How much does an occupational therapy assistant make an hour?
This article provides an overview of the average earnings of occupational therapy assistants and identifies factors that influence their compensation.
Before we conclude, we’ll list some benefits of becoming an expert in this field.
OT Assistant Salary
OTAs are healthcare professionals providing therapy under certified occupational therapists’ direction.
They play multiple essential roles in the healthcare industry, such as helping patients recover or improving their daily lives and work.
These experts can also help clients perform therapeutic activities, educate them on the use of medical equipment, and more.
If you’re intrigued by fulfilling these tasks, consider becoming an OTA.
The career is backed by job security and multiple job chances. But how much does an OTA make? This is one aspect to think about when opting for this professional path.
Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant Salary
Based on the statistics of BLS in 2021, practitioners in this field receive an average annual pay of $63,560. When broken into hours, it falls around $30.56.
The average traveling occupational therapist assistant salary is around $1000 – $1500 per week.
However, the salary can vary across states in the country, and it’s unlikely that new workers can earn this much. Allow us to consider other factors that influence the OTA pay.
Occupational Therapy Assistant Pay | Determinants
As mentioned, experts’ salaries in this field are determined based on certain essential factors. These include geographical location, specialization, level of education, experience, certification, and place of work.
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Geographical Location
Where you reside is pivotal in determining how much you’ll make.
Generally, regions with a high cost of living, demand for experts, and local economic factors pay OTAs the highest amount. This is to help them settle their living bills without hitting the bank.
States with lower living costs and higher demand for OTAs pay practitioners lower amounts based on their economic level.
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Specialization
The field of occupational therapy is extensive and encompasses several specialties. Some concentration areas are more lucrative than others.
For instance, the average traveling ota salary is often higher than other specialties.
Practitioners specializing in those areas are well compensated for their specialized skills and complexity. When deciding on a career path in this field, you should opt for specialties that pay more.
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Level of Education and Experience
Educational background and experience level are significant factors that directly correlate with your earning potential. Workers with undergrad or master’s degrees typically earn more wages and are likelier to get top-paying job chances.
Experience in a field leads to higher pay than those with zero or lower experience. For instance, OTAs with less than a year of experience receive $58,427 annually.
Then, those with three or more years of experience are paid above the national average.
You can increase your earning potential by seeking out avenues of career advancement. Voluntary services and entry-level jobs are a few ways to gain more experience.
You can also seek career advancement through positions related to admin, teaching health risk reduction, OTA director, and more.
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Work Setting
Occupational therapy assistants can work in multiple environments. Therefore, your work or employer’s facility can significantly determine potential earnings.
While some organizations pay handsomely, others don’t. Considering this factor when accepting a job offer would be best.
States that Pay OTA the Highest Salary
Some states are famous for offering the best salaries for experts in this field. To maximize your earning potential, consider exploring jobs in the top-paying states.
A few of them are New Jersey, Texas, California, Nevada, Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware. OTAs in these regions receive $67,090 to $80,670 per year.
Top-Paying Cities for OTAs
Similarly, some metropolitan areas pay workers in this field handsomely.
They include San Francisco, Ontario, CA; Oakland, Hayward, CA; and Bakersfield, CA. Others are Oxnard Thousand Oaks, Ventura, CA; Modesto, CA; Texarkana; San Jose, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, TX-AR; and Riverside-San Bernardino.
These cities pay OTAs an average annual salary of $78,440 to $94,590. You can seek work opportunities in these regions to earn a lot.
States that the Lowest Salary for Occupational Therapist
While some states are applauded for paying the highest OTAs, some conditions still pay the lowest salary. Minnesota, Nebraska, Wisconsin, South Dakota, and Michigan are among them.
They pay these experts around $43,550 to $53,160 annually. If you work in these regions, consider moving to the top-paying states to improve your earnings.
Why OTAs Salary is High
OTAs earn significantly more than other professionals in the industry due to several factors.
These include their expertise, education, experience, specialization, and geographic location. They further add to their higher earning potential compared to other sector experts.
The first factor is that they are accountable for carrying out the details of the OT plan. Despite emotional, physical, and developmental changes, the plan often helps people achieve everyday living goals.
Another reason is that OTAs can accomplish tremendous goals for people of all ages with disorders, diseases, and circumstances.
As an expert in this field, you can help a grade-schooler in a wheelchair feel confident attending school and interacting with peers. You also assist young adults injured in a car accident to resume life’s activities.
Being able to help so many segments of the population can also contribute to the demand for OTAs. This will further drive the compensation of workers.
The high pay of these experts is due to various reasons, but we need more time to review them all.
Increasing Your Pay as an Occupational Therapy Assistant
It’s possible you could be less satisfied with your average earning potential. If that’s true, there are different approaches you can explore to increase your salary.
First, as highlighted above, you can move to regions with a higher average income. But before doing that, you must weigh these improvements against moving costs, the cost of living, and a competitive job market.
You can also pick a higher-paying facility and seek a job. Such facilities include hospitals, home health occupational therapy, skilled nursing homes, and academia.
Pursuing continuing education is another fantastic way to increase your salary potential.
Most employers are willing to pay a premium to retain workers with additional skills beyond the minimum required for some positions.
Occupational therapy assistants receive one of the highest salaries among other healthcare professionals. However, the amount you’ll take home depends on the abovementioned factors.
Before you accept any job offer, ensure you weigh these factors.