Occupational Therapy Assistants pay range in Knoxville
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $23,910 a year or less, while the top 10% make $74,830 or more. The middle half of occupational therapy assistants in Knoxville earn between $23,910 and $63,010.
- $24K10th
- $24K25th
- $60KMedian
- $63K75th
- $75K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $49,960 | $4,163 | $24.02 |
| Median | $59,930 | $4,994 | $28.81 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $23,910 | $1,992 | $11.50 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $63,010 | $5,251 | $30.29 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Occupational Therapy Assistants pay in Knoxville vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Occupational therapy assistants in Knoxville earn 17% less than the Tennessee average ($60,550) and 29% less than the U.S. average ($70,710). At the median the gap is -17% against the U.S. median of $72,300.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knoxville | $49,960 | $59,930 | $23,910 | $74,830 | 210 |
| Tennessee | $60,550 | $62,420 | $23,910 | $78,950 | 1,300 |
| 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 Knoxville
On the average salary of $49,960, a single filer in Knoxville takes home about $42,323 a year, or $3,527 a month and $1,628 every two weeks. Taxes take 15% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Knoxville a good place for occupational therapy assistants? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Knoxville area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.6), so the average $49,960 buys what about $53,971 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Knoxville ($47,080). A typical home costs $367,158, or 7.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Occupational Therapy Assistants salary in other Tennessee cities
Knoxville ranks 7th of 7 Tennessee metro areas for this job; Memphis pays the most ($67,710).
- Memphis$67,710
- Kingsport$66,950
- Johnson City$66,750
- Nashville$64,830
- Clarksville$61,830
- Chattanooga$52,830
- Knoxville$49,960
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 Knoxville: questions
How much do occupational therapy assistants make an hour in Knoxville?
$24.02 an hour on average, and $28.81 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level occupational therapy assistants salary in Knoxville?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $23,910 a year and the 25th percentile is $23,910, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the occupational therapy assistants take-home pay in Knoxville?
About $42,323 a year ($3,527 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $49,960. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do occupational therapy assistants earn more in Knoxville than elsewhere?
The average here is 29% 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 Knoxville, TN (28940). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 17.3%.
- 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 no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.51, this job is 1.5 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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