Research Summary. Some key points about hiring a occupational therapist assistants in the United States include:

  • HR departments typically spend 15% of their expenses on recruitment.
  • It usually takes about 12 weeks for a new employee to reach full productivity levels.
  • It typically takes 36-42 days to fill a job opening.
  • The median cost to hire an occupational therapist assistants is $1,633.
  • Small businesses spend an average of $1,105 per occupational therapist assistants on training each year, while large companies spend $658.
  • There are currently 119,854 occupational therapist assistants in the US and 44,824 job openings.
  • Miami, FL, has the highest demand for occupational therapist assistants, with 7 job openings.
  • New York, NY has the highest concentration of occupational therapist assistants.

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How Much Does it Cost to Hire an Occupational Therapist Assistants

There are different types of costs for hiring occupational therapist assistants. One-time cost per hire for the recruitment process. Ongoing costs include employee salary, training, onboarding, benefits, insurance, and equipment. It is essential to consider all of these costs when evaluating hiring a new occupational therapist assistants employee.

Occupational therapist assistants earn a median yearly salary is $51,377 a year in the US. However, if you're looking to find occupational therapist assistants for hire on a contract or per-project basis, hourly rates typically range between $18 and $32.

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How to hire an Occupational Therapist Assistants, step by step

To hire an occupational therapist assistants, you should create an ideal candidate profile, determine a budget, and post and promote your job. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to hire a occupational therapist assistants:

  • Step 1: Identify your needs
  • Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
  • Step 3: Make a budget
  • Step 4: Writing an occupational therapist assistants job description
  • Step 5: Post the job
  • Step 6: Interview process
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new occupational therapist assistants
  • Step 8: Go through the checklist for the hiring process

1
Identify Your Needs

The first step in the occupational therapist assistants hiring process is determining what type of worker you actually need. For example, certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

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Before you hire an occupational therapist assistants, you should also consider the ideal background you'd like them to have. For example, what industry or field they have experience in, what level of seniority or education the job requires, and how much it'll cost to hire a candidate that fits the bill.

Here's a comparison of the average salaries of common occupational therapist assistants roles:

Type Of Occupational Therapist AssistantsDescriptionHourly Rate
Occupational Therapist AssistantsOccupational therapy assistants and aides help patients develop, recover, and improve the skills needed for daily living and working. Occupational therapy assistants are directly involved in providing therapy to patients; occupational therapy aides typically perform support activities... Show More$18-32
TherapistA therapist is responsible for improving the patients' health conditions by evaluating their needs and providing physical and mental support. Therapists are licensed, medical professionals who specialize in different areas to perform treatments and bring relief to patients... Show More$18-38
Occupational Therapy AideOccupational therapy aides are professional assistants who assist patients by preparing the treatment area, equipment, and materials while helping them complete their occupational therapy tasks. These aides are required to demonstrate the proper use of the equipment and assist in patients' occupational therapy routines, such as moving from a bed into a wheelchair or the best way to stretch and limber muscles... Show More$7-28

2
Create An Ideal Candidate Profile

Before creating an occupational therapist assistants job description, imagine the ideal employee for this position and begin creating a profile. What skills do they have and what responsibilities do they have to be proficient in?

Here are some of the most common occupational therapist assistants skills:

Common Skills:
  • Patients
  • Rehabilitation
  • Home Health
  • Patient Care
  • Adaptive
  • Acute Care
  • OTA
  • ADL
  • Discharge Planning
  • Occupational Therapy
  • Adaptive Equipment
  • Customer Service
  • Physical Therapy
  • Compassion
Check All Skills

Here is a list of common responsibilities that occupational therapist assistants may be expected to fulfill:

Responsibilities:
  • Achieve advance clinical competency in UE splinting.
  • Train residents and health care providers in applying orthotics and prosthetics.
  • Train resident and caregiver in the use or application of orthotics and prosthetics.
  • Educate patient and family regarding adaptive equipment, exercise techniques, and general safety with mobility.
  • Provide and educate residents about adaptive equipment and compensatory techniques to improve safety and increase participation and independence.
  • Assist with dynamic splints and fabricate static and static progressive splints.
Check all Duties

Beyond the nuts and bolts, cultural fit is an important factor. It might help to ask yourself how your ideal occupational therapist assistants will live by the company's mission statement and contribute to the team dynamic you already have in place. Clearly communicating this vision in your occupational therapist assistants job description will help attract candidates who are better suited for the role.

Most Common States For Occupational Therapist Assistants In The US

Rank #State# Of Jobs% of PopulationAvg. Salary
1Illinois1,84714%$47,711
2Georgia1,54715%$43,024
3Virginia1,18314%$46,042
4Indiana1,16617%$42,954
5Washington1,09415%$50,654

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3
Make A Budget

Including a salary range in your job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. An occupational therapist assistants salary can vary based on several factors:

  • Location. For example, occupational therapist assistants' average salary in texas is 40% less than in hawaii.
  • Seniority. Entry-level occupational therapist assistants earn 44% less than senior-level occupational therapist assistants.
  • Certifications. An occupational therapist assistants with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
  • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in an occupational therapist assistants's salary.

