Career comparison
Occupational Therapy Aide vs. Physical Therapist Aide
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Occupational therapy aides earn more at the median ($39,160 vs. $35,240), while occupational therapy aides usually get to work faster (1–4 weeks of training). Occupational therapy aides prepare therapy areas and help occupational therapy teams. Physical therapist aides help physical therapy teams set up, clean and keep patients moving.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Occupational Therapy Aide | Physical Therapist Aide | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $39,160 ($18.83/hr) | $35,240 ($16.94/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $29,430 – $70,200 | $25,360 – $47,780 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +3.6% (about as fast as average) | +4.0% (about as fast as average) |
| Openings per year | 600 | 6,400 |
| Typical entry education | High school diploma or equivalent | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Training time | 1–4 weeks | 1–4 weeks |
| Key credential | CPR | CPR |
| Work setting | Aides work in hospitals, rehab centers and outpatient clinics.. | PT aides work in outpatient clinics, hospitals and sports medicine centers.. |
What each job does
Occupational Therapy Aide
- Prepare treatment areas
- Clean and organize equipment
- Transport patients
- Schedule appointments
- Assist with activities under supervision
Physical Therapist Aide
- Set up equipment
- Clean treatment areas
- Help patients move
- Prepare hot and cold packs
- Assist with exercises under supervision
How they’re similar
Both careers involve helping others, indoor work, and teamwork. Both are part of the healthcare field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose occupational therapy aide if…
- I want to explore therapy careers
- I’m organized
- I like helping
Choose physical therapist aide if…
- I like fitness and health
- I want to explore PT
- I’m friendly
Still torn? Take the Occupational Therapy Aide fit quiz and the Physical Therapist Aide fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, occupational therapy aide or physical therapist aide?
Occupational Therapy Aides earn more at the median: $39,160 versus $35,240 for physical therapist aides, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Occupational Therapy Aides typically train faster (1–4 weeks) than physical therapist aides (1–4 weeks).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects physical therapist aides to grow +4.0% from 2025–35, compared with +3.6% for occupational therapy aides.