Occupational Therapy Assistant Salaries

By an allied health world contributing writer
Published: February, 17 2011

Find the right school for you

Degree:

Subject:

Program:

What is the average occupational therapy assistant salary?

According to the US Labor Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median wage of an occupational therapy assistant is $48,000, and the top ten percent earn more than $65,000. Salaries vary based on geography and setting. The top median salaries were earned in home health agencies, with a median of $53,000. Occupational therapy assistants in school settings, since the work year is shorter, earn a median salary of $41,000.

Some salary averages for occupational therapy assistants in major US metropolitan areas:

San Francisco: $77,000
Dallas: $61,000
Atlanta: $66,000
Kansas City: $52,000

Learn more about occupational therapy assistant schools.
Occupational Therapy Career Path

What are the common employment classifications for occupational therapy assistants?

Occupational therapy assistants often choose from various employment classifications. While a professional may seek full time employment that includes vacation time, sick time and health benefits, others may seek part time employment. A common classification of therapists is the per diem category. Per diem means “per day.” Many organizations find that they need back up for their regular therapists in the event of illness, vacations or fluctuations in the clinical caseload. A health care organization will try to minimize the impact on patients when a therapist needs to be off or away, so they may elect to call a per diem therapist.

Because work is unpredictable for a per diem therapist, and because the hours a per diem therapist works don’t usually meet the minimum requirements for leave or health benefits, the hourly wage for a per diem therapist is often higher than a regular therapist who has more secure work and is eligible for benefits. While the decision to accept a regular position over a per diem position is a personal one, many people in the field appreciate the flexibility. In fact, it’s not uncommon for someone to have a regular job, but also be a per diem therapist at another organization for times when it is helpful to work extra hours.

What can improve my earning potential as an occupational therapy assistant?

Experience is the biggest factor that influences earning potential for an occupational therapy assistant, and this of course comes with time. Because occupational therapy assistant programs provide training that is broad in scope so as to produce graduates with the widest number of employment options, there is much to learn about specific populations and specialized therapeutics. An OTA who decides to pursue additional training and continued education that includes new methods of therapy will be well positioned to negotiate a higher salary.

Most states that license occupational therapy assistants also require regular continuing education in order to renew the license. Continuing education requirements are typically 16-24 hours of courses every two years, although each state sets its own requirements. Some employers even pay for continuing education as part of a benefits package. Occupational therapy assistants have some choices when it comes to continuing education, so they often deepen their knowledge and expertise specific to the population that is served where they work. Becoming an expert in some of the therapeutic principles that are essential to the health care organization demonstrates value and commitment to the organization, which helps contribute to salary increases.

Occupational therapy as a profession is regulated differently in different states with regard to the use of physical agents and modalities, commonly referred to by the acronym, PAMs. PAMs include the application of heat, ice, ultrasound and electric stimulation. Authorization to use these agents during therapy is regulated on a state level, but many occupational therapists find their professional range is enhanced by getting PAMs certification as required by their state. OTAs also often find that completing the coursework to be PAMs certified is a benefit to their organization.

Do OTAs ever bill insurance companies?

While an outpatient clinic might be billing insurance companies directly, an occupational therapy assistant would not be in a position to do this. As the treatment plan is developed and overseen by the lead occupational therapist, an OTA would not bill for his or her own services directly. The treatment provided by an OTA is under the umbrella of the occupational therapist and as such, responsibility for billing would fall to someone else.