Becoming an Occupational Therapy Assistant via Online Education?
At the very least, online education can help you lay a foundation and/or open up alternate career paths.
Penn Foster Career School
is a US school (accredited) offering occupational therapy assistant courses to train individuals
to become top-notch
occupational therapy assistants,
medical assistants,
medical office assistants,
registered occupational therapists,
certified occupational therapist assistant/licenseds, etc.
Currently, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics there are 26,680 people employed as
occupational therapist assistants alone in America, and their average annual salary is
$50,830.
Physician assistants make on average $84,830
per year and there are about 76,900
of them employed today.
Colleges and universities like Penn Foster Career School that provide online education are successfully launching workers into
this
field.
Typical Work Locations for an Occupational Therapy Assistant
- rehabilitation center
- orthopedic unit
- physical therapy unit
- sports rehabilitation center
- hospital
- university
- insurance company
- sports club
- cruise ship
- sports clinic
Potential Advantages and Benefits of Working as an Occupational Therapy Assistant
- good pay
- get to know interesting people
- travel
- get to help sort out peoples lives
- paid vacations
- good benefits
- get to have your own office
- get to make your own hours
- get to continue learning
- get to work in a field that you enjoy
Potential Drawbacks
- long hours
- boring work
- have to listen to other peoples problems
- less time to deal with your own life problems
- have to deal with frustrating patients
- have to work nights sometimes
- have to work weekends sometimes
- spend most of your time indoors
- less time for family
- pay is reasonable but not great
Related Professions to Consider
- Occupational Therapy Assistant
- Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant
- Physical Therapist
- Occupational Therapist
- PRN Occupational Therapist
- Occupational Therapy Assistant
- Licensed Physical Therapy Assistant
- Allied Health Occupational Therapy Assistant
- Occupational Therapy Assistant Department Director
- Clinical Track Faculty
Possible Interview Questions When Applying to be an Occupational Therapy Assistant
- Do you have a valid drivers license?
- Do you have any driving prohibitions or restrictions that will interfere with your duties?
- Tell me about a time when you had to deal with an uncooperative and maybe even combative patient?
- Tell me about someone who you worked with or for that you did not get along with?
- Tell about a time when you identified a problem before anyone else?
- List 5 traits required to be a successful occupational therapist?
- What are your weakest traits?
- How have your experiences and education prepared you to be successful as a occupational therapist?
- Tell me about yourself?
- What is the most rewarding aspect of the job?
Common Collaborating Professions
- Therapist
- Counselor
- Occupational Counselor
- Psychologist
- School Counselor
- Rehab Professional
- Job Counselor
- Laborer
- Assistant
- Administrative Assistant
Occupational Therapy Assistant Training books
Occupational Therapy Assistant (More) Popular books
Potential Companies to Work For
Common College Majors
- Counseling
- Dental Hygiene
- EMT Paramedic
- Geronotology
- Nursing
- Psychology
- Pharmacy
- Forensic Medicine
- Clinical Psycology
- Clinical Laboratory
Occupational Therapy Assistant Salary Information
Category: Physician assistants
| Total # Employed in the US |
76,900 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$40.78/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $26.86 |
$34.21 |
$40.58 |
$47.86 |
$55.33 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$84,830 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $55,880 |
$71,160 |
$84,420 |
$99,540 |
$115,080 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 1.0% |
