Occupational Therapy Assistants: Career Overview
Assist occupational therapists in providing occupational therapy treatments and procedures. May, in accordance with state laws, assist in development of treatment plans, carry out routine functions, direct activity programs, and document the progress of treatments. Generally requires formal training.
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What Do Occupational Therapy Assistants Take On?
Typical responsibilities of occupational therapy assistants include:
- 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.
What Occupational Therapy Assistants Need to Know
Successful occupational therapy assistants combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
The abilities that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Core Knowledge
Other Occupational Therapy Assistants Job Titles
This career also goes by job titles like:
- Acute Care Occupational Therapy Assistant (Acute Care OT Assistant)
- Certified Occupational Assistant
- Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant (COTA)
- Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA)
- Certified Travel OTA (Certified Travel Occupational Therapist Assistant)
- Home Health COTA (Home Health Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant)
- Independent Living Specialist
- Licensed Occupational Therapist Assistant (LOTA)
Employment and Demand
There are about 542,119 occupational therapy assistants working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to grow by +5.6% over the projection horizon.
Occupational Therapy Assistants Pay
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $29,426 |
| Hourly median | $14.15 |
| 10th percentile | $20,000 |
| 25th percentile | $23,069 |
| 75th percentile | $35,784 |
| 90th percentile | $42,141 |
Compensation varies based on experience, location, and industry.
Pay by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $79,420 |
| Texas | $77,910 |
| Arkansas | $77,340 |
| Maryland | $77,330 |
| Nevada | $76,450 |
| Washington | $76,010 |
| Arizona | $75,020 |
| Virginia | $73,870 |
| Oregon | $73,580 |
| South Carolina | $72,970 |
| New Jersey | $72,800 |
| Massachusetts | $72,750 |
| Delaware | $72,550 |
| Florida | $71,800 |
| Connecticut | $71,210 |
| North Carolina | $70,940 |
| New Mexico | $69,850 |
| Idaho | $69,630 |
| Oklahoma | $68,710 |
| Colorado | $68,650 |
| Montana | $67,410 |
| Vermont | $67,160 |
| District of Columbia | $66,750 |
| New Hampshire | $66,560 |
| Georgia | $66,090 |
| Kentucky | $65,980 |
| Louisiana | $65,860 |
| Kansas | $64,880 |
| New York | $64,660 |
| Illinois | $63,710 |
| Rhode Island | $63,590 |
| Hawaii | $63,300 |
| Ohio | $62,960 |
| Missouri | $62,830 |
| Mississippi | $62,160 |
| Tennessee | $62,060 |
| Alabama | $61,990 |
| Iowa | $61,980 |
| Michigan | $61,460 |
| Pennsylvania | $61,430 |
| Indiana | $61,390 |
| West Virginia | $61,320 |
| Utah | $61,280 |
| Nebraska | $60,900 |
| Minnesota | $60,570 |
| North Dakota | $59,410 |
| Maine | $59,370 |
| Wisconsin | $58,400 |
| Wyoming | $57,550 |
| Alaska | $51,840 |
| South Dakota | $51,820 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Earnings for occupational therapy assistants vary by region. The following regions pay the most:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $77,948 | 9.4% | 0.57 |
| Southwest | $76,369 | 15.9% | 1.28 |
| New England | $70,337 | 6.4% | 1.45 |
| Southeast | $69,097 | 27.2% | 1.13 |
| Rocky Mountains | $66,567 | 2.7% | 0.88 |
| Middle Atlantic | $66,056 | 13.3% | 0.91 |
| Great Lakes | $62,150 | 18.7% | 1.39 |
| Plains States | $62,078 | 6.6% | 1.04 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Occupational Therapy Assistants
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $96,500 | 300 |
| Modesto, CA | CA | $93,440 | 50 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | CA | $92,040 | 170 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $91,300 | 150 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | DC | $83,230 | 390 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | CA | $83,200 | 30 |
| Jonesboro, AR | AR | $81,010 | 90 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | CA | $80,720 | 270 |
Which Industries Hire Occupational Therapy Assistants
The largest employers of occupational therapy assistants work in these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 43,050 | $69,650 |
| Educational Services | 3,490 | $59,240 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 550 | $75,500 |
Occupational Therapy Assistants work in the following industries:
Tech Stack
- Medical software: eClinicalWorks EHR software (hot technology)
- Web page creation and editing software: Facebook (hot technology)
- Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Operating system software: Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
The work environment for occupational therapy assistants tends to involve the following characteristics:
- Exposed to Disease or Infections
- Contact With Others
- Physical Proximity
- Time Pressure
- Frequency of Decision Making
Education and Training
Entry-level occupational therapy assistants positions require an associate’s degree as the typical entry-level education. This occupation sits in Medium Preparation Needed (Job Zone 3), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Occupational Therapists (Supplemental)
- Physical Therapists (Supplemental)
- Radiation Therapists (Primary-Long)
- Recreational Therapists (Supplemental)
- Respiratory Therapists (Primary-Short)
- Registered Nurses (Supplemental)
- Acute Care Nurses (Primary-Long)
- Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses (Supplemental)
Top Programs to Study For This Career
Students preparing for occupational therapy assistants typically earn programs in:
Health Professions and Related Programs
1 programs across 1 majors
About the Data
This profile draws on the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 31-2011.00 (Occupational Therapy Assistants).
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