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.
National median · BLS
$72,300
▲ +5.79%YoY
H-1B sponsor median
—
Too few H-1B filings
Average salary · BLS
$70,710
Mean annual wage
U.S. employment
51,290
Jobs (BLS)
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Pay range for Occupational Therapy Assistants
Annual base pay at each percentile. BLS covers all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Percentile
All U.S. workers (BLS)
10th — entry pay
$51,490
25th
$61,710
Median (50th)
$72,300
75th
$79,160
90th — top pay
$89,780
Hourly ⇄ annual pay
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⇄
Monthly—
Every 2 weeks—
Weekly—
Daily—
Based on
hrs/week ×
weeks/year
= 2,080 hrs
Projections 2025–2035
Job outlook for Occupational Therapy Assistants
BLS projects employment of occupational therapy assistants to grow 21.5% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations.
About 8,100 openings are projected each year, on average, from new jobs and from replacing workers who retire or move to other occupations.
Jobs 2025 → 2035
52,200 → 63,400
+11,200 jobs
Projected change
+21.5%
All occupations: +3.5%
Openings per year
8,100
Average, 2025–2035
Typical entry education
Associate's degree
No related experience required
Preparation needed (O*NET Job Zone 3)
Medium Preparation Needed. Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Highlighted = in demand: frequently listed in employer job postings for this occupation (O*NET).
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
About the job
What occupational therapy assistants do
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.
Also called
Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant (COTA)Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA)Licensed Occupational Therapy Assistant (LOTA)Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA)Acute Care Occupational Therapy Assistant (Acute Care OT Assistant)Certified Occupational AssistantLicensed Occupational Therapist Assistant (LOTA)Occupational Therapist Assistant (OTA)Registered Therapist AssistantSchool Based Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (School Based COTA)
Source: O*NET 31.0 (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0). These are general job titles, not H-1B filings; for titles employers actually filed, see “Job titles” above.
Similar jobs and how they pay
Occupations O*NET lists as closely related to Occupational Therapy Assistants, with BLS national medians compared with this occupation's $72,300.
