Occupational therapy aides salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $29,430 | $14.15 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $39,160 | $18.83 |
| Mean (average) | $44,110 | $21.21 |
| 90th percentile | $70,200 | $33.75 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Occupational therapy aides pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 27 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | $43,480 | $36,710 | $68,550 | 330 | 0.65 |
| Colorado | $40,110 | $38,530 | $71,750 | 40 | 0.49 |
| Connecticut | $44,840 | $37,930 | $49,170 | 110 | 2.42 |
| District of Columbia | $39,620 | $39,610 | $45,840 | ||
| Georgia | $38,090 | $33,700 | $47,160 | 200 | 1.5 |
| Idaho | $32,590 | $23,500 | $46,110 | 120 | 5.07 |
| Indiana | $38,250 | $36,200 | $43,220 | ||
| Louisiana | $28,560 | $23,070 | $77,200 | 70 | 1.24 |
| Maryland | $33,310 | $31,200 | $41,290 | ||
| Massachusetts | $40,160 | $35,340 | $53,540 | 90 | 0.92 |
| Michigan | $39,050 | $29,650 | $50,160 | 60 | 0.51 |
| Mississippi | $24,300 | $21,770 | $30,780 | 50 | 1.43 |
| Missouri | $38,890 | $31,540 | $47,210 | 110 | 1.38 |
| Nebraska | $44,980 | $34,730 | $52,940 | 90 | 3.17 |
| Nevada | $36,440 | $34,690 | $63,790 | 100 | 2.3 |
| New Jersey | $44,470 | $38,980 | $46,270 | ||
| New Mexico | $43,170 | $37,480 | $85,040 | 50 | 2.08 |
| New York | $46,220 | $32,610 | $61,370 | 250 | 0.93 |
| North Carolina | $66,190 | $29,570 | $77,980 | 250 | 1.86 |
| Ohio | $36,380 | $23,180 | $56,130 | 200 | 1.29 |
| Oklahoma | $34,670 | $31,810 | $52,520 | 90 | 1.84 |
| Pennsylvania | $37,100 | $34,420 | $68,230 | 320 | 1.88 |
| South Carolina | $31,950 | $18,290 | $82,800 | 50 | 0.81 |
| Tennessee | $27,840 | $25,700 | $40,090 | 40 | 0.45 |
| Texas | $37,180 | $22,100 | $77,230 | 410 | 1.05 |
| Washington | $45,890 | $38,550 | $70,200 | 190 | 1.93 |
| Wisconsin | $36,760 | $31,360 | $45,850 | 40 | 0.55 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for occupational therapy aides
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 600. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for occupational therapy aides
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Rehabilitation Aide CIP 51.2604
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Encourage patients and attend to their physical needs to facilitate the attainment of therapeutic goals.
- Report to supervisors or therapists, verbally or in writing, on patients' progress, attitudes, attendance, and accomplishments.
- Observe patients' attendance, progress, attitudes, and accomplishments and record and maintain information in client records.
- Prepare and maintain work area, materials, and equipment and maintain inventory of treatment and educational supplies.
- Transport patients to and from the occupational therapy work area.
- Instruct patients and families in work, social, and living skills, the care and use of adaptive equipment, and other skills to facilitate home and work adjustment to disability.
- Assist occupational therapists in planning, implementing, and administering therapy programs to restore, reinforce, and enhance performance, using selected activities and special equipment.
- Demonstrate therapy techniques, such as manual and creative arts and games.
Technology skills
- MEDITECH software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Billing software
- Electronic medical record EMR software
- Scheduling software
Transferable skills for career changers: Service Orientation, Social Perceptiveness, Coordination, Complex Problem Solving, Instructing, Judgment and Decision Making.
Common job titles: Certified Occupational Rehabilitation Aide (CORA), Direct Service Professional (DSP), Direct Support Professional (DSP), Occupational Rehabilitation Aide, Occupational Therapist Aide (OT Aide), Occupational Therapy Aide (OT Aide), Rehabilitation Aide (Rehab Aide), Rehabilitation Services Aide, Restorative Aide.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do occupational therapy aides make?
The national median annual wage for occupational therapy aides was $39,160 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $29,430 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $70,200. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do occupational therapy aides need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and short-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is occupational therapy aides a growing career?
BLS projects employment of occupational therapy aides to change +3.6% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 600 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay occupational therapy aides the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were North Carolina ($66,190), New York ($46,220), Washington ($45,890). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.