Occupational Therapy Aides: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)
Healthcare Support · SOC 31-2012 · O*NET 31-2012.00
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.
Occupational Therapy Aides fall under the Healthcare Support category in the U.S. occupational classification. Occupational Therapy Aides earn a median salary of $37,370 per year, ranking in the top 91% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects +2.5% job growth through 2034, projected to grow slower than the US average. Entry into this field typically requires an associate degree or accredited postsecondary certificate, with specific licensing or certification depending on the state and employer. For parents whose teenager is exploring this path, the most actionable step is mapping the education requirements to specific colleges and majors before junior year — not waiting until application season.
What do occupational therapy aides earn?
The median annual wage for occupational therapy aides is $37,370. That puts occupational therapy aides at #734 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. This salary is around or below the U.S. median for individual workers, so career growth often depends on advancement into supervisory roles, specialization, or additional credentials. Actual pay varies meaningfully by state, employer type, and years of experience — entry-level salaries are typically 30–40% below the median, while top-decile earners often exceed it by 50% or more.
| 10th percentile (entry-level) | $27,970 |
| 25th percentile | $34,840 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $37,370 |
| 75th percentile | $44,190 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $65,580 |
| Median hourly wage | $17.97/hr |
Is occupational therapy aides a growing career?
The 10-year outlook for occupational therapy aides is +2.5%, projected to grow slower than the US average. Employment is projected to move from approximately 5K positions in 2024 to 5K in 2034, a net change of 0K. Flat growth typically reflects a mature, stable field. Most openings will come from retirements rather than new positions, which can favor candidates with strong networks and willingness to relocate.
What do occupational therapy aides do every day?
According to O*NET task surveys of working occupational therapy aides, these are the core responsibilities most professionals perform. This is what your teen would actually be doing in this role.
- 1.Report to supervisors or therapists, verbally or in writing, on patients' progress, attitudes, attendance, and accomplishments.
- 2.Manage intradepartmental infection control and equipment security.
- 3.Observe patients' attendance, progress, attitudes, and accomplishments and record and maintain information in client records.
- 4.Transport patients to and from the occupational therapy work area.
- 5.Assist occupational therapists in planning, implementing, and administering therapy programs to restore, reinforce, and enhance performance, using selected activities and special equipment.
- 6.Demonstrate therapy techniques, such as manual and creative arts and games.
- 7.Prepare and maintain work area, materials, and equipment and maintain inventory of treatment and educational supplies.
- 8.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.
Top skills for occupational therapy aides
O*NET ranks these as the most important skills for this occupation, on a 1–5 importance scale derived from worker surveys.
What education does my child need to become occupational therapy aide?
Entry into occupational therapy aides typically requires an associate degree or accredited postsecondary certificate, often coupled with state licensing exams or clinical hours. For parents helping a teen prepare, the highest-leverage step before junior year is identifying colleges and programs that feed reliably into this occupation — Solyo's college search lets parents filter by major and admissions data side by side.
Based on O*NET surveys of incumbents — what people in this job actually have, not what employers list as required.
Related careers your child might also consider
How parents help teens explore careers like this
Solyo helps parents map a teen's interests to specific careers, then back to the colleges and majors that lead there. Salary, outlook, and education data come from BLS and O*NET — the same sources high school counselors use — but presented for the parent's planning lens, not the student's exploration view.
Common questions parents ask about occupational therapy aides
What is the median salary for occupational therapy aides?
The median annual salary for occupational therapy aides is $37,370 according to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Is occupational therapy aides a growing career?
BLS projects +2.5% growth for occupational therapy aides from 2024 through 2034, which is flat growth projected to grow slower than the US average.
What education does my child need to become occupational therapy aide?
The typical entry path requires an associate degree or accredited postsecondary certificate, plus any state licensure or certification specific to the role. Programs that align well with this career can be filtered inside Solyo's college search.
What careers are similar to occupational therapy aides?
Related occupations within the Healthcare Support category share education paths and skill profiles, so they're a useful starting set when a teen is uncertain. The "Related careers" section below lists nearby options.
Salary data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics program. Skills, tasks, and education distribution from the O*NET database. Job outlook from the BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 release.