Where occupational therapy assistants work
BLS says occupational therapy assistants and aides work primarily in occupational therapists’ offices, in hospitals, and in nursing care facilities. BLS publishes separate employer lists for assistants and for aides; both are below, labeled.
Quoted from official pages checked November 10, 2026. Confirm current requirements, fees, and dates on those sites. This page is not legal advice and does not guarantee eligibility, certification, or licensure.
Quoted from the Work Environment and Pay sections of the BLS Occupational Therapy Assistants and Aides handbook page, checked November 10, 2026.
Occupational therapy assistants (assistants only)
BLS states: “Occupational therapy assistants held about 52,200 jobs in 2025. Some of the largest employers of occupational therapy assistants were as follows:”
- Offices of physical, occupational and speech therapists, and audiologists — 39%
- Nursing care facilities (skilled nursing facilities) — 19%
- Hospitals; state, local, and private — 17%
- Educational services; state, local, and private — 7%
- Home healthcare services — 7%
Occupational therapy aides (aides only, a different job)
BLS states: “Occupational therapy aides held about 4,400 jobs in 2025. Some of the largest employers of occupational therapy aides were as follows:”
- Offices of other health practitioners — 43%
- Hospitals; state, local, and private — 30%
- Nursing care facilities (skilled nursing facilities) — 7%
Physical demands (assistants and aides combined)
BLS states: “Occupational therapy assistants and aides spend much of their time standing while setting up equipment and, in the case of assistants, providing therapy to clients. Constant kneeling and stooping are part of the job, as is the occasional need to lift clients.”
Its Injuries and Illnesses note is about aides: “Occupational therapy aides have one of the highest rates of injuries and illnesses of all occupations.”
Schedules (assistants and aides combined)
BLS states: “Most occupational therapy assistants and aides work full time, but part-time work is common. Their schedules may include work in the evenings or on weekends to accommodate clients’ schedules.”
Median pay by work setting
BLS publishes separate industry medians for assistants and for aides. There is no combined assistant-and-aide industry list on that page.
Assistants only. “In May 2025, the median annual wages for occupational therapy assistants in some of the top industries in which they worked were as follows:”
- Home healthcare services — $77,310
- Nursing care facilities (skilled nursing facilities) — $76,780
- Offices of physical, occupational and speech therapists, and audiologists — $70,740
- Hospitals; state, local, and private — $67,020
- Educational services; state, local, and private — $60,920
Aides only (a different job). “In May 2025, the median annual wages for occupational therapy aides in some of the top industries in which they worked were as follows:”
- Nursing care facilities (skilled nursing facilities) — $52,000
- Hospitals; state, local, and private — $39,430
- Offices of other health practitioners — $38,500
National medians by industry from the Pay section of the BLS page. All-industry medians: assistants $72,300; aides $39,160; combined assistants and aides $70,800 (see OTA pay and outlook). State and area wage tables are not copied here.
This site’s career pages describe the licensed or certified OTA/COTA path. See how to become an OTA/COTA.
These are national BLS figures. Rules about where and how you may practice come from the jurisdiction board, not from BLS. Confirm current figures on the official BLS page.