Occupational Therapy Aides: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)
Healthcare Support · SOC 31-2012 · O*NET 31-2012.00
Occupational Therapy Aides fall under the Healthcare Support category in the U.S. occupational classification. Occupational Therapy Aides earn a median salary of $39,160 per year, ranking in the top 89% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects +3.6% job growth through 2035, projected to grow at roughly 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 $39,160. That puts occupational therapy aides at #738 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.
Is occupational therapy aides a growing career?
The 10-year outlook for occupational therapy aides is +3.6%, projected to grow at roughly the US average. Employment is projected to move from approximately 4K positions in 2024 to 4K in 2034, a net change of <1K. Average growth signals a healthy, resilient occupation that mirrors broader U.S. employment trends. Job availability tends to track regional economic conditions.
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.
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 $39,160 according to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Is occupational therapy aides a growing career?
BLS projects +3.6% growth for occupational therapy aides from 2025 through 2035, which is average growth projected to grow at roughly 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 2025–2035 release.