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The differences between certified occupational therapy assistants and rehab technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a certified occupational therapy assistant has an average salary of $50,872, which is higher than the $28,505 average annual salary of a rehab technician.
The top three skills for a certified occupational therapy assistant include patients, rehabilitation and home health. The most important skills for a rehab technician are patients, physical therapy, and rehabilitation.
| Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant | Rehab Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $50,872 | $28,505 |
| Hourly rate | $24.46 | $13.70 |
| Growth rate | 25% | 24% |
| Number of jobs | 70,679 | 27,969 |
| Job satisfaction | 3 | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 84% | Bachelor's Degree, 47% |
| Average age | 41 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 12 | - |
Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants are professionals who work with licensed occupational therapists in providing therapy to patients. This therapy is usually related to the physical or mobility challenges of a patient. Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants help patients retain their skills, improve on their challenges, and eventually recover. They record the patient's progress after every therapy session. They may also help out in creating treatment plans for the patient. Since they spend a lot of time with patients, their inputs and recommendations are valuable in crafting and adjusting the treatment plan.
A rehab technician's role is to assist physical therapists and patients in a hospital or similar facility. Typically, their responsibilities revolve around gathering a patient's personal information and medical history, escorting them to corresponding rooms, and conducting initial tests and assessments. It is also essential to maintain records of all transactions, updating medical accounts promptly and accurately. Furthermore, a rehab technician may also perform basic treatments under the supervision of a physical therapist. There are also instances when they have to sanitize and clean therapy equipment, all in adherence to the facility's safety regulations and policies.
Certified occupational therapy assistants and rehab technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant | Rehab Technician | |
| Average salary | $50,872 | $28,505 |
| Salary range | Between $37,000 And $68,000 | Between $22,000 And $36,000 |
| Highest paying City | Mamaroneck, NY | Santa Rosa, CA |
| Highest paying state | New York | Colorado |
| Best paying company | Staten Island Academy | University of California, Berkeley |
| Best paying industry | Education | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a certified occupational therapy assistant and a rehab technician in terms of educational background:
| Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant | Rehab Technician | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 84% | Bachelor's Degree, 47% |
| Most common major | Occupational Therapy | Kinesiology |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | University of Virginia |
Here are the differences between certified occupational therapy assistants' and rehab technicians' demographics:
| Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant | Rehab Technician | |
| Average age | 41 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 15.2% Female, 84.8% | Male, 33.7% Female, 66.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.9% Unknown, 5.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.6% Asian, 5.2% White, 70.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 7.1% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 13.3% Asian, 7.5% White, 66.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 7% |