6.7% |
9.0% |
14.2% |
30.6% |
26.6% |
12.0% |
|
Physician assistants — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| New York |
$49.76/hr
|
$103,500
|
| Delaware |
$46.34/hr
|
$96,380
|
| Florida |
$45.97/hr
|
$95,610
|
| Alaska |
$44.32/hr
|
$92,180
|
| North Dakota |
$44.28/hr
|
$92,100
|
| Colorado |
$44.07/hr
|
$91,670
|
| Mississippi |
$43.71/hr
|
$90,920
|
| District of Columbia |
$43.63/hr
|
$90,760
|
| North Carolina |
$43.32/hr
|
$90,100
|
| Tennessee |
$43.15/hr
|
$89,760
|
| Wyoming |
$42.63/hr
|
$88,670
|
| Missouri |
$42.46/hr
|
$88,310
|
| Guam |
$42.4/hr
|
$88,190
|
| Oklahoma |
$42.18/hr
|
$87,740
|
| Nebraska |
$42.17/hr
|
$87,720
|
| Hawaii |
$42.11/hr
|
$87,590
|
| Virginia |
$42/hr
|
$87,360
|
| Wisconsin |
$41.98/hr
|
$87,330
|
| Montana |
$41.81/hr
|
$86,960
|
| Michigan |
$41.32/hr
|
$85,950
|
| New Jersey |
$41.21/hr
|
$85,720
|
| Idaho |
$40.67/hr
|
$84,590
|
| Arkansas |
$40.6/hr
|
$84,460
|
| South Carolina |
$40.33/hr
|
$83,890
|
| New Mexico |
$39.79/hr
|
$82,770
|
| Louisiana |
$39.7/hr
|
$82,580
|
| Puerto Rico |
$39.57/hr
|
$82,300
|
| Maryland |
$39.53/hr
|
$82,230
|
| Maine |
$39.47/hr
|
$82,100
|
| Oregon |
$39.35/hr
|
$81,850
|
| Connecticut |
$39.26/hr
|
$81,650
|
| West Virginia |
$39.2/hr
|
$81,530
|
| Iowa |
$39.09/hr
|
$81,310
|
| Indiana |
$38.35/hr
|
$79,760
|
| Alabama |
$38.34/hr
|
$79,750
|
| Kentucky |
$37.15/hr
|
$77,270
|
| South Dakota |
$36.91/hr
|
$76,770
|
| Pennsylvania |
$36.66/hr
|
$76,260
|
| Kansas |
$34.23/hr
|
$71,200
|
| Massachusetts |
$33.86/hr
|
$70,420
|
| Washington |
$33.21/hr
|
$69,080
|
| New Hampshire |
$32.88/hr
|
$68,390
|
| Utah |
$32.77/hr
|
$68,170
|
| Ohio |
$31.74/hr
|
$66,020
|
| California |
$30.83/hr
|
$64,120
|
| Nevada |
$26.24/hr
|
$54,570
|
Category: Occupational therapist assistants
| Total # Employed in the US |
26,680 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$24.44/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $16.03 |
$19.81 |
$24.16 |
$28.8 |
$32.91 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$50,830 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $33,350 |
$41,200 |
$50,250 |
$59,890 |
$68,450 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 1.3% |
1.3% |
10.1% |
74.1% |
11.5% |
1.0% |
0.7% |
|
Occupational therapist assistants — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Wyoming |
$31.68/hr
|
$65,900
|
| Iowa |
$30.5/hr
|
$63,430
|
| North Dakota |
$28.82/hr
|
$59,940
|
| Hawaii |
$27.76/hr
|
$57,750
|
| Colorado |
$27.51/hr
|
$57,230
|
| Mississippi |
$26.96/hr
|
$56,080
|
| District of Columbia |
$26.65/hr
|
$55,440
|
| New York |
$26.56/hr
|
$55,230
|
| Delaware |
$26.36/hr
|
$54,830
|
| Oregon |
$25.3/hr
|
$52,620
|
| Virginia |
$24.91/hr
|
$51,820
|
| Idaho |
$24.87/hr
|
$51,740
|
| Massachusetts |
$24.8/hr
|
$51,580
|
| South Carolina |
$24.66/hr
|
$51,290
|
| Ohio |
$24.55/hr
|
$51,050
|
| Maryland |
$24.46/hr
|
$50,890
|
| Kansas |
$24.3/hr
|
$50,550
|
| Maine |
$24.29/hr
|
$50,520
|
| Tennessee |
$24.03/hr
|
$49,990
|
| California |
$23.97/hr
|
$49,850
|
| Kentucky |
$23.77/hr
|
$49,430
|
| Puerto Rico |
$23.71/hr
|
$49,320
|
| Arkansas |
$23.58/hr
|
$49,040
|
| South Dakota |
$23.4/hr
|
$48,670
|
| Alabama |
$23.25/hr
|
$48,350
|
| Wisconsin |
$23.22/hr
|
$48,290
|
| Missouri |
$23.2/hr
|
$48,260
|
| Washington |
$23.19/hr
|
$48,230
|
| New Hampshire |
$22.71/hr
|
$47,230
|
| North Carolina |
$22.6/hr
|
$47,000
|
| Utah |
$22.01/hr
|
$45,770
|
| Oklahoma |
$21.75/hr
|
$45,240
|
| Nevada |
$21.48/hr
|
$44,680
|
| Indiana |
$21.15/hr
|
$44,000
|
| Montana |
$21.11/hr
|
$43,910
|
| Louisiana |
$20.74/hr
|
$43,140
|
| Guam |
$20.54/hr
|
$42,720
|
| Connecticut |
$20.32/hr
|
$42,270
|
| New Mexico |
$20.26/hr
|
$42,140
|
| Pennsylvania |
$19.43/hr
|
$40,420
|
| Nebraska |
$19.28/hr
|
$40,100
|
| New Jersey |
$18.24/hr
|
$37,950
|
| West Virginia |
$16.42/hr
|
$34,160
|
| Michigan |
$15.97/hr
|
$33,220
|
Category: Occupational therapist aides
