Occupational Therapy Assistants pay range in Columbia
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,020 a year or less, while the top 10% make $85,940 or more. The middle half of occupational therapy assistants in Columbia earn between $52,860 and $79,040.
- $31K10th
- $53K25th
- $74KMedian
- $79K75th
- $86K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $65,660 | $5,472 | $31.57 |
| Median | $74,330 | $6,194 | $35.74 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $52,860 | $4,405 | $25.41 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $79,040 | $6,587 | $38.00 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Occupational Therapy Assistants pay in Columbia vs. South Carolina and the U.S.
Occupational therapy assistants in Columbia earn 7% less than the South Carolina average ($70,480) and 7% less than the U.S. average ($70,710). At the median the gap is +3% against the U.S. median of $72,300.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | $65,660 | $74,330 | $31,020 | $85,940 | 120 |
| South Carolina | $70,480 | $73,740 | $52,050 | $87,860 | 830 |
| 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 Columbia
On the average salary of $65,660, a single filer in Columbia takes home about $52,900 a year, or $4,408 a month and $2,035 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Columbia a good place for occupational therapy assistants? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Columbia area are 6% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.7), so the average $65,660 buys what about $70,103 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Columbia ($46,430). A typical home costs $256,154, or 3.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Occupational Therapy Assistants salary in other South Carolina cities
Columbia ranks 6th of 6 South Carolina metro areas for this job; Spartanburg pays the most ($78,120).
- Spartanburg$78,120
- Charleston$73,710
- Florence$69,170
- Greenville$68,950
- Myrtle Beach$68,150
- Columbia$65,660
All Occupational Therapy Assistants salaries in South 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
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Occupational Therapy Assistants salary in Columbia: questions
How much do occupational therapy assistants make an hour in Columbia?
$31.57 an hour on average, and $35.74 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level occupational therapy assistants salary in Columbia?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,020 a year and the 25th percentile is $52,860, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the occupational therapy assistants take-home pay in Columbia?
About $52,900 a year ($4,408 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $65,660.
Do occupational therapy assistants earn more in Columbia than elsewhere?
The average here is 7% 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 Columbia, SC (17900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.8%.
- 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 (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.93, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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