What it pays
Government survey numbers — not estimates, not ads.
Half of all Occupational Therapy Aides in the U.S. earn more than $39,160 a year — the middle 80% land between $29,430 and $70,200. About 4,310 people in the U.S. do this work. Figures are for the U.S. occupation group “Occupational Therapy Aides”. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics survey, published 2025.) In India, Service and sales workers earn about ₹15,575 a month on average — around ₹1.9 lakh a year (government PLFS survey via ILOSTAT, occupation-family figure).
$39,160typical pay / year
4,310people in this work
$70,200+top 10% earn
₹1.9 lakha year in India (family avg)
Think you get this job?Six quick questions on how it really works — with a hint and the reason behind every answer.
Test yourself →The work, task by task
These are the real jobs-to-be-done, not a wish list. Each task shows where we found it, and the prompt underneath is written for that exact task.
Move3
Evaluate a client's ability to function
+Assess James O'Neil's current ability to dress, use the bathroom and prepare a simple meal, record observed…
Evaluate a client's ability to function
+Assess James O'Neil's current ability to dress, use the bathroom and prepare a simple meal, record observed limitations and safety risks, note vocational implications, and draft recommended functional goals for the therapist to review by end of shift.
The tools that do the workElectronic medical record EMRjob descriptionsO*NETWikipedia
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Escort clients to and from treatment areas
+Meet Claire Ruiz at reception, escort her along the shortest safe route to treatment room 3, assist her with…
Escort clients to and from treatment areas
+Meet Claire Ruiz at reception, escort her along the shortest safe route to treatment room 3, assist her with transfers and mobility aids, note any gait or balance concerns in her chart, then return her to reception after session ends.
The tools that do the workMEDITECHjob descriptionsO*NET
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Prepare treatment areas and equipment
+Set up treatment room 2 with the tray, therapy putty, weighted utensils and clean towels, check equipment for…
Prepare treatment areas and equipment
+Set up treatment room 2 with the tray, therapy putty, weighted utensils and clean towels, check equipment for faults, confirm infection control supplies are stocked, and update the room checklist in the record before the 9:30 group arrives.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Exceljob descriptionsO*NET
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Care2
Observe clients during therapy sessions
+Observe Li Wei during her fine motor exercises, note task completion, assistance level and any new pain or…
Observe clients during therapy sessions
+Observe Li Wei during her fine motor exercises, note task completion, assistance level and any new pain or fatigue, document objective observations and time stamps for the therapist to review immediately after the session.
The tools that do the workElectronic medical record EMRjob descriptionsO*NET
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Supervise patients in choosing activities
+Supervise Ramon Ortega as he selects activities from the adaptive kitchen station, encourage safe choices,…
Supervise patients in choosing activities
+Supervise Ramon Ortega as he selects activities from the adaptive kitchen station, encourage safe choices, assess his independence and decision-making, record preferred activities and any safety concerns for goal setting.
The tools that do the workMEDITECHjob descriptionsO*NET
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Keeping the record1
Help clients complete paperwork
+Sit with Daniel and his caregiver in the therapy room this morning, read aloud each section of the intake and…
Help clients complete paperwork
+Sit with Daniel and his caregiver in the therapy room this morning, read aloud each section of the intake and benefits forms, answer questions about medical history and consent, complete legible entries, and file the signed originals in the chart before lunch.
The tools that do the workElectronic medical record EMRMicrosoft Wordjob descriptionsWikipedia
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The daily work14
Support balancing responsibilities
+Help me put together a one-week schedule and quick-task checklist that balances patient therapy sessions,…
Support balancing responsibilities
+Help me put together a one-week schedule and quick-task checklist that balances patient therapy sessions, hygiene assistance, charting time, and short breaks so I can hand it to the morning OT to cover when I float between two wards this Friday.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft OutlookWikipedia
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Vocational rehabilitation
+Create a three-stage vocational rehab plan for Mark Moreno that maps his current lifting limits, graded task…
Vocational rehabilitation
+Create a three-stage vocational rehab plan for Mark Moreno that maps his current lifting limits, graded task progressions for two weeks, and clear home exercise and work-simulation tasks we can review with vocational services on Tuesday.
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Assist with clerical tasks like scheduling
+Schedule new and follow-up occupational therapy sessions for Maria Santos and two vocational rehab clients…
Assist with clerical tasks like scheduling
+Schedule new and follow-up occupational therapy sessions for Maria Santos and two vocational rehab clients next week, confirm room availability and therapist assignments, block 45-minute slots, and send patients appointment reminders by Thursday.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Outlookjob descriptionsO*NET
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Demonstrate therapy techniques, such as manual and creative arts and games.
+Demonstrate a 20-minute manual dexterity activity and a 30-minute creative arts game to John Rivera today at…
Demonstrate therapy techniques, such as manual and creative arts and games.
