SOC 31-2011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Occupational Therapy Assistants — Tennessee
Tennessee · 7 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Tennessee is $62,420 a year, trailing the national median of $72,300 by 13.7%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Tennessee is $62,420 a year, trailing the national median of $72,300 by 13.7%. Half of workers earn between $58,470 and $74,000. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $23,910 and the ninetieth at $78,950.
The area has 1,300 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 0.4 of every thousand jobs. Among the 50 states with published data for this occupation, Tennessee ranks 43rd by median wage. Nashville leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $65,380. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 271st of 730 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $23,910 | −66.9% |
| 25th | $58,470 | −19.1% |
| Median (50th) | $62,420 | −13.7% |
| 75th | $74,000 | +2.4% |
| 90th | $78,950 | +9.2% |
| Mean | $60,550 | −16.3% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Tennessee
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nashville | $65,380 | 270 | |
| 2 | Johnson City | $64,810 | 40 | |
| 3 | Kingsport | $64,040 | 60 | |
| 4 | Memphis | $64,010 | 150 | |
| 5 | Chattanooga | $61,360 | 210 | |
| 6 | Clarksville | $60,520 | 50 | |
| 7 | Knoxville | $59,930 | 210 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Tennessee run 8.1% below the national average, so the median of $62,420 goes as far as $67,922 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 6.1% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$62,420as reported by BLSLocal price level
91.9US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$67,922US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $62,420 a year, 13.7% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $23,910 to $78,950 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 1,300 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 43rd of 50 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Nashville, at $65,380.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Occupational Therapy Assistants in Tennessee?
The median annual wage is $62,420, or $30.01 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $72,300, so pay in Tennessee is 13.7% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Tennessee earns more than $78,950 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $23,910 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Nashville, at $65,380 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 1,300 jobs in this occupation in Tennessee. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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