The median annual wage of occupational therapy assistants was $51,010 in May 2010. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $33,110 and the top 10 percent earned more than $70,790.
The median annual wage of occupational therapy aides was $27,430 in May 2010. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $17,440, and the top 10 percent earned more than $52,750.
Median annual wages in the industries employing the largest numbers of occupational therapy assistants in May 2010 were as follows:
| Home health care services | $54,950 |
| Nursing care facilities | 54,460 |
| Offices of physical, occupational and speech therapists, and audiologists | 53,910 |
| General medical and surgical hospitals; state, local, and private | 46,620 |
| Elementary and secondary schools; state, local, and private | 42,700 |
Median annual wages in the industries employing the largest numbers of occupational therapy aides in May 2010 were as follows:
| Specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals; state, local, and private | $28,510 |
| Nursing care facilities | 29,940 |
| General medical and surgical hospitals; state, local, and private | 27,810 |
| Offices of physical, occupational and speech therapists, and audiologists | 26,850 |
| Elementary and secondary schools; state, local, and private | 26,030 |
Most occupational therapy assistants and aides work full time. Occupational therapy assistants and aides may work during evenings or on weekends to match patients' schedules.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2012-13 Edition