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The differences between occupational therapy assistants and occupational therapists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both an occupational therapy assistant and an occupational therapist. Additionally, an occupational therapist has an average salary of $75,707, which is higher than the $50,653 average annual salary of an occupational therapy assistant.
The top three skills for an occupational therapy assistant include patients, rehabilitation and home health. The most important skills for an occupational therapist are patients, rehabilitation, and home health.
| Occupational Therapy Assistant | Occupational Therapist | |
| Yearly salary | $50,653 | $75,707 |
| Hourly rate | $24.35 | $36.40 |
| Growth rate | 25% | 14% |
| Number of jobs | 39,881 | 78,315 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 55% |
| Average age | 41 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
An occupational therapy assistant is primarily responsible for assisting an occupational therapist when handling patients at a clinic or similar setting. Their duties revolve around gathering patient information and medical history, treating patients using the therapist's care plan, monitoring a patient's progress, and maintaining an accurate and extensive record. There are also instances when an assistant must discuss the conditions and extent of treatment to patients and families, as well as monitor supplies and inventory.
An occupational therapist specializes in treating patients who are recovering from illnesses or disabilities to help them adapt and overcome the physical and mental difficulties they face in their daily lives. The responsibilities of an occupational therapist revolve around examining a patient's medical history and conducting different kinds of assessments to determine what type of treatment a patient should receive. Furthermore, an occupational therapist must build rapport with a patient to make them feel at ease and coordinate with their guardian or family to discuss the recommended ways to help the patient adjust and recuperate.
Occupational therapy assistants and occupational therapists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Occupational Therapy Assistant | Occupational Therapist | |
| Average salary | $50,653 | $75,707 |
| Salary range | Between $37,000 And $68,000 | Between $58,000 And $97,000 |
| Highest paying City | Urban Honolulu, HI | Salinas, CA |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | California |
| Best paying company | PeaceHealth | Waters |
| Best paying industry | Education | Professional |
There are a few differences between an occupational therapy assistant and an occupational therapist in terms of educational background:
| Occupational Therapy Assistant | Occupational Therapist | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 55% |
| Most common major | Occupational Therapy | Occupational Therapy |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Duke University |
Here are the differences between occupational therapy assistants' and occupational therapists' demographics:
| Occupational Therapy Assistant | Occupational Therapist | |
| Average age | 41 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 17.2% Female, 82.8% | Male, 16.8% Female, 83.2% |
| 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, 4.8% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 6.2% Asian, 9.6% White, 75.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 14% |