Life As an Occupational Therapy Aide
Occupational Therapy Aide Example Under close supervision of an occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant, perform only delegated, selected, or routine tasks in specific situations. These duties include preparing patient and treatment room.
A Day in the Life of an Occupational Therapy Aide
- Transport patients to and from the occupational therapy work area.
- Manage intradepartmental infection control and equipment security.
- Accompany patients on outings, providing transportation when necessary.
- Demonstrate therapy techniques, such as manual and creative arts and games.
- Assist occupational therapists in planning, implementing, and administering therapy programs to restore, reinforce, and enhance performance, using selected activities and special equipment.
- Encourage patients and attend to their physical needs to facilitate the attainment of therapeutic goals.
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What Skills Do You Need to Work as an Occupational Therapy Aide?
These are the skills Occupational Therapy Aides say are the most useful in their careers:
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Related Job Titles for this Occupation:
- Rehabilitation Aide/Scheduler
- Direct Support Professional
- Therapy Tech
- Direct Support Staff
- Rehabilitation Aide (Rehab Aide)
Occupational Therapy Aide Job Outlook
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 7,500 jobs in the United States for Occupational Therapy Aide. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 24% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 1,800 new jobs for Occupational Therapy Aide by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 1,200 job openings in this field each year.
The states with the most job growth for Occupational Therapy Aide are Delaware, Arizona, and Colorado. Watch out if you plan on working in Wyoming, Oregon, or Maine. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
What is the Average Salary of an Occupational Therapy Aide
The typical yearly salary for Occupational Therapy Aides is somewhere between $18,260 and $58,660.
Occupational Therapy Aides who work in Washington, New York, or Arizona, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Occupational Therapy Aides in different U.S. states.
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Arizona | $38,760 |
California | $35,240 |
Colorado | $33,060 |
Connecticut | $33,740 |
Delaware | $34,220 |
Florida | $26,770 |
Georgia | $27,490 |
Illinois | $28,820 |
Indiana | $30,360 |
Iowa | $30,900 |
Louisiana | $40,940 |
Maryland | $34,300 |
Massachusetts | $36,190 |
Michigan | $35,120 |
Minnesota | $33,020 |
Missouri | $29,890 |
Nebraska | $27,700 |
New Hampshire | $35,880 |
New Jersey | $29,330 |
New York | $46,600 |
North Carolina | $29,480 |
North Dakota | $35,900 |
Ohio | $32,140 |
Oklahoma | $31,340 |
Pennsylvania | $32,080 |
South Carolina | $29,330 |
Tennessee | $30,540 |
Texas | $31,390 |
Utah | $23,930 |
Virginia | $38,360 |
Washington | $51,360 |
West Virginia | $29,120 |
Wisconsin | $28,970 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Occupational Therapy Aides
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Occupational Therapy Aides may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Access
- Data entry software
- MEDITECH software
- Scheduling software
- Electronic medical record EMR software
- Billing software
Becoming an Occupational Therapy Aide
Learn what Occupational Therapy Aide education requirements there are.
What work experience do I need to become an Occupational Therapy Aide?
Similar Careers
Those thinking about becoming an Occupational Therapy Aide might also be interested in the following careers:
References:
Image Credit: Sgt. Courtney Richardson, 4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs via Public domain
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