Occupational Therapy Assistants
Healthcare Support
Treatment follows a plan from an occupational therapist, which the assistant may help develop under state rules, aimed at independent daily function. Activities get chosen to match what a client can do; performance is watched, and progress, attitude, and behavior go into the record, in writing or in person, for the supervisor. Families get instruction in home programs, basic living skills, and how to use adaptive equipment. Sessions center on practice and encouragement; formal training is typical, and the job includes ongoing classes. A better match if you like teaching practical skills, tracking small gains over sessions, and following a structured therapy plan.
Typical education: Associate’s Degree (2-year)
Annual Median Wage in Field (2025)
$72'300
Median Wage Market Position
$72'300
What you might do
- Carry out treatment plans for everyday independence
- Teach home programs and use of adaptive equipment
- Select therapy activities that fit patients' abilities
- Monitor therapy work and keep patients encouraged
- Record progress, attitudes, and behavior in files
- Report results to the supervising occupational therapist
Skills that matter
- Teaching home programs and living skills
- Showing families how adaptive equipment works
- Matching activities to a client's abilities
- Tracking progress toward independent living
- Reporting attitudes and behavior to supervisors
- Reading treatment plans before each session
AI & the future of this role
Guiding therapeutic activities and adapting sessions to each patient’s limits depend on trained hands-on judgment under a therapist. Progress notes might be drafted faster with software, but licensed clinical support and aging-related demand still favor this role.
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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