Occupational therapy assistants held about 33,000 jobs in 2014. Occupational therapy aides held about 8,800 jobs in 2014.
The industries that employed the most occupational therapy assistants in 2014 were as follows:
Offices of physical, occupational and speech therapists, and audiologists
40%
Nursing care facilities (skilled nursing facilities)
18
Hospitals; state, local, and private
17
Home healthcare services
6
Educational services; state, local, and private
5
The industries that employed the most occupational therapy aides in 2014 were as follows:
Offices of physical, occupational and speech therapists, and audiologists
36%
Hospitals; state, local, and private
28
Nursing care facilities (skilled nursing facilities)
15
Social assistance
6
Educational services; state, local, and private
4
Occupational therapy assistants and aides work primarily in occupational therapists' offices, hospitals, and nursing care facilities.
Occupational therapy assistants and aides spend much of their time on their feet, setting up equipment and, in the case of assistants, working with patients. Constant kneeling and stooping are part of the job, as is the need to sometimes lift patients.
Work Schedules
Most occupational therapy assistants and aides work full time. Occupational therapy assistants and aides may work during evenings or on weekends to accommodate patients' schedules.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2014-2024 Edition
Interesting Fact
Dentists have one of the highest suicide rates of all professions. Their rate of suicide is 6.64 times greater than the rest of the working population.