+Demonstrate a 20-minute manual dexterity activity and a 30-minute creative arts game to John Rivera today at 10:00, show safe hand placements, model adaptations for left-hand use, and note client responses for the therapist's progress note.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordO*NET
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Manage intradepartmental infection control and equipment security.
+Inspect treatment rooms and shared equipment this morning, replace three torn disposable covers, log current…
Manage intradepartmental infection control and equipment security.
+Inspect treatment rooms and shared equipment this morning, replace three torn disposable covers, log current disinfectant stock and last-clean dates, quarantine any damaged devices, and notify facilities and the charge therapist of outstanding repairs.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelO*NET
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Adjust and repair assistive devices and make adaptive changes to other equipment and to environments.
+Measure and adjust a bedside reacher and wheelchair footrest for Mrs. Patel, tighten loose fasteners, add…
Adjust and repair assistive devices and make adaptive changes to other equipment and to environments.
+Measure and adjust a bedside reacher and wheelchair footrest for Mrs. Patel, tighten loose fasteners, add non-slip tape where needed, and document the changes and client tolerance in the equipment log and the therapist's handoff.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordO*NET
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Assist educational specialists or clinical psychologists in administering situational or diagnostic tests to measure client's abilities or progress.
+Assist the clinical psychologist with administering the situational ADL checklist to three clients this…
Assist educational specialists or clinical psychologists in administering situational or diagnostic tests to measure client's abilities or progress.
+Assist the clinical psychologist with administering the situational ADL checklist to three clients this afternoon, read instructions aloud, time each task, record observed cues and assistance required, and hand completed checklists to the specialist for scoring.
The tools that do the workElectronic medical record EMRO*NET
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Answer telephones and handle billing forms
+Answer incoming calls for the therapy unit, verify insurance and billing codes for Mr. Kim and two outpatient…
Answer telephones and handle billing forms
+Answer incoming calls for the therapy unit, verify insurance and billing codes for Mr. Kim and two outpatient visits, complete and file the billing forms, and escalate any missing authorisations to the billing supervisor before end of day.
The tools that do the workMEDITECHjob descriptions
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Determine occupational needs of clients with SUD
+Review James Carter's intake notes, current medication list and discharge summary, then list occupational…
Determine occupational needs of clients with SUD
+Review James Carter's intake notes, current medication list and discharge summary, then list occupational barriers tied to his substance use, functional hygiene deficits, vocational risks, and immediate safety concerns to discuss with the treatment team by Thursday morning.
The tools that do the workElectronic medical record EMRWikipedia
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Execute assessments related to occupational performance
+Schedule and prepare the occupational performance checklist for Maria Lopez, administer observed ADL and IADL…
Execute assessments related to occupational performance
+Schedule and prepare the occupational performance checklist for Maria Lopez, administer observed ADL and IADL tasks, record timed results and patient-reported difficulties, then summarize findings and recommended next-step assessments for the therapist within 48 hours.
The tools that do the workMEDITECHWikipedia
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Create prevention programs for substance use
+Draft a three-session prevention plan for the Monday outpatient group focusing on trigger recognition,…
Create prevention programs for substance use
+Draft a three-session prevention plan for the Monday outpatient group focusing on trigger recognition, hygiene routines, and work-readiness skills, include session objectives, materials list, and how to measure attendance and engagement.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordMicrosoft OutlookWikipedia
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Assess the likelihood of relapse
+Using last six weeks of contact notes for Anthony Reid, list observable warning signs, missed appointments,…
Assess the likelihood of relapse
+Using last six weeks of contact notes for Anthony Reid, list observable warning signs, missed appointments, changes in hygiene or work functioning, and a ranked relapse-risk statement with recommended monitoring steps for the clinical lead by end of day.
The tools that do the workElectronic medical record EMRWikipedia
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Address development of coping strategies
+Develop a brief coping-strategy sheet for Sophie Nguyen that teaches three grounding techniques, a simple…
Address development of coping strategies
+Develop a brief coping-strategy sheet for Sophie Nguyen that teaches three grounding techniques, a simple daily routine to reduce cravings, and prompts for contacting her sponsor, then upload it to her care folder and notify the therapist.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordMicrosoft OutlookWikipedia
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Assist in rebuilding roles
+Map David Kim's previous work, family and volunteer roles, identify two realistic role-rebuilding goals with…
Assist in rebuilding roles
+Map David Kim's previous work, family and volunteer roles, identify two realistic role-rebuilding goals with small weekly steps and community resources for skill practice, then add the goals to his plan and flag for the vocational rehab specialist.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelElectronic medical record EMRWikipedia
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Says who?
These are the pages we read to build this. Open any of them and check us.
The logs, files & records this job keeps
Shared with other careers — the same record means something different in each.
Related careers
Same family of work — each with its own tasks and prompts.
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Built on public evidence: O*NET®, ESCO, Wikipedia, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ILOSTAT. All sources & licenses
Built on public evidence: O*NET®, ESCO, Wikipedia, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ILOSTAT. All sources & licenses