SOC 31-2011.00Bright outlook

    Occupational Therapy Assistants

    Assist occupational therapists in providing occupational therapy treatments and procedures.

    Median pay
    $72,300
    Growth
    +21.5%
    Much faster than average
    Openings a year
    8,100
    Typical education
    Associate's degree

    Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition

    Source: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

    See the pathway

    Annual pay range

    Lowest 10% earn less than
    $51,490
    Median
    $72,300
    Highest 10% earn more than
    $89,780
    National wages for all workers in this occupation. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.

    51,290 people work in this occupation.

    In short

    Occupational therapy assistants help patients recover and improve skills needed for daily living and working. This career offers a median annual pay of $72,300 and is experiencing rapid job growth.

    Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.

    What occupational therapy assistants do

    Job Zone 3: Medium preparation

    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.

    Usually vocational training, an associate degree or related experience.

    What the work is like

    Occupational therapy assistants work directly with patients to deliver therapy treatments and procedures under the guidance of occupational therapists. On a daily basis, these assistants focus on assisting and caring for others, which requires a strong social interest and deep empathy. They guide patients through rehabilitative exercises, monitor their progress, and teach them how to use specialized equipment. To do this effectively, assistants rely on skills like active listening, social perceptiveness, and clear speaking.

    Behind the scenes, the job involves documenting and recording treatment information, updating clinical knowledge, and communicating closely with supervisors and peers. Assistants must use critical thinking and creative problem-solving to adapt activities to each patient's unique physical or mental challenges. This role requires a solid foundation in psychology, therapy and counseling, customer service, and education. Success in this field depends on key work styles such as dependability, cooperation, self-control, and a sincere, optimistic attitude when working with people who are recovering from injuries or managing disabilities.

    How to get there

    Entering this career typically requires an associate's degree, though some individuals prepare through vocational training or related clinical experience. College programs in allied health and medical assisting services are the primary majors that lead to this profession.

    To practice, professionals often seek the Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant credential, which is awarded by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc. Additionally, some states list a license for this work, meaning candidates must check and fulfill their specific state guidelines to practice legally. Because the job involves physical activity and direct patient care, practical training during college is a standard part of the preparation process.

    Pay and outlook explained

    The median annual pay for occupational therapy assistants is $72,300. Earnings vary based on experience and location, with the lowest 10% earning less than $51,490 and the highest 10% earning more than $89,780.

    With 51,290 people currently employed, the field is expanding rapidly. Employment is projected to grow by 21.5% from 2025 to 2035, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. This growth is expected to result in 8,100 job openings each year.

    Interest profile

    Realistic (R)
    42 / 100
    Investigative (I)
    41 / 100
    Artistic (A)
    18 / 100
    Social (S) · strongest
    85 / 100
    Enterprising (E)
    2 / 100
    Conventional (C)
    54 / 100
    How strongly each interest area describes the work, from O*NET (scores rescaled to 0–100). The interest code lists the strongest areas in order.

    Interest code SCR. Compare it with yours

    What you'd do

    Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
    95
    Documenting/Recording Information
    95
    Assisting and Caring for Others
    94
    Thinking Creatively
    89
    Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
    87
    Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
    84
    Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
    80
    Making Decisions and Solving Problems
    80
    Performing General Physical Activities
    79
    Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
    78
    Work activities rated by importance for this occupation, O*NET (0–100).

    Skills and strengths

    Skills

    • Active Listening
    • Service Orientation
    • Social Perceptiveness
    • Speaking
    • Reading Comprehension
    • Time Management
    • Critical Thinking
    • Monitoring
    • Active Learning
    • Instructing

    Knowledge

    • Customer and Personal Service
    • Psychology
    • Education and Training
    • English Language
    • Therapy and Counseling
    • Public Safety and Security
    • Sociology and Anthropology
    • Administrative
    • Medicine and Dentistry
    • Computers and Electronics

    Abilities

    • Oral Comprehension
    • Oral Expression
    • Problem Sensitivity
    • Written Expression
    • Written Comprehension
    • Near Vision
    • Deductive Reasoning
    • Information Ordering
    • Speech Clarity
    • Inductive Reasoning

    Work styles

    • Empathy
    • Dependability
    • Cooperation
    • Attention to Detail
    • Social Orientation
    • Integrity
    • Optimism
    • Perseverance
    • Self-Control
    • Sincerity

    Also called

    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) · Licensed Occupational Therapy Assistant (LOTA) · Nursing Facility COTA (Nursing Facility Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant)

    Career pathway

    From your interests to occupational therapy assistants

    Interests that fit the work, the career, majors that lead there and colleges whose graduates in those majors earn the most. Hover or focus a step to follow one path.

    1. Interests

    2. This career

      • Occupational Therapy Assistants$72,300 median pay

    3. Majors

    4. Colleges

    College Scorecard program outcomes

    Colleges with strong outcomes

    Programs that lead to this career, ranked by what their graduates earn four years after finishing. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid.

    1. 1University of Connecticut UCONN logo
      University of Connecticut UCONN

      Storrs, CT · Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $38,020
      4 yrs after
      $79,657
      Median debt
      $19,500
    2. 2
      Ohio State University-Main Campus

      Columbus, OH · Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $45,321
      4 yrs after
      $73,594
      Median debt
      $19,829

    Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025. Programs with few graduates are not listed.

    NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk

    Majors that lead here

    Related programs by four-digit CIP code. They are common routes in, not the only ones.

    CareerOneStop

    Certifications, licenses and pay by state

    What occupational therapy assistants may need beyond a degree, where a license is required, and what the work pays in each state.

    Certifications

    Core certifications employers recognise for this work.

    Search all certifications on CareerOneStop

    Training

    Programs of study that prepare people for this work.

    • Occupational Therapist Assistant

    Find training near you on CareerOneStop

    Licenses by state

    49 states list a license for this work. Open your state for the license and the agency that issues it.

    Check license requirements on CareerOneStop

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 9, 2026.

    Your plan

    Build my pathway plan

    Courses, majors, colleges, scholarships and a timeline for this career, built from your profile.

    Related careers

    Careers with similar work, interests or skills.

    All careers

    Questions about occupational therapy assistants

    Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.

    What are some common job titles for this career?

    People in this field are often called Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants (COTA), Licensed Occupational Therapy Assistants (LOTA), or acute care occupational therapy assistants. Some also work as home health COTAs or independent living specialists.

    What is the job outlook for occupational therapy assistants?

    The occupation is growing much faster than the average career, with a projected employment increase of 21.5% between 2025 and 2035. This rapid growth is expected to generate about 8,100 job openings every year.

    What certifications or licenses are needed?

    Many assistants obtain the Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant credential from the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc. Additionally, some states list a license for this work, which candidates must obtain to practice.

    Sources and attribution

    Every figure on this page comes from these public datasets. Missing values are shown as not reported, never estimated.

    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. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 9, 2026.

    Page data updated November 5, 2026.