What is the salary of a Occupational Therapy Assistant?

The typical salary range is $47,838 - $95,676 per year.

Medical & WelfareGrowingBright Outlook

Occupational Therapy Assistant

Operational-level

Also known as: Acute Care Occupational Therapy Assistant (Acute Care OT Assistant), Certified Occupational Assistant, Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant (COTA), Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA)

Medical & WelfareBachelor's Degree

Job Description

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.

Occupational TherapyRehabilitationPatient CareTherapeutic ActivitiesAllied HealthHealthcareMedical Support

A Day in the Life

You swipe your badge and step into the bustling outpatient rehabilitation clinic. The scent of antiseptic and the hum of activity are familiar. You head straight for the shared workstation, logging into the electronic health record (EHR) system to review your first patient's chart – a post-stroke individual focusing on fine motor skills. You quickly grab a printout of today's schedule, noting the variety of ages and conditions you'll be assisting with. The morning will be packed, and preparation is key to staying on track.

Skills employers are looking for in 2027

Software and technologies flagged by O*NET as Hot or In-Demand for this role.

Hot technologies

Facebook Microsoft Access Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft Outlook Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft Windows Microsoft Word eClinicalWorks EHR software

Job Outlook 2025-2035

Bright Outlook

O*NET flags this career as a Bright Outlook occupation: grows rapidly over the next decade.

Projected growth

+21.5%

US average: +3.5%

Job openings

8,100

per year (US)

Jobs today

52,200

in 2025 → 63,400 (2035)

Typical entry education

Associate's degree

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections; O*NET Bright Outlook. Read the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook

Work Environment

How this work is typically performed, based on O*NET work context data.

Email & digital communication

Moderate

Working in a team

High

Contact with others

High

Freedom to make decisions

High

Time pressure

High

Time spent sitting

Low

Working outdoors

Low

Indoor, climate-controlled

High

Dealing with customers

Moderate

Level of competition

Moderate

Source: O*NET Work Context (v31.0)

Future Perspective

Growing Job Market

This field is experiencing expansion with increasing job opportunities and career advancement potential. Market demand is rising, with new positions being created.

Career ladder

Often before this role

Aide-soignant
Assistant médical
Technicien en réadaptation

Occupational Therapy Assistant

Where it can lead

Ergothérapeute
Assistant en physiothérapie
Coordinateur de soins de santé

Impact of AI on this Job

AI is expected to streamline administrative tasks, assist with data analysis for personalized treatment plans, and potentially offer remote monitoring solutions for Occupational Therapy Assistants. However, the hands-on care, empathy, and nuanced client interaction fundamental to this role will remain largely human-driven, requiring assistants to adapt to new technologies rather than be replaced.

Salary

$72,300

Median annual wage, BLS 2025

Required Education

Bachelor's Degree

Minimum educational requirement for this position