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Occupational Therapy Assistants Salary in San Diego, CA

In the 2025 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS dataset, Occupational Therapy Assistants in San Diego, CA have a median annual salary of $82,680, with 360 recorded jobs in this area. Recorded earnings range from $71,000 at the 10th percentile to $103,410 at the 90th percentile.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · Data year: 2025 · Last updated: 2026-09-22

Salary overview

Median annual salary

$82,680

Data year: 2025

Hourly median

$39.75

Employment

360

Source

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS

Salary distribution

$71,000
10th
$76,960
25th
$82,680
Median
$93,810
75th
$103,410
90th

Local compared with national

San Diego, CA

$82,680

Median annual · 2025

United States

$72,300

Median annual · 2025

The San Diego, CA median is 14.4% above the national median in the available dataset (a difference of $10,380).

Top skills

  1. 1.Active ListeningImportance 3.9
  2. 2.SpeakingImportance 3.9
  3. 3.Social PerceptivenessImportance 3.9
  4. 4.Service OrientationImportance 3.9
  5. 5.Reading ComprehensionImportance 3.6
  6. 6.Time ManagementImportance 3.5
  7. 7.Critical ThinkingImportance 3.4
  8. 8.MonitoringImportance 3.4
  9. 9.WritingImportance 3.3
  10. 10.Active LearningImportance 3.3
  11. 11.Learning StrategiesImportance 3.3
  12. 12.InstructingImportance 3.3

Career information

Education and experience

Typical education
Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree
Experience
Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year
Job zone
3

Technology used

  • Microsoft Office software
  • Billing software
  • Bookkeeping software
  • BrainTrain Captain's Log
  • BrainTrain IVA+Plus
  • BrainTrain SmartDriver
  • Client caseload management software
  • Database software
  • dBASE
  • eClinicalWorks EHR software
  • Email software
  • Facebook
  • Fifth Walk BillingTracker
  • FileMaker Pro
  • Financial record software

Common tasks

  • Order any needed educational or treatment supplies.
  • Instruct, or assist in instructing, patients and families in home programs, basic living skills, or the care and use of adaptive equipment.
  • Maintain and promote a positive attitude toward clients and their treatment programs.
  • Report to supervisors, verbally or in writing, on patients' progress, attitudes, and behavior.
  • Implement, or assist occupational therapists with implementing, treatment plans designed to help clients function independently.
  • Monitor patients' performance in therapy activities, providing encouragement.
  • Observe and record patients' progress, attitudes, and behavior and maintain this information in client records.
  • Select therapy activities to fit patients' needs and capabilities.
  • Attend continuing education classes.
  • Aid patients in dressing and grooming themselves.

Related careers

Occupations recorded as related in the dataset. A relationship does not imply a guaranteed transition.

Occupational Therapy Assistants salary in other locations

Other occupations in San Diego, CA