Occupational Therapy Assistants

Healthcare Support Occupations
O*NET-SOC code
31-2011.00

Assist occupational therapists in providing occupational therapy treatments and procedures. May, in accordance with state laws, assist in development of treatment plans, carry out routine functions, direct activity programs, and document the progress of treatments. Generally requires formal training.

  • Data source: BLSPublished: 2026-08

    Moderate· relative

    LowFour relative bandsVery high

    Group-level value

    Scale, basis and source

    Four relative bands (Low / Moderate / High / Very high)

    831 detailed occupations in the BLS Employment Projections table. Assigned per National Employment Matrix (NEM) code, so occupations sharing a NEM code carry the same band

    Source dataset (XLSX download)

  • Data source: AnthropicPublished: 2026-03

    0.000

    0.000Range of values carried here0.745
    Scale, basis and source

    Observed exposure index, 0–1 as published

    Mapped onto O*NET tasks

    Published per SOC 2018 occupation; every O*NET occupation with the same SOC 2018 code carries this value

    Source dataset (CSV download)

  • Data source: ILOPublished: 2025

    0.30

    0.09Range of values carried here0.70

    Group-level value

    Scale, basis and source

    Generative AI exposure index, 0–1 as published

    Published per ISCO-08 unit group. Linked to this occupation, wholly or in part, by applying U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (ISCO-08 to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to 2018 SOC) as published

    Source dataset (PDF download)

What kind of figure this source publishes

The BLS category is a relative rank, not an absolute level, and it is not a first-hand measurement: it groups an occupation's percentile ranks across several published studies into four bands. It is not an employment or wage forecast, not a probability of adoption, and it does not separate automation from augmentation.

Task-level exposure

Exposed tasks only

22 rated tasks · 8 tasks with β ≥ 0.5 (36.4%)

β = direct exposure (E1) + 0.5 × exposure when tools are available (E2), per the source repository's definition.

  • Source unit: O*NET 27.2 tasks → O*NET 31.0 occupation code
  • All rated tasks are in the O*NET 31.0 task list.
Source
OpenAI "GPTs are GPTs" exposure rubric
Release
gh-main-0471612
License
MIT License, Copyright (c) 2024 OpenAI
Task (O*NET 20.1)Claude.aiRaw / share %APIRaw / share %
Teach patients how to deal constructively with their emotions.

31-2011.00

0.0250100.00.010572.8
Perform clerical duties, such as scheduling appointments, collecting data, or documenting health insurance billings.
—00.003927.2
Not observed on any surface — 20 task(s) — These tasks have no row in the source for this release. The 0 in the share row is a display-stage composition ratio; absence is what the — in the raw row states.
Observe and record patients' progress, attitudes, and behavior and maintain this information in client records.
—0—0
Maintain and promote a positive attitude toward clients and their treatment programs.
—0—0
Monitor patients' performance in therapy activities, providing encouragement.
—0—0
Select therapy activities to fit patients' needs and capabilities.
—0—0
Instruct, or assist in instructing, patients and families in home programs, basic living skills, or the care and use of adaptive equipment.
—0—0
Evaluate the daily living skills or capacities of physically, developmentally, or emotionally disabled clients.
—0—0
Aid patients in dressing and grooming themselves.
—0—0
Implement, or assist occupational therapists with implementing, treatment plans designed to help clients function independently.
—0—0
Report to supervisors, verbally or in writing, on patients' progress, attitudes, and behavior.
—0—0
Alter treatment programs to obtain better results if treatment is not having the intended effect.
—0—0
Work under the direction of occupational therapists to plan, implement, or administer educational, vocational, or recreational programs that restore or enhance performance in individuals with functional impairments.
—0—0
Design, fabricate, or repair assistive devices or make adaptive changes to equipment or environments.
—0—0
Assemble, clean, or maintain equipment or materials for patient use.
—0—0
Transport patients to and from the occupational therapy work area.
—0—0
Demonstrate therapy techniques, such as manual or creative arts or games.
—0—0
Order any needed educational or treatment supplies.
—0—0
Communicate and collaborate with other healthcare professionals involved with the care of a patient.
—0—0
Attend continuing education classes.
—0—0
Attend care plan meetings to review patient progress and update care plans.
—0—0
Assist educational specialists or clinical psychologists in administering situational or diagnostic tests to measure client's abilities or progress.
—0—0

Data sources & licenses — O*NET®, Anthropic Economic Index, Eloundou et al. (2023): see full notices on the Credits page

All O*NET 31.0 task statements (22)

All O*NET 31.0 task statements for this occupation (English, as published; task type core or supplemental). Exposure values are not listed here; they are in the table above, next to each task statement as worded in the O*NET version each source used.

