How to hire occupational therapy assistants
A job description you can copy, interview questions tied to the real work, and what to pay. Free.
Job description template
Copy it, fill in the brackets, and remove anything that does not fit your job. Keep only must-haves you would really turn someone away for.
[Job title] at [Company name] [City, State] · [Full-time / Part-time] · [Pay range] About the role [Two or three sentences about your team, the work and why it matters.] What you will do • Attend continuing education classes. • Implement, or assist occupational therapists with implementing, treatment plans designed to help clients function independently. • Instruct, or assist in instructing, patients and families in home programs, basic living skills, or the care and use of adaptive equipment. • Maintain and promote a positive attitude toward clients and their treatment programs. • Monitor patients' performance in therapy activities, providing encouragement. • Observe and record patients' progress, attitudes, and behavior and maintain this information in client records. • Report to supervisors, verbally or in writing, on patients' progress, attitudes, and behavior. • Select therapy activities to fit patients' needs and capabilities. What you bring • [Required license, certification or years of experience, if any] • [Education, only if you truly need it. Typical to start in this job: Associate's degree] • Strong active listening, speaking, reading comprehension, critical thinking, monitoring and active learning skills • Working knowledge of customer and personal service, psychology, education and training and English Language • [Anything else you would really turn someone away for] Pay and benefits [Pay range]. For reference, the U.S. median for this job is $34.76 an hour ($72,300 a year). [Benefits, schedule and anything else candidates should know.] How to apply [Apply on JAI Bot. Every applicant hears back.]
Interview questions for occupational therapy assistants
Ask every candidate the same questions, in the same order, and write down what they say. Questions about past work show what someone has actually done.
- Tell me about a time you had to attend continuing education classes. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to implement, or assist occupational therapists with implementing, treatment plans designed to help clients function independently. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to instruct, or assist in instructing, patients and families in home programs, basic living skills, or the care and use of adaptive equipment. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to maintain and promote a positive attitude toward clients and their treatment programs. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to understand a request or problem that was explained poorly. How did you make sure you got it right?
- Explain something technical from your last job as you would to a new coworker.
- Tell me about written instructions, a policy or a manual you had to follow closely. How did you make sure you followed it correctly?
- Why this job, and why now? What would make you stay here for the long term?
Good answers name a real situation, what the person did themselves and what happened. Avoid questions about age, family plans, religion, health, national origin or anything else unrelated to the job.
What occupational therapy assistants do
- Attend continuing education classes.
- Implement, or assist occupational therapists with implementing, treatment plans designed to help clients function independently.
- Instruct, or assist in instructing, patients and families in home programs, basic living skills, or the care and use of adaptive equipment.
- Maintain and promote a positive attitude toward clients and their treatment programs.
- Monitor patients' performance in therapy activities, providing encouragement.
- Observe and record patients' progress, attitudes, and behavior and maintain this information in client records.
- Report to supervisors, verbally or in writing, on patients' progress, attitudes, and behavior.
- Select therapy activities to fit patients' needs and capabilities.
Skills that matter most
Education, experience and outlook for occupational therapy assistants
- Typical education to start: Associate's degree (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: 6 months to 1 year (O*NET)
- Job outlook: +21.5% over ten years, much faster than average · about 8,100 openings a year (BLS)
What to pay occupational therapy assistants
Pay depends a lot on where the job is. Highest and lowest median yearly pay by state:
| State | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Maryland | $82,010 |
| California | $81,770 |
| Texas | $81,500 |
| Arkansas | $78,940 |
| Washington | $77,590 |
| Tennessee | $62,420 |
| Alabama | $62,250 |
| Wisconsin | $59,960 |
See occupational therapy assistants pay in every state
Related hiring guides
- Occupational Therapy Aides
- Physical Therapist Assistants
- Physical Therapist Aides
- Psychiatric Technicians
- Respiratory Therapists
- Registered Nurses
- Radiation Therapists
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses
- Medical Assistants
- Massage Therapists
Post this job on JAI Bot. Free to start: JAI Bot reads every applicant against your must-haves, shows the resume evidence behind each one, and helps you reply to everyone. People make every decision.
Post a job freePay by areaJob duties and skills: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. Pay: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, May 2025. Interview questions and the job description template: JAI Bot, based on the duties and skills above.