Career comparison
Occupational Therapist vs. Occupational Therapy Assistant
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Occupational therapists earn more at the median ($100,330 vs. $72,300), while occupational therapy assistants usually get to work faster (2 years of training). Occupational therapists help people do everyday activities after injury, illness or disability. Occupational therapy assistants help patients practice everyday skills under an occupational therapist.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Occupational Therapist | Occupational Therapy Assistant | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $100,330 ($48.24/hr) | $72,300 ($34.76/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $71,690 – $131,950 | $51,490 – $89,780 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +14.8% (much faster than average) | +21.5% (much faster than average) |
| Openings per year | 10,000 | 8,100 |
| Typical entry education | Master's degree | Associate's degree |
| Training time | 6–7 years | 2 years |
| Key credential | NBCOT certification (OTR) | COTA (NBCOT) |
| Work setting | OTs work in hospitals, rehab centers, schools, nursing facilities, clinics and patients’ homes.. | OTAs work in hospitals, rehab centers, nursing homes, schools and home health.. |
What each job does
Occupational Therapist
- Evaluate patients’ abilities and needs
- Set therapy goals
- Teach daily living skills
- Recommend adaptive equipment
- Suggest home and workplace changes
Occupational Therapy Assistant
- Lead therapy activities
- Teach daily living skills
- Train on adaptive equipment
- Help children with fine motor skills
- Track and report progress
How they’re similar
Both careers involve helping others, hands-on work, creative work, and working with people. Both are part of the healthcare field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose occupational therapist if…
- I want to help people live independently
- I’m creative with solutions
- I’m patient
Choose occupational therapy assistant if…
- I want to help people regain independence
- I’m creative
- I like hands-on work
Still torn? Take the Occupational Therapist fit quiz and the Occupational Therapy Assistant fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant?
Occupational Therapists earn more at the median: $100,330 versus $72,300 for occupational therapy assistants, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Occupational Therapy Assistants typically train faster (2 years) than occupational therapists (6–7 years).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects occupational therapy assistants to grow +21.5% from 2025–35, compared with +14.8% for occupational therapists.