Task (O*NET 31.0)Type
Observe and record patients' progress, attitudes, and behavior and maintain this information in client records.Core
Maintain and promote a positive attitude toward clients and their treatment programs.Core
Monitor patients' performance in therapy activities, providing encouragement.Core
Select therapy activities to fit patients' needs and capabilities.Core
Instruct, or assist in instructing, patients and families in home programs, basic living skills, or the care and use of adaptive equipment.Core
Evaluate the daily living skills or capacities of clients with physical, developmental, or mental health disabilities.Core
Aid patients in dressing and grooming themselves.Core
Implement, or assist occupational therapists with implementing, treatment plans designed to help clients function independently.Core
Report to supervisors, verbally or in writing, on patients' progress, attitudes, and behavior.Core
Alter treatment programs to obtain better results if treatment is not having the intended effect.Core
Work under the direction of occupational therapists to plan, implement, or administer educational, vocational, or recreational programs that restore or enhance performance in individuals with functional impairments.Core
Design, fabricate, or repair assistive devices or make adaptive changes to equipment or environments.Core
Assemble, clean, or maintain equipment or materials for patient use.Core
Teach patients how to deal constructively with their emotions.Core
Perform clerical duties, such as scheduling appointments, collecting data, or documenting health insurance billings.Core
Transport patients to and from the occupational therapy work area.Core
Demonstrate therapy techniques, such as manual or creative arts or games.Core
Order any needed educational or treatment supplies.Core
Communicate and collaborate with other healthcare professionals involved with the care of a patient.Core
Attend continuing education classes.Core
Attend care plan meetings to review patient progress and update care plans.Core
Assist educational specialists or clinical psychologists in administering situational or diagnostic tests to measure client's abilities or progress.Supplemental

Occupation information

Employment outlook (BLS)

Employment, 2025
52K
Projected employment, 2035
63K
Change (2025–35)
+21.5%
Median annual wage, 2025
$72,300
Typical education needed for entry
Associate's degree
lowest $30,890median wage across 825 detailed occupations, BLS EP 2025–35highest $559,030

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–35 — Employment by detailed occupation, 2025 and projected 2035

Korea classification links (KSCO)

Links from the current release of the Korea Occupation Direct Crosswalk v1.1, made by AI Changing Work. Relation values are read from the O*NET-SOC occupation side.

KSCO codeKSCO titleRelationStatus
42902치료사 보조원This occupation is narrowerconfirmed

Relation and status definitions(kr-direct v1.1)

ILO occupational description

AI Changing Work links the ISCO-08 unit groups below to this occupation by applying the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (2018 SOC to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to ISCO-08) as published, without case-by-case selection; each link may be whole or partial.

  • ISCO-08 3259Health Associate Professionals Not Elsewhere Classified

The definition, tasks and examples below are the ILO's description of that unit group, not of this occupation.

This unit group covers health associate professionals not classified elsewhere in Sub-major Group 32: Health Associate Professionals. For instance, the group includes occupations such as HIV counsellor, family planning counsellor and other health associate professionals.

Tasks

  • In such cases tasks would include:
  • (a) interviewing and examining patients to obtain information on their health status and the nature and extent of injury, illness or other physical or mental health condition;
  • (b) providing information and counselling to patients and families about certain health conditions, prevention and treatment options, treatment adherence, and personal behaviours that can affect health outcomes;
  • (c) administering therapeutic care and treatment to patients;
  • (d ) performing certain basic clinical procedures, such as administration of HIV antibody tests or insertion of intrauterine devices;
  • (e) dispensing and advising on dietary supplements, antiretroviral and prophylaxis medications, and other healthcare products
  • (f) monitoring patients' progress through treatment plans, and identifying signs and symptoms requiring referral to a medical doctor or other health professional;
  • (g) recording information on patients' health status and responses to treatment in medical records-keeping systems;
  • (h) sharing information with other health care providers when required to ensure continuing and comprehensive care.

