Jobs Similar to Occupational Therapy Assistants
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to occupational therapy assistants, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Psychiatric Aides, Occupational Therapy Aides and Psychiatric Technicians.
Occupational Therapy Assistants: $72,300 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 Assistants) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psychiatric Aides | 83% | $44,910−38% | High school |
| 2 | Occupational Therapy AidesSame group | 82% | $39,160−46% | Training or associate |
| 3 | Psychiatric Technicians | 82% | $45,130−38% | Training or associate |
| 4 | Adapted Physical Education Specialists | 82% | $76,580Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 5 | Physical Therapist AssistantsSame group | 82% | $68,380−5% | Training or associate |
| 6 | Speech-Language Pathology Assistants | 81% | $48,430Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
| 7 | Occupational Therapists | 81% | $100,330+39% | Graduate degree |
| 8 | Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | 81% | $64,400−11% | Training or associate |
| 9 | Midwives | 81% | $65,790Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 10 | Physical Therapist AidesSame group | 81% | $35,240−51% | High school |
| 11 | Physical Therapists | 80% | $102,760+42% | Graduate degree |
| 12 | Registered Nurses | 80% | $97,550+35% | Bachelor's degree |
| 13 | Special Education Teachers, Preschool | 80% | $64,830−10% | Bachelor's degree |
| 14 | Nursing Assistants | 80% | $42,260−42% | Training or associate |
| 15 | Low Vision Therapists, Orientation and Mobility Specialists, and Vision Rehabilitation Therapists | 80% | $100,330Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 16 | Recreational Therapists | 80% | $61,960−14% | Bachelor's degree |
| 17 | Special Education Teachers, Secondary School | 79% | $74,260+3% | Bachelor's degree |
| 18 | Athletic Trainers | 79% | $62,520−14% | Graduate degree |
| 19 | Acute Care Nurses | 79% | $97,550Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 20 | Nurse Midwives | 79% | $134,040+85% | Graduate degree |
- 1Psychiatric Aides
83% similar · $44,910 (−38%) · High school
- 2Occupational Therapy Aides
82% similar · $39,160 (−46%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 3Psychiatric Technicians
82% similar · $45,130 (−38%) · Training or associate
- 4Adapted Physical Education Specialists
82% similar · $76,580 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 5Physical Therapist Assistants
82% similar · $68,380 (−5%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 6Speech-Language Pathology Assistants
81% similar · $48,430 (broader group) · Training or associate
- 7Occupational Therapists
81% similar · $100,330 (+39%) · Graduate degree
- 8Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses
81% similar · $64,400 (−11%) · Training or associate
- 9Midwives
81% similar · $65,790 (broader group) · Graduate degree
- 10Physical Therapist Aides
81% similar · $35,240 (−51%) · High school · Same group
- 11Physical Therapists
80% similar · $102,760 (+42%) · Graduate degree
- 12Registered Nurses
80% similar · $97,550 (+35%) · Bachelor's degree
- 13Special Education Teachers, Preschool
80% similar · $64,830 (−10%) · Bachelor's degree
- 14Nursing Assistants
80% similar · $42,260 (−42%) · Training or associate
- 15Low Vision Therapists, Orientation and Mobility Specialists, and Vision Rehabilitation Therapists
80% similar · $100,330 (broader group) · Graduate degree
- 16Recreational Therapists
80% similar · $61,960 (−14%) · Bachelor's degree
- 17Special Education Teachers, Secondary School
79% similar · $74,260 (+3%) · Bachelor's degree
- 18Athletic Trainers
79% similar · $62,520 (−14%) · Graduate degree
- 19Acute Care Nurses
79% similar · $97,550 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 20Nurse Midwives
79% similar · $134,040 (+85%) · Graduate degree
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 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 assistants also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where occupational therapy assistants is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Psychiatric Technicians (92)
- Speech-Language Pathology Assistants (91)
- Psychiatric Aides (88)
- Recreational Therapists (87)
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses (85)
- Massage Therapists (85)
- Nursing Assistants (84)
- Low Vision Therapists, Orientation and Mobility Specialists, and Vision Rehabilitation Therapists (82)
- Adapted Physical Education Specialists (79)
- Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors (79)
Questions about jobs like occupational therapy assistants
What jobs are most similar to occupational therapy assistants?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Psychiatric Aides (83% similar), Occupational Therapy Aides (82% similar), Psychiatric Technicians (82% similar), Adapted Physical Education Specialists (82% similar) and Physical Therapist Assistants (82% similar).
Which jobs like occupational therapy assistants pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Nurse Midwives ($134,040, +85%; usually a graduate degree), Physical Therapists ($102,760, +42%; usually a graduate degree) and Occupational Therapists ($100,330, +39%; usually a graduate degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with occupational therapy assistants ($72,300).
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.