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Career

Occupational Therapy Aides

Typical education: Certificate or apprenticeshipModerate pressure

What they do

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.

Kinds of work

  • Social: Helping, teaching, caring for and supporting other people.
  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.

Moderate pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $39,160 Median per year · $18.83/hr Most earn $29,430–$70,200

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Perform clerical, administrative, and secretarial duties, such as answering phones, restocking and ordering supplies, filling out paperwork, and scheduling appointments.
  • Assist occupational therapists in planning, implementing, and administering therapy programs to restore, reinforce, and enhance performance, using selected activities and special equipment.
  • Assist educational specialists or clinical psychologists in administering situational or diagnostic tests to measure client's abilities or progress.
  • 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.
  • Perform clerical, administrative, and secretarial duties, such as answering phones, restocking and ordering supplies, filling out paperwork, and scheduling appointments.
  • Manage intradepartmental infection control and equipment security.

Job outlook

United States
4% more jobs by 2035, about as fast as average · about 600 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Offices of physical, occupational and speech therapists, and audiologists42.2%
  • General medical and surgical hospitals17.5%
  • Specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals11.4%
  • Nursing care facilities (skilled nursing facilities)7.2%
  • Offices of physicians4.7%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 1 to 3 months

Some people start through an apprenticeship: paid training on the job, often with classes. Search apprenticeships on Apprenticeship.gov (opens in a new tab) ↗

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: Certificate or apprenticeshipExperience before this job: 1 to 3 monthsEntry-level

Occupational Therapy Aide is an entry-level job. Most people start with a high school diploma and a short stretch of hands-on training, usually around 1 to 3 months, before working under an occupational therapist or assistant.

  1. High school diploma

    4 years

    Finish high school with strong science and health classes, which build the basics you'll use when helping patients.

  2. Occupational Therapy Aide

    1-3 months

    Learn the job on the floor under close supervision, preparing treatment rooms and supplies and helping with routine tasks, which builds the experience needed for the next step.

Where it can lead

  1. Occupational Therapy Assistant

    6 months to 1 year of experience first

    Move up by earning an associate degree in occupational therapy assisting and meeting any licensing requirements, so you can carry out treatment plans under an occupational therapist's supervision.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take biology, anatomy, or health science classesThese give you a foundation for understanding how the body moves and heals, which is central to occupational therapy.
  • Volunteer at a hospital, nursing home, or rehab centerSeeing therapy sessions firsthand helps you learn whether you enjoy working with patients and their families.
  • Get a first job that involves helping peopleJobs like a camp counselor, lifeguard, or retail or food service role build teamwork and customer care skills.
  • Take a first aid and CPR courseMany schools and community groups offer these, and they show employers you can respond calmly and safely.
  • Join a health occupations or science clubClubs and competitions let you explore healthcare careers and meet mentors who work in the field.

In college

  • Take anatomy, physiology, and psychology coursesThese classes build the knowledge needed for both aide work and the more advanced occupational therapy assistant program.
  • Work or volunteer in a healthcare or rehab settingHands-on experience at a clinic or hospital gives you the practical background employers look for in aides.
  • Get a CPR or basic patient care certificationMany colleges and local organizations offer these courses, and they make you a stronger candidate for entry-level health jobs.
  • Shadow an occupational therapist or assistantAsk your campus health office or a local clinic if you can observe sessions to learn what daily work looks like.
  • Join a pre-health or health sciences student groupThese groups connect you with peers, speakers, and volunteer opportunities in healthcare.

Tips for getting started

  • Ask a local occupational therapy clinic, hospital rehab unit, or nursing facility whether they hire aides or volunteers. Hands-on exposure is the fastest way to see if you like the work.
  • Get comfortable with patients of all ages and abilities. Patience, clear communication, and staying calm are used every day in this job.
  • Keep your attendance and reliability strong in any job you have now. Supervisors in healthcare look closely at these qualities when hiring.

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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