Healthcare support
Occupational therapy aide
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.
Median pay
$39,160
Growth to 2035
+4%
about as fast as average
Openings a year
600
Time to qualify*
1 month
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Occupational therapy aide
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Prior experience
- None
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Outdoors in all weather
Exposure to disease
Occupational therapy aide: 12% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core 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.
Also called: 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
Outlook and AI
Occupational therapy aides held 4,400 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 4,600 by 2035 (+4%, about as fast as average; all jobs: +3.5%).
Demand change - share decreases as payer restrictions in the reimbursement of services provided by occupational therapy aides dampens demand for the occupation.
Compare with
- Occupational therapy aide vs. Physical therapist aide
- Occupational therapy aide vs. Occupational therapy assistant
- Occupational therapy aide vs. Physical therapist assistant
- Occupational therapy aide vs. Psychiatric technician
- Occupational therapy aide vs. Rehabilitation counselor
- Occupational therapy aide vs. Psychiatric aide
- Occupational therapy aide vs. Home health and personal care aides
- Occupational therapy aide vs. Respiratory therapist
- Occupational therapy aide vs. Nursing assistant
- Occupational therapy aide vs. Licensed practical nurse (LPN)