| Total # Employed in the US |
8,040 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$13.89/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $7.83 |
$9.38 |
$12.37 |
$15.98 |
$22.88 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$28,890 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $16,280 |
$19,520 |
$25,730 |
$33,230 |
$47,590 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 1.3% |
1.3% |
10.1% |
74.1% |
11.5% |
1.0% |
0.7% |
|
Occupational therapist aides — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Virginia |
$23.14/hr
|
$48,140
|
| Missouri |
$19.09/hr
|
$39,710
|
| Delaware |
$18.35/hr
|
$38,170
|
| Oregon |
$18.1/hr
|
$37,650
|
| Connecticut |
$17.83/hr
|
$37,100
|
| Wisconsin |
$15.95/hr
|
$33,180
|
| Maine |
$15.87/hr
|
$33,010
|
| Colorado |
$15.76/hr
|
$32,780
|
| Kansas |
$15.47/hr
|
$32,180
|
| Ohio |
$15.39/hr
|
$32,020
|
| Oklahoma |
$15.27/hr
|
$31,760
|
| Utah |
$15.2/hr
|
$31,620
|
| Montana |
$15.1/hr
|
$31,420
|
| South Dakota |
$14.84/hr
|
$30,870
|
| Mississippi |
$14.72/hr
|
$30,620
|
| Maryland |
$14.42/hr
|
$30,000
|
| Kentucky |
$14.37/hr
|
$29,890
|
| North Carolina |
$13.78/hr
|
$28,670
|
| Massachusetts |
$13.77/hr
|
$28,630
|
| Nebraska |
$13.74/hr
|
$28,580
|
| Alabama |
$13.68/hr
|
$28,440
|
| North Dakota |
$13.59/hr
|
$28,260
|
| Arkansas |
$13.56/hr
|
$28,210
|
| New Hampshire |
$13.51/hr
|
$28,100
|
| South Carolina |
$13.23/hr
|
$27,510
|
| Louisiana |
$13.21/hr
|
$27,480
|
| Hawaii |
$13.2/hr
|
$27,450
|
| Nevada |
$12.68/hr
|
$26,370
|
| Indiana |
$12.21/hr
|
$25,390
|
| Idaho |
$12.13/hr
|
$25,230
|
| Washington |
$10.83/hr
|
$22,530
|
| New Mexico |
$10.61/hr
|
$22,060
|
| California |
$10.56/hr
|
$21,970
|
| Wyoming |
$9.55/hr
|
$19,870
|
| Iowa |
$8.15/hr
|
$16,960
|
Category: Medical assistants
| Total # Employed in the US |
495,970 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$14.16/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $9.98 |
$11.57 |
$13.77 |
$16.23 |
$19.21 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$29,450 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $20,750 |
$24,060 |
$28,650 |
$33,760 |
$39,970 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 4.8% |
29.0% |
37.8% |
16.3% |
9.1% |
1.6% |
1.4% |
|
Medical assistants — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Florida |
$18.17/hr
|
$37,790
|
| Alaska |
$17.5/hr
|
$36,400
|
| Missouri |
$16.58/hr
|
$34,490
|
| Delaware |
$16.44/hr
|
$34,200
|
| Nebraska |
$15.8/hr
|
$32,870
|
| North Dakota |
$15.75/hr
|
$32,760
|
| New York |
$15.73/hr
|
$32,730
|
| Connecticut |
$15.65/hr
|
$32,550
|
| Indiana |
$15.47/hr
|
$32,180
|
| Puerto Rico |
$15.45/hr
|
$32,140
|
| Tennessee |
$15.42/hr
|
$32,070
|
| Virginia |
$15.37/hr
|
$31,960
|
| Oklahoma |
$15.21/hr
|
$31,640
|
| Mississippi |
$15.18/hr
|
$31,570
|
| Colorado |
$14.89/hr
|
$30,980
|
| North Carolina |
$14.7/hr
|
$30,570
|
| District of Columbia |
$14.69/hr
|
$30,550
|
| Kansas |
$14.59/hr
|
$30,340
|
| Arkansas |
$14.46/hr
|
$30,070
|
| Michigan |
$14.17/hr
|
$29,480
|
| Louisiana |
$13.96/hr
|
$29,050
|
| Iowa |
$13.9/hr
|
$28,910
|
| Hawaii |
$13.84/hr
|
$28,780
|
| Utah |
$13.78/hr
|
$28,670
|
| Montana |
$13.68/hr
|
$28,460
|
| Washington |
$13.66/hr
|
$28,410
|
| Oregon |
$13.63/hr
|
$28,340
|
| New Jersey |
$13.58/hr
|
$28,240
|
| Idaho |
$13.55/hr
|
$28,180
|
| New Mexico |
$13.54/hr
|
$28,160
|
| Kentucky |
$13.16/hr
|
$27,380
|
| South Carolina |
$13.16/hr
|
$27,370
|
| Wisconsin |
$13.04/hr
|
$27,120
|
| Wyoming |
$12.99/hr
|
$27,020
|
| Guam |
$12.95/hr
|
$26,940
|
| Ohio |
$12.79/hr
|
$26,590
|
| Pennsylvania |
$12.78/hr
|
$26,580
|
| Maine |
$12.78/hr
|
$26,580
|
| New Hampshire |
$12.77/hr
|
$26,560
|
| Maryland |
$12.73/hr
|
$26,470
|
| California |
$12.55/hr
|
$26,100
|
| South Dakota |
$12.48/hr
|
$25,950
|
| Massachusetts |
$12.26/hr
|
$25,490
|
| Nevada |
$12.17/hr
|
$25,310
|
| West Virginia |
$12.11/hr
|
$25,190
|
| Alabama |
$11.86/hr
|
$24,670
|
