Career comparison
Occupational Therapy Assistant vs. Physical Therapist Assistant
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Occupational therapy assistants earn more at the median ($72,300 vs. $68,380), while occupational therapy assistants usually get to work faster (2 years of training). Occupational therapy assistants help patients practice everyday skills under an occupational therapist. Physical therapist assistants help patients recover strength and movement after injuries, surgeries and illness.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Occupational Therapy Assistant | Physical Therapist Assistant | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $72,300 ($34.76/hr) | $68,380 ($32.88/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $51,490 – $89,780 | $47,750 – $89,510 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +21.5% (much faster than average) | +23.0% (much faster than average) |
| Openings per year | 8,100 | 18,500 |
| Typical entry education | Associate's degree | Associate's degree |
| Training time | 2 years | 2 years |
| Key credential | COTA (NBCOT) | State PTA license or certification |
| Work setting | OTAs work in hospitals, rehab centers, nursing homes, schools and home health.. | PTAs work in outpatient clinics, hospitals, skilled nursing and rehab facilities, schools and patients’ homes. |
What each job does
Occupational Therapy Assistant
- Lead therapy activities
- Teach daily living skills
- Train on adaptive equipment
- Help children with fine motor skills
- Track and report progress
Physical Therapist Assistant
- Carry out treatment plans written by the physical therapist
- Lead therapeutic exercise and stretching sessions
- Train patients in walking, transfers and assistive devices
- Apply modalities such as heat, ice and electrical stimulation
- Teach home exercise programs
How they’re similar
Both careers involve helping others, hands-on work, in-demand, and working with people. Both are part of the healthcare field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose occupational therapy assistant if…
- I want to help people regain independence
- I’m creative
- I like hands-on work
Choose physical therapist assistant if…
- I like helping people get better over time
- I enjoy exercise and how the body moves
- I’m encouraging when people struggle
Still torn? Take the Occupational Therapy Assistant fit quiz and the Physical Therapist Assistant fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, occupational therapy assistant or physical therapist assistant?
Occupational Therapy Assistants earn more at the median: $72,300 versus $68,380 for physical therapist assistants, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Occupational Therapy Assistants typically train faster (2 years) than physical therapist assistants (2 years).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects physical therapist assistants to grow +23.0% from 2025–35, compared with +21.5% for occupational therapy assistants.