Occupational Therapist vs OTA: pay, jobs and what each takes

Occupational therapists, by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025): a median of $48.24 an hour ($100,330 a year), against $34.76 ($72,300 a year) for occupational therapy assistants, $13.48 an hour more. The open jobs on this board today post medians of $52.50 an hour for occupational therapists and $35 for occupational therapy assistants.

On this board today: 5,081 open occupational therapist jobs and 2,361 occupational therapy assistant jobs, read from each employer's own job board. BLS expects about 10,000 openings a year for occupational therapists and 8,100 for occupational therapy assistants, with employment changing +14.8% and +21.5% over 2025-2035.

Occupational therapists help people do the everyday tasks of life (dressing, cooking, working, playing) after injury, illness or with a disability, in hospitals, rehab, schools and home health. Occupational therapy assistants carry out the treatment plan an occupational therapist writes, in nursing homes, rehab, schools and home health.

A master's or doctoral degree in occupational therapy, then the NBCOT exam. (BLS: Master's degree.) An associate degree from an accredited OTA program, then the NBCOT COTA exam. (BLS: Associate's degree.) Each occupation's page lists its credentials and who grants them: Occupational therapists, Occupational therapy assistants.