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

Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:

What does a Occupational Therapy Assistants 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
$75,340
Median annual (2025)
-2.2%
Real Purchasing Power
$73,646
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 Assistants earning $75,340 in Colorado has the equivalent purchasing power of $73,646 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) $60,880 $59,511 $-1,368
25th Percentile (P25) $65,320 $63,851 $-1,468
Median (P50) $75,340 $73,646 $-1,693
75th Percentile (P75) $84,860 $82,952 $-1,907
90th Percentile (P90) $100,190 $97,937 $-2,252
Key Insight

Colorado's cost of living is close to the national average, so $75,340 keeps most of its value at $73,646 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 Assistants 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, $75,340 nominal nets out to $73,646 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 Assistants.

Above-Median Adjusted Pay

#13 / 50

Colorado sits at #13 of 50 states for Occupational Therapy Assistants COL-adjusted salary — comfortably above the national midpoint.

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

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

$91,154
RPP 86.6
$84,637
RPP 91.0
3. Texas
$83,589
RPP 97.5
4. Nevada
$82,479
RPP 96.4
5. Montana
$80,620
RPP 90.3
$80,244
RPP 98.0
7. Georgia
$79,248
RPP 95.8
$78,782
RPP 93.6
$78,104
RPP 105.0
10. Oklahoma
$74,909
RPP 88.8

Colorado ranks #13 out of 50 states for Occupational Therapy Assistants after cost-of-living adjustment.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

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

A Occupational Therapy Assistants in Colorado earns a median salary of $75,340 per year. After adjusting for Colorado's cost of living (RPP=102.3), the real purchasing power is $73,646 — 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 Assistants in Colorado: $75,340 x (100 / 102.3) = $73,646. 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 Assistants's nominal salary of $75,340 in Colorado has 2.2% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $73,646. However, Colorado may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.

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