less, while the top 10% make $103,410 or more. The middle half of occupational therapy assistants in San Diego earn between $76,960 and $93,810.
- $71K10th
- $77K25th
- $83KMedian
- $94K75th
- $103K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $85,120 | $7,093 | $40.92 |
| Median | $82,680 | $6,890 | $39.75 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $76,960 | $6,413 | $37.00 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $93,810 | $7,818 | $45.10 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Occupational Therapy Assistants pay in San Diego vs. California and the U.S.
Occupational therapy assistants in San Diego earn about the same as the California average ($84,690) and 20% more than the U.S. average ($70,710). At the median the gap is +14% against the U.S. median of $72,300.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego | $85,120 | $82,680 | $71,000 | $103,410 | 360 |
| California | $84,690 | $81,770 | $65,680 | $104,990 | 3,840 |
| United States | $70,710 | $72,300 | $51,490 | $89,780 | 51,290 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Occupational Therapy Assistants salary after taxes in San Diego
On the average salary of $85,120, a single filer in San Diego takes home about $64,888 a year, or $5,407 a month and $2,496 every two weeks. Taxes take 24% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is San Diego a good place for occupational therapy assistants? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Diego area are 12% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 111.9), so the average $85,120 buys what about $76,077 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.4 times the median wage of all jobs in San Diego ($58,690). A typical home costs $946,365, or 11.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Occupational Therapy Assistants salary in other California cities
San Diego ranks 9th of 13 California metro areas for this job; San Francisco pays the most ($99,250).
- San Francisco$99,250
- San Jose$94,960
- Sacramento$92,750
- Modesto$92,640
- Bakersfield$91,880
- Stockton$88,330
- Santa Maria$87,450
- Oxnard$85,320
- San Diego$85,120
- Los Angeles$81,740
Highest-paying cities for occupational therapy assistants
San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($99,250).
- San Francisco, CA$99,250
- San Jose, CA$94,960
- Sacramento, CA$92,750
- Modesto, CA$92,640
- Bakersfield, CA$91,880
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Occupational Therapy Assistants salary in San Diego: questions
How much do occupational therapy assistants make an hour in San Diego?
$40.92 an hour on average, and $39.75 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level occupational therapy assistants salary in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $71,000 a year and the 25th percentile is $76,960, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the occupational therapy assistants take-home pay in San Diego?
About $64,888 a year ($5,407 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $85,120. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do occupational therapy assistants earn more in San Diego than elsewhere?
The average here is 20% more than the U.S. average for this job ($70,710).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 31-2011; area San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA (41740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.8%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.72, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.72).
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