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Occupational Therapy Aides Salary in Colorado: Cost of Living Adjusted (2025)

Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:

What does a Occupational Therapy Aides salary really buy you in Colorado?

Colorado is 2.3% pricier than the US average

Data: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19

Nominal Salary
$40,110
Median annual (2025)
-2.2%
Real Purchasing Power
$39,208
COL-adjusted (RPP=102.3)

Colorado Cost of Living Index

Colorado's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 102.3, meaning prices are 2.3% higher the national average. A Occupational Therapy Aides earning $40,110 in Colorado has the equivalent purchasing power of $39,208 in an average-cost US state.

CO: 102.3
Cheapest (~85) US Avg (100) Priciest (~115)

Salary Breakdown: Nominal vs. COL-Adjusted

Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Colorado's cost of living.

Percentile Nominal Salary COL-Adjusted Difference
10th Percentile (P10) $38,530 $37,663 $-866
25th Percentile (P25) $39,230 $38,347 $-882
Median (P50) $40,110 $39,208 $-901
75th Percentile (P75) $55,230 $53,988 $-1,241
90th Percentile (P90) $71,750 $70,136 $-1,613
Key Insight

Colorado's cost of living is close to the national average, so $40,110 keeps most of its value at $39,208 in real terms. Location choice here is more about career opportunities than cost arbitrage.

What the Cost-of-Living Data Says

Colorado Sits Near the National Cost Benchmark

RPP 102.3

With an RPP of 102.3, Colorado is within a few percent of the national cost-of-living baseline. Salary adjustment for Occupational Therapy Aides is therefore minor — what you earn is close to what you'd keep in real purchasing power.

Minor COL Adjustment for This Salary

-2.2%

After adjusting for Colorado's cost of living, $40,110 nominal nets out to $39,208 in real purchasing power — a small 2.2% loss. The state's cost profile is close enough to average that COL alone shouldn't drive location decisions for this Occupational Therapy Aides.

Below-Median Adjusted Pay

#14 / 27

Colorado's rank of #14 of 27 states means real purchasing power for Occupational Therapy Aides trails the national half-way line.

Best States for Occupational Therapy Aides (After Cost of Living)

Where does Occupational Therapy Aides salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.

$70,265
RPP 94.2
$50,089
RPP 89.8
$47,439
RPP 91.0
$42,955
RPP 107.6
$42,689
RPP 91.1
$42,142
RPP 106.4
$41,809
RPP 93.4
$41,794
RPP 109.8
9. Indiana
$41,666
RPP 91.8
$40,873
RPP 108.8

Colorado ranks #14 out of 27 states for Occupational Therapy Aides after cost-of-living adjustment.

How much do you actually take home? See Occupational Therapy Aides take-home pay in Colorado after taxes →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the real salary for a Occupational Therapy Aides in Colorado after cost of living?

A Occupational Therapy Aides in Colorado earns a median salary of $40,110 per year. After adjusting for Colorado's cost of living (RPP=102.3), the real purchasing power is $39,208 — a -2.2% difference.

Is Colorado expensive to live in?

Colorado's cost of living is 2.3% higher than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Colorado is 102.3 (US average = 100).

What are Regional Price Parities (RPP)?

Regional Price Parities (RPPs) are price indexes published by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) that measure differences in price levels across states. They are expressed as a percentage of the national average (US = 100). Higher RPP means higher cost of living.

How is the cost-of-living adjusted salary calculated?

The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Occupational Therapy Aides in Colorado: $40,110 x (100 / 102.3) = $39,208. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.

Does the high cost of living in Colorado offset the salary?

Partially — a Occupational Therapy Aides's nominal salary of $40,110 in Colorado has 2.2% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $39,208. However, Colorado may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.

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