Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
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.
Top skills:Service OrientationSpeakingSocial PerceptivenessActive ListeningCoordinationMonitoring
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Occupational Therapy Aide pay by experience level
Entry level$30,500
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$37,000
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$40,500
Mid-career median pay
Senior$48,500
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$72,500
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
+2.5%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
600
projected openings per year
Growing slower than average
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Occupational Therapy Aide salary by industry
Ambulatory Health Care Services
2,280 workers
$43,500
Offices of Other Health Practitioners
1,880 workers
$42,500
Hospitals
1,260 workers
$45,500
Hospitals, Privately Owned
1,120 workers
$46,000
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals
800 workers
$47,500
Specialty (except Psychiatric and Substance Abuse) Hospitals
440 workers
$41,500
Nursing and Residential Care Facilities
410 workers
$58,000
Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities)
320 workers
$58,500
Offices of Physicians
200 workers
$42,500
Social Assistance
200 workers
$37,500
National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
How this role compares
Occupational Therapy Aide pays 9% below the average across 19 roles in the Healthcare Support job family (family average $50,000).
