Physical Therapist Assistants vs Occupational Therapy Assistants
Median pay is about $4k higher for Occupational Therapy Assistants. Both usually start with the same education: associate's.
marks the higher pay or growth. Education, difficulty and the AI rows depend on what you want, so they are not marked.
| Measure | Physical Therapist Assistants | Occupational Therapy Assistants |
|---|---|---|
| Pay | ||
| Median pay | $68,380 | $72,300, higher |
| Entry pay 25th percentile | $59,820 | $61,710, higher |
| Experienced pay 75th percentile | $78,680 | $79,160, higher |
| Outlook, 2025 to 2035 | ||
| Projected growth | +23% Growing fast, higher | +22% Growing fast |
| Openings a year | 18,500 | 8,100 |
| Getting in | ||
| Typical education | Associate's | Associate's |
| Difficulty modeled | 2.6 / 5 | 2.4 / 5 |
| AI | ||
| Displacement risk modeled | Very low | Very low |
| AI exposure modeled, percentile | 16th pct | 20th pct |
Skills
Both lean on the same top skills: active listening, speaking, monitoring, reading comprehension, writing, critical thinking.
More comparisons
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Pay and outlook: BLS (OEWS 2025, Employment Projections 2025-2035). Skills: O*NET 30.3. Difficulty, displacement risk and AI exposure are modeled estimates. How these numbers are made.