Updated March 16, 2023

Occupational Therapist Assistants Salary Estimate

$51,377

$24.70 hourly

Entry level Salary
$38,000 yearly

Occupational Therapist Assistants Average Salary By Location

RankStateAvg. SalaryHourly RateJob Count
1Colorado$53,339$263
2Ohio$51,685$251
3Oregon$51,521$25
4Washington$50,982$251
5South Carolina$49,836$243

Occupational Therapist Assistants Average Salary By Company

4
Writing an Occupational Therapist Assistants Job Description

A job description for an occupational therapist assistants role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's an occupational therapist assistants job description:

Example of Full Job Description

Job DescriptionWomen’s Advantage / Men’s Optimal Health Physical Therapy is a specialty pelvic health clinic that has been in the South Bay Beach Cities south of Los Angeles for over 20 years and is growing rapidly. We are ready to add 1 full time Occupational Therapist Assistant (licensed COTA) to our team in Torrance asap. We also will be looking to add to our clinical team in Long Beach in the next 6-12 months. Mentorship is available.

We are looking for a COTA to work hand in hand with a pelvic health OT, assisting with core training, functional training and utilizing pilates and/or TRX for strength improvements.

Our main clinic, located in Torrance, just moved into a new expanded space (5200 sq. ft. with 12 private treatment rooms) and we also have a satellite clinic in Long Beach.

We treat all genders for pelvic health challenges, pediatric bladder and bowel dysfunctions, as well as some oncology rehab and a little general ortho. We also offer cash Pilates classes to clients during or after their physical therapy plan of care. We are insurance based practice with 45 min sessions one on one with the PT or PTA, and do not utilize aides.

We were approved and accredited for a 12 month pelvic health physical therapy residency program in 2020/21, and just graduated our first resident, with a second resident who started on Nov 1, 2021.

We are very focused on education and evidence based medicine, and in 2021 have hosted 14 satellite courses for Herman Wallace Pelvic Rehab Institute, with more coming in 2022. Our Director of Physical Therapy, Dr Jenni Gabelsberg, has been on HW faculty for 16 years and teaches the pelvic series and the OB series. All experienced staff have the opportunity to TA these satellite courses and we are open to staff developing subspecialty programs within our company.
Our Core Values are: Rise by Lifting OthersRelentless CuriosityAdapt and Thrive Conscious CommunicationCultivate Community Embody Self-Care
If these sound like characteristics that are important to you too, and you demonstrate these traits on a daily basis, we would love to meet you!
Required:California COTA license (but open to someone applying who is already licensed in another state who is interested in moving to California) Pilates training and/or other strong exercise background
Recommended:1+ years experience Experience/training in Pilates mat and reformer and/or TRX
Check out our website for more information about our current staff and company.
www.womensadvantagept.com

5
Post A Job

There are a few common ways to find occupational therapist assistants for your business:

  • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
  • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
  • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
  • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

Post your job online:

  • Post your occupational therapist assistants job on Zippia to find and attract quality occupational therapist assistants candidates.
  • Use niche websites such as healthcarejobsite, health jobs nationwide, hospitalcareers, medreps.com.
  • Post a job on free websites.

6
Interview Process

To successfully recruit occupational therapist assistants, your first interview needs to be all about engaging with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

You should also ask about candidates' special skills and talents to see if they match with the ideal candidate profile you came up with earlier. Candidates who are good enough for the next step can then move on to the technical interview.

The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7
Send A Job Offer And Onboard Your New Occupational Therapist Assistants

Once you've found the occupational therapist assistants candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary, as well as the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer needs to be competitive if you really like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new occupational therapist assistants. Employee Action Forms should be completed by Human Resources and the hiring manager. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8
Go Through The Checklist For The Hiring Process

  • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
  • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
  • Define job responsibilities and requirements
  • Establish budget and timeline
  • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
  • Write job description
  • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
  • Promote the job internally
  • Process applications through applicant tracking system
  • Review resumes and cover letters
  • Shortlist candidates for screening
  • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
  • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
  • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
  • Conduct background checks on top candidates
  • Check references of top candidates
  • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
  • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
  • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
  • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
  • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
  • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
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Hiring Occupational Therapist Assistants FAQs

How Much Does A Good Occupational Therapist Assistants Cost?

A good occupational therapist assistants costs $24.7 an hour in the US. However, it can vary based on factors such as the occupational therapist assistants experience, abilities, industry, and the specific requirements of your business.

What Are The Duties Of An Occupational Therapist Assistants?

The duties of an occupational therapist assistants are:
  • Achieve advance clinical competency in UE splinting.
  • Train residents and health care providers in applying orthotics and prosthetics.
  • Train resident and caregiver in the use or application of orthotics and prosthetics.

Should I Hire An Occupational Therapist Assistants With No Experience?

Yes, you should hire an occupational therapist assistants with no experience. Hiring an entry-level occupational therapist assistants with no experience offers versatility for your team. They may lack some qualifications, but are adaptable and have not yet formed problematic habits. However, more training may be required compared to experienced.

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