---
title: "Occupational Therapy Assistant: Path and Pay"
description: "How to become an occupational therapy assistant: ACOTE-accredited associate programs, the NBCOT COTA exam and May 2025 BLS pay."
url: https://careerdirecting.com/careers/occupational-therapy-assistant/
updated: 2026-10-09
site: CareerDirecting
---

Healthcare · OTA

# Occupational therapy assistant Helping people with everyday living.

Healthcare career profile

Occupational therapy assistants help people relearn daily tasks like dressing, cooking and writing after an injury, illness or disability. The work is creative and practical, and the two-year path leads to strong pay.

In short

Occupational therapy assistants usually need an associate degree from an ACOTE-accredited program and must pass the NBCOT exam to become a COTA; states regulate the job. They earned a median of $72,300 in May 2025, and BLS projects 21.5% growth from 2025 to 2035.

**Job numbers from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics** Updated October 9, 2026. Pay figures are national medians and are not a promise of what you will earn.

| Median pay | $72,300 a year, about $34.76 an hour (May 2025) |
|---|---|
| Typical way in | Associate degree |
| Jobs in the U.S. | About 52,200 (2025) |
| Outlook, 2025 to 2035 | Projected growth of 21.5% |
| Openings each year | About 8,100 on average, including replacements |
| Credential | COTA through the NBCOT exam |
| Where they work | Therapy offices, hospitals, schools, nursing homes |

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025 to 2035 and May 2025 wages, [BLS](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables/occupational-projections-and-characteristics.htm). National figures; pay where you live can be higher or lower, and starting pay is lower than the median.

## The work

You carry out treatment plans an occupational therapist designs: practicing buttoning a shirt with a stroke survivor, adapting a child's classroom tools, or setting up a kitchen so an older adult can cook safely. You track progress and adjust activities.

## OTA vs PTA

Physical therapy assistants focus on movement and strength; occupational therapy assistants focus on daily tasks and independence. Both are fast-growing two-year paths.

## Questions people ask

### How long is OTA school?

About two years, including fieldwork.

### Do OTAs need a license?

Most states regulate OTAs, usually requiring the NBCOT exam.

### Where do OTAs earn the most?

Pay varies by setting; home health and nursing care often pay more than schools.

## Sources

- [BLS Employment Projections 2025 to 2035, Table 1.2 (occupational projections and worker characteristics)](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables/occupational-projections-and-characteristics.htm)
- [BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Occupational therapy assistants](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/occupational-therapy-assistants-and-aides.htm)

## Where to go next

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