Occupational Therapy Assistants pay range in New Orleans
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $59,220 a year or less, while the top 10% make $90,190 or more. The middle half of occupational therapy assistants in New Orleans earn between $61,630 and $79,280.
- $59K10th
- $62K25th
- $66KMedian
- $79K75th
- $90K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $70,460 | $5,872 | $33.88 |
| Median | $65,850 | $5,488 | $31.66 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $61,630 | $5,136 | $29.63 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $79,280 | $6,607 | $38.12 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Occupational Therapy Assistants pay in New Orleans vs. Louisiana and the U.S.
Occupational therapy assistants in New Orleans earn 7% more than the Louisiana average ($65,660) and about the same as the U.S. average ($70,710). At the median the gap is -9% against the U.S. median of $72,300.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans | $70,460 | $65,850 | $59,220 | $90,190 | 130 |
| Louisiana | $65,660 | $66,090 | $31,530 | $83,200 | 760 |
| 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 New Orleans
On the average salary of $70,460, a single filer in New Orleans takes home about $56,671 a year, or $4,723 a month and $2,180 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is New Orleans a good place for occupational therapy assistants? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the New Orleans area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.6), so the average $70,460 buys what about $76,093 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.4 times the median wage of all jobs in New Orleans ($47,290). A typical home costs $261,414, or 3.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Occupational Therapy Assistants salary in other Louisiana cities
New Orleans ranks 3rd of 7 Louisiana metro areas for this job; Lake Charles pays the most ($73,930).
- Lake Charles$73,930
- Houma$71,900
- New Orleans$70,460
- Lafayette$66,910
- Shreveport$66,160
- Monroe$63,700
- Baton Rouge$53,910
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 New Orleans: questions
How much do occupational therapy assistants make an hour in New Orleans?
$33.88 an hour on average, and $31.66 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level occupational therapy assistants salary in New Orleans?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $59,220 a year and the 25th percentile is $61,630, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the occupational therapy assistants take-home pay in New Orleans?
About $56,671 a year ($4,723 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $70,460.
Do occupational therapy assistants earn more in New Orleans than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as 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 New Orleans-Metairie, LA (35380). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.3%.
- 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 (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.87, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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