Occupational Therapy Aides
Healthcare Support
Works under an occupational therapist or assistant, handling only the tasks they assign. The day often includes setting up the treatment room, keeping supplies stocked, and bringing patients to and from the work area. During sessions, they encourage patients, note attendance and progress in records, and report what they see to the therapist. They may also show simple therapy techniques—such as crafts or games—and explain adaptive equipment to patients and families. Suits people who like hands-on patient support, clear routines, and working as part of a therapy team.
Typical education: High School Diploma or GED
Annual Median Wage in Field (2025)
$39'160
Median Wage Market Position
$39'160
What you might do
- Help patients with physical needs during therapy
- Prepare treatment rooms and restock therapy supplies
- Transport patients to the occupational therapy area
- Record progress, attendance, and attitudes in charts
- Report how patients are doing to therapists
- Show families how to use adaptive equipment
Skills that matter
- Setting up rooms, materials, and equipment
- Restocking treatment and educational supplies
- Escorting patients to the therapy area
- Showing arts, crafts, and therapy games
- Noting attendance, progress, and attitudes
- Tending to patients' physical needs in session
AI & the future of this role
Room setup and delegated prep work are somewhat more routine, so scheduling or checklist tools could absorb bits of the day. Patient handling and therapist-directed tasks still require people on site, though the buffer looks thinner than for licensed assistants.
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Includes O*NET® 30.3 Database information by USDOL/ETA under CC BY 4.0; modified by LostInCareer. Wage/outlook from BLS. Attribution details