Jobs Similar to Occupational Therapy Aides
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to occupational therapy aides, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Physical Therapist Aides, Physical Therapist Assistants and Occupational Therapy Assistants.
Occupational Therapy Aides: $39,160 median pay · usual preparation: Training or associate.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Occupational Therapy Aides) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Physical Therapist AidesSame group | 83% | $35,240−10% | High school |
| 2 | Physical Therapist AssistantsSame group | 82% | $68,380+75% | Training or associate |
| 3 | Occupational Therapy AssistantsSame group | 82% | $72,300+85% | Training or associate |
| 4 | Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | 81% | $64,400+64% | Training or associate |
| 5 | Psychiatric Aides | 80% | $44,910+15% | High school |
| 6 | Psychiatric Technicians | 80% | $45,130+15% | Training or associate |
| 7 | Nursing Assistants | 80% | $42,260+8% | Training or associate |
| 8 | Registered Nurses | 78% | $97,550+149% | Bachelor's degree |
| 9 | Physical Therapists | 78% | $102,760+162% | Graduate degree |
| 10 | Midwives | 78% | $65,790Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 11 | Athletic Trainers | 78% | $62,520+60% | Graduate degree |
| 12 | Recreational Therapists | 77% | $61,960+58% | Bachelor's degree |
| 13 | Critical Care Nurses | 77% | $97,550Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 14 | Occupational Therapists | 77% | $100,330+156% | Graduate degree |
| 15 | Nurse Midwives | 77% | $134,040+242% | Graduate degree |
| 16 | Adapted Physical Education Specialists | 77% | $76,580Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 17 | Acute Care Nurses | 77% | $97,550Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 18 | Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors | 76% | $47,160+20% | Training or associate |
| 19 | Speech-Language Pathology Assistants | 75% | $48,430Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
| 20 | Medical Assistants | 75% | $45,690+17% | Training or associate |
- 1Physical Therapist Aides
83% similar · $35,240 (−10%) · High school · Same group
- 2Physical Therapist Assistants
82% similar · $68,380 (+75%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 3Occupational Therapy Assistants
82% similar · $72,300 (+85%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 4Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses
81% similar · $64,400 (+64%) · Training or associate
- 5Psychiatric Aides
80% similar · $44,910 (+15%) · High school
- 6Psychiatric Technicians
80% similar · $45,130 (+15%) · Training or associate
- 7Nursing Assistants
80% similar · $42,260 (+8%) · Training or associate
- 8Registered Nurses
78% similar · $97,550 (+149%) · Bachelor's degree
- 9Physical Therapists
78% similar · $102,760 (+162%) · Graduate degree
- 10Midwives
78% similar · $65,790 (broader group) · Graduate degree
- 11Athletic Trainers
78% similar · $62,520 (+60%) · Graduate degree
- 12Recreational Therapists
77% similar · $61,960 (+58%) · Bachelor's degree
- 13Critical Care Nurses
77% similar · $97,550 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 14Occupational Therapists
77% similar · $100,330 (+156%) · Graduate degree
- 15Nurse Midwives
77% similar · $134,040 (+242%) · Graduate degree
- 16Adapted Physical Education Specialists
77% similar · $76,580 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 17Acute Care Nurses
77% similar · $97,550 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 18Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors
76% similar · $47,160 (+20%) · Training or associate
- 19Speech-Language Pathology Assistants
75% similar · $48,430 (broader group) · Training or associate
- 20Medical Assistants
75% similar · $45,690 (+17%) · Training or associate
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than occupational therapy aides.
- Occupational Therapy Assistants82% similar · $72,300 (+85%)
- Physical Therapist Assistants82% similar · $68,380 (+75%)
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses81% similar · $64,400 (+64%)
- Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors76% similar · $47,160 (+20%)
- Medical Assistants75% similar · $45,690 (+17%)
- Psychiatric Aides80% similar · $44,910 (+15%)
Similar jobs that need less preparation
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for occupational therapy aides also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where occupational therapy aides is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Psychiatric Technicians (88)
- Speech-Language Pathology Assistants (85)
- Nursing Assistants (84)
- Psychiatric Aides (84)
- Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors (78)
- Low Vision Therapists, Orientation and Mobility Specialists, and Vision Rehabilitation Therapists (77)
- Acute Care Nurses (74)
- Adapted Physical Education Specialists (74)
- Critical Care Nurses (74)
- Ophthalmic Medical Technologists (74)
Questions about jobs like occupational therapy aides
What jobs are most similar to occupational therapy aides?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Physical Therapist Aides (83% similar), Physical Therapist Assistants (82% similar), Occupational Therapy Assistants (82% similar), Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses (81% similar) and Psychiatric Aides (80% similar).
Which jobs like occupational therapy aides pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Nurse Midwives ($134,040, +242%; usually a graduate degree), Physical Therapists ($102,760, +162%; usually a graduate degree) and Occupational Therapists ($100,330, +156%; usually a graduate degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with occupational therapy aides ($39,160). Without more preparation than occupational therapy aides usually need: Occupational Therapy Assistants, Physical Therapist Assistants and Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.