Occupational Therapy Assistants pay range in Durham
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $47,850 a year or less, while the top 10% make $84,420 or more. The middle half of occupational therapy assistants in Durham earn between $54,960 and $77,440.
- $48K10th
- $55K25th
- $66KMedian
- $77K75th
- $84K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $68,460 | $5,705 | $32.91 |
| Median | $66,230 | $5,519 | $31.84 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $54,960 | $4,580 | $26.42 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $77,440 | $6,453 | $37.23 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Occupational Therapy Assistants pay in Durham vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Occupational therapy assistants in Durham earn about the same as the North Carolina average ($69,270) and 3% less than the U.S. average ($70,710). At the median the gap is -8% against the U.S. median of $72,300.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Durham | $68,460 | $66,230 | $47,850 | $84,420 | 60 |
| North Carolina | $69,270 | $69,390 | $55,130 | $83,360 | 1,590 |
| 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 Durham
On the average salary of $68,460, a single filer in Durham takes home about $54,769 a year, or $4,564 a month and $2,106 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 Durham a good place for occupational therapy assistants? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Durham area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.6), so the average $68,460 buys what about $70,164 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Durham ($60,720). A typical home costs $414,340, or 6.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Occupational Therapy Assistants salary in other North Carolina cities
Durham ranks 6th of 10 North Carolina metro areas for this job; Raleigh pays the most ($74,360).
- Raleigh$74,360
- Greensboro$71,890
- Winston-Salem$71,180
- Charlotte$70,690
- Asheville$68,960
- Durham$68,460
- Greenville$68,380
- Wilmington$68,020
- Fayetteville$66,500
- Hickory$65,430
All Occupational Therapy Assistants salaries in North Carolina
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
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Occupational Therapy Assistants salary in Durham: questions
How much do occupational therapy assistants make an hour in Durham?
$32.91 an hour on average, and $31.84 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level occupational therapy assistants salary in Durham?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $47,850 a year and the 25th percentile is $54,960, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the occupational therapy assistants take-home pay in Durham?
About $54,769 a year ($4,564 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $68,460.
Do occupational therapy assistants earn more in Durham than elsewhere?
The average here is 3% less 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 Durham-Chapel Hill, NC (20500). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.4%.
- 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 0.55, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.55).
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.