Occupational Therapy Assistant Salary
Occupational Therapy Assistant Salary
Is the occupational therapy assistant salary congruent with its workload? The physical therapist assistants and aides assists physical therapist in providing treatment that improves the patient’s ability to move, heal the pain, and reduce the physical disabilities of patients. Physical therapist usually asks the physical therapist assistant to assists the patients in their exercise regimen and how to use the therapy equipment. They treat patients who are victims of accident and with conditions such as arthritis, heart disease, head injuries, cerebral palsy and fractures. They are under the supervision and direction of physical therapist. They help in providing exercise and therapeutic methods like massage, balance training, mechanical traction, electrical stimulation, and gait. In addition, they also record the responses of patients to treatment and note down the result of the treatment for the physical therapist reference. Thus, the occupational therapy assistant salary should be well provided considering the work load.
(Note: Jump on this other link if you are wondering what is occupational therapy)
Occupational Therapy Assistant Salary: the figures
What is the occupational therapy assistant salary? The occupational therapist assistant salary ranges from $46,140 median annual wage as of May 2008. The middle 50% of occupational therapy assistant salary ranges from $37,170 and $54,900. The lowest occupational therapy assistant salary belongs to the 10% population earning less than $28,580. Meanwhile, the highest occupational therapy assistant salary which belongs to the upper 10 % earns more than $63,830.
The occupational therapy assistant salary is provided by home health care services, nursing care facilities, and general medical and surgical hospitals, offices of other health practitioners and offices of physicians.
The median annual wage for occupational therapy assistant salary for home health care services ranges from $51,950; while for nursing care facilities offers $51,090. The occupational therapy assistant salary for general medical and surgical hospital is $45,510 and for offices of other health practitioners is offering $44,580 and $43,390 for offices of physicians.
Highest Occupational Therapy Assistant Salary in U.S.
Where can we find the highest occupational therapy assistant salary in U.S.? According to the wage data from the Occupational Employment Statistics or OES survey program the highest occupational therapy assistant salary belongs to the upper 10 % median annual wages earners who are working in home health care services who are earning as much as $63,830.
It is not surprising though that the employment for therapist assistant will grow much faster than the average occupation. Studies shows that the employment rate is expected to grow as much as 35% from 2008 to 2018. The restrictions for changes to payment on reimbursement for physical therapy services by the third-party payers or the private individual services will allows increase of patients access to the services which results in increase in demand. The growth of elderly population requires therapy reflects and other therapeutic services since elderly are prone to chronic and incapacitating conditions. No doubt, there are many occupational therapy assistant salary that are coming from the elderly people.
Which specialties pay the highest salaries?
The highest occupational therapy assistant salary for specialties belongs to the home health care services where the elderly population is the most number of patients who needs treatment according to the Occupational Employment Statistics or OES survey program. The growing elderly population needs therapy more than anyone. The elderly population is vulnerable to debilitating and chronic conditions. They need more additional assistance with regards to their treatment which makes the therapist assistance roles crucial to the treatment process.
The job prospects are specifically good in orthopedic setting where the elderly are treated, acute hospital, and skilled nursing. Job opportunities are also favorable in rural areas since physical therapist is commonly found in the city and suburban areas.
Therefore the occupational therapy assistant salary is projected to increase for the years to come considering the increase in demand for the services of therapist assistant.
Undeniably, the occupational therapy assistant salary is appealing enough for anyone to jump into this profession.
You may be wondering how to become an occupational therapist? Make sure to read our other article once you have found out the average Occupational Therapy Assistant Salary.