Example occupations

Anaesthesia technician · Family planning counsellor · HIV counsellor · Respiratory therapy technician

Sources: ILO ISCO-08 — details: Credits

ESCO occupational vocabulary

Each entry below is matched to this occupation in the published ESCO-O*NET Crosswalk (version 1, 2022). The match types are that crosswalk's; the wording is AI Changing Work's.

  • occupational therapy assistantESCO 2269.5Same scope

    Occupational therapy assistants support occupational therapists by working with people and communities to enhance their ability to engage in the occupations they want to, need to, or are expected to do, or by modifying the occupation or the environment to better support their occupational engagement. They work under the supervision of an occupational therapist.

  • rehabilitation support workerESCO 2635.3.22This occupation is broader

    Rehabilitation support workers provide counselling to individuals dealing with birth defects or with major consequences caused by diseases, accidents, and burnouts. They help them to cope with personal, social and vocational issues. They assess the personal needs of clients, develop rehabilitation plans, get involved in the training, and help people undergoing a rehabilitation plan with job placement.

Source: European Commission, DG EMPL — ESCO API 2026-08-08 (bridge v1.2.1)

License: CC BY 4.0 (EU Reuse Notice)

View original

ESCO reuse terms and the modification notice are in Credits.

France classification links (ROME)

AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and ROME 4.0 job profiles, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side. Links marked “provisional” were adopted on the judgments of two judges from the same model family (Claude) alone, or by an operator rule applied to their judgments, so they rest on weaker evidence than confirmed links.

ROME codeROME title (French)Relation
J1403ErgothérapeuteRelated, not a matchprovisional

Source: France Travail — Répertoire Opérationnel des Métiers et des Emplois (ROME 4.0), version 61, last updated 15 June 2026 (https://www.data.gouv.fr/datasets/repertoire-operationnel-des-metiers-et-des-emplois-rome). Licence Ouverte 2.0.

ROME codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET-SOC occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a France Travail correspondence.

(AI Changing Work link release: fr-direct v1)

Spain classification links (CNO-11)

AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and CNO-11 occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.

CNO-11 codeCNO-11 title (Spanish)Relation
2156Terapeutas ocupacionalesRelated, not a match
3329Técnicos de la sanidad no clasificados bajo otros epígrafesRelated, not a match

Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE), National Classification of Occupations 2011 (CNO-11, Royal Decree 1591/2010) — www.ine.es · Licensed CC BY 4.0. CNO-11 codes and Spanish titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not an INE correspondence.

(AI Changing Work link release: es-direct v1)

Germany classification links (KldB)

AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and KldB occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.

KldB codeKldB title (German)Relation
81723Berufe in der Ergotherapie - komplexe SpezialistentätigkeitenThis occupation is narrower
81722Berufe in der Ergotherapie - fachlich ausgerichtete TätigkeitenRelated, not a match

Source: © Statistik der Bundesagentur für Arbeit — Klassifikation der Berufe 2010 – überarbeitete Fassung 2020, https://statistik.arbeitsagentur.de. KldB codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own mapping (eigene Zuordnung) and are not a Bundesagentur für Arbeit correspondence.

(AI Changing Work link release: de-direct v1)

Japan classification links (JSCO)

AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and JSCO occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.

JSCO codeJSCO title (Japanese)Relation
144理学療法士，作業療法士Related, not a match
379その他の保健医療サービス職業従事者Related, not a match

Source: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), Japan Standard Occupational Classification (Dec. 2009, MIC Notification No. 555). JSCO codes and Japanese titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a MIC correspondence.

(AI Changing Work link release: jp-direct v1)

Sources, licenses and AI Changing Work's modification and translation notices for this page: Credits & sources