What Do Occupational Therapy Aide Do?
Example of Occupational Therapy Aide Job Under close supervision of an occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant, perform only delegated, selected, or routine tasks in specific situations. These duties include preparing patient and treatment room.
What Do Occupational Therapy Aides Do On a Daily Basis?
- Assist educational specialists or clinical psychologists in administering situational or diagnostic tests to measure client’s abilities or progress.
- 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.
- Assist occupational therapists in planning, implementing, and administering therapy programs to restore, reinforce, and enhance performance, using selected activities and special equipment.
- Manage intradepartmental infection control and equipment security.
- Evaluate the living skills and capacities of physically, developmentally, or emotionally disabled clients.
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Things an Occupational Therapy Aide Should Know How to Do
Below is a list of the skills most Occupational Therapy Aides say are important on the job.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Related Job Titles
- Occupational Therapy Technician (OT Tech)
- Certified Occupational Rehabilitation Aide (CORA)
- Rehabilitation Aide/Scheduler
- Program Trainer
- Rehabilitation Services Aide
Occupational Therapy Aide Job Outlook
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 7,500 jobs in the United States for Occupational Therapy Aide. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 24% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 1,800 new jobs for Occupational Therapy Aide by 2026. The BLS estimates 1,200 yearly job openings in this field.

The states with the most job growth for Occupational Therapy Aide are Delaware, Arizona, and Colorado. Watch out if you plan on working in Wyoming, Oregon, or Maine. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Occupational Therapy Aide Average Salary
The typical yearly salary for Occupational Therapy Aides is somewhere between $18,260 and $58,660.

Occupational Therapy Aides who work in Washington, New York, or Arizona, make the highest salaries.
How much do Occupational Therapy Aides make in each U.S. state?
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Arizona | $38,760 |
California | $35,240 |
Colorado | $33,060 |
Connecticut | $33,740 |
Delaware | $34,220 |
Florida | $26,770 |
Georgia | $27,490 |
Illinois | $28,820 |
Indiana | $30,360 |
Iowa | $30,900 |
Louisiana | $40,940 |
Maryland | $34,300 |
Massachusetts | $36,190 |
Michigan | $35,120 |
Minnesota | $33,020 |
Missouri | $29,890 |
Nebraska | $27,700 |
New Hampshire | $35,880 |
New Jersey | $29,330 |
New York | $46,600 |
North Carolina | $29,480 |
North Dakota | $35,900 |
Ohio | $32,140 |
Oklahoma | $31,340 |
Pennsylvania | $32,080 |
South Carolina | $29,330 |
Tennessee | $30,540 |
Texas | $31,390 |
Utah | $23,930 |
Virginia | $38,360 |
Washington | $51,360 |
West Virginia | $29,120 |
Wisconsin | $28,970 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Occupational Therapy Aides
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Occupational Therapy Aides:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Access
- Data entry software
- MEDITECH software
- Scheduling software
- Electronic medical record EMR software
- Billing software
Becoming an Occupational Therapy Aide
What kind of Occupational Therapy Aide requirements are there?

How Long Does it Take to Become an Occupational Therapy Aide?

Where Occupational Therapy Aides Work

The table below shows the approximate number of Occupational Therapy Aides employed by various industries.

You May Also Be Interested In…
Those thinking about becoming an Occupational Therapy Aide might also be interested in the following careers:
References:
Image Credit: Sgt. Courtney Richardson, 4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs via Public domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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