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Rehabilitation aide: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 28, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$39,160median pay per year, or $18.83 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $29,430lowest 10% earn less
  2. $35,92025th percentile
  3. $39,160median
  4. $46,78075th percentile
  5. $70,200top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[3]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[4]

Rehabilitation aides fall under the BLS category occupational therapy aides, and the median pay was $39,160 a year in May 2025[1]. BLS projects 3.6% job growth from 2025 to 2035[2].

Job growth, 2025–35
+3.6%[2]
Openings per year
600[5]
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent[6]

How much do rehabilitation aides make?

BLS counts these jobs as Occupational Therapy Aides. The median wage was $39,160 a year, or $18.83 an hour[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less[1]. The average was $44,110 a year, or $21.21 an hour[7]. The median for all occupations was $50,980 a year[4].

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $29,430 a year, and the 25th percentile was $35,920[3]. The 75th percentile was $46,780 and the 90th percentile was $70,200[3]. A percentile is a boundary. BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[8].

Point Annual wage Source
10th percentile[3] $29,430
25th percentile[3] $35,920
Median[1] $39,160
75th percentile[3] $46,780
90th percentile[3] $70,200

Hourly, the 10th percentile was $14.15 and the 90th percentile was $33.75[9]. These wages cover wage and salary workers only. They leave out the self-employed, nonproduction bonuses and the cost of benefits[10]. About 4,310 people held these jobs in May 2025[11].

Pay by state and city

BLS published state medians for 26 states and DC[12]. North Carolina had the highest at $66,190, followed by New York at $46,220 and Washington at $45,890[12]. Mississippi had the lowest published median at $24,300[12].

Texas had the most jobs at 410, then California at 330 and Pennsylvania at 320[13]. New York and North Carolina each had 250[13].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, New York-Newark-Jersey City had the highest median at $46,260[14]. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria followed at $45,840, then Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington at $42,790[14]. New York also had the most jobs among metros, at 200, and Pittsburgh was next at 150[15].

Show median pay in 26 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
North Carolina[12]$66,190250
New York$46,220250
Washington$45,890190
Nebraska$44,98090
Connecticut$44,840110
New Jersey$44,470n/a
California$43,480330
New Mexico$43,17050
Massachusetts$40,16090
Colorado$40,11040
District of Columbia$39,620n/a
Michigan$39,05060
Missouri$38,890110
Indiana$38,250n/a
Georgia$38,090200
Texas$37,180410
Pennsylvania$37,100320
Wisconsin$36,76040
Nevada$36,440100
Ohio$36,380200
Oklahoma$34,67090
Maryland$33,310n/a
Idaho$32,590120
South Carolina$31,95050
Louisiana$28,56070
Tennessee$27,84040
Mississippi$24,30050

How to become a rehabilitation aide

The training details below come from a BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile that covers occupational therapy assistants and aides together, so it describes a wider group[16]. The points about aides are:

Assistants follow a different path. They typically need an associate's degree and usually a state license[17]. With more education and licensure, aides may advance to become assistants or occupational therapists[21].

O*NET places the job in Job Zone Three, which means medium preparation is needed[22]. Job titles reported by workers include OT aide, rehab aide and rehabilitation services aide[23].

What rehabilitation aides do

O*NET says aides work under close supervision of an occupational therapist or assistant and handle delegated, selected or routine tasks, such as preparing the patient and the treatment room[24]. Typical tasks include:

Where they work

In the combined Handbook profile, the largest employer group was offices of other health practitioners, at 43%[26]. Assistants and aides are often on their feet to set up equipment. Kneeling, stooping and the occasional lift of a client are also part of the job[27].

BLS says injury and illness rates for aides are among the highest of any occupation[28]. Proper body mechanics and lifting techniques can reduce some risks, such as back injury[28]. Full-time work is the norm for assistants and aides, though part-time jobs are common, and schedules may include evenings or weekends[29].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment to grow 3.6% from 2025 to 2035, from about 4,400 to 4,600 jobs, a gain of 200[2]. Employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5%[30]. These counts include self-employed workers[2].

About 600 openings a year are projected on average[5]. Openings include jobs that open when people retire or switch occupations, and new jobs as well[5]. Each year, 5.5% of workers leave the labor force and 6.5% move to a different occupation[31].

BLS names one factor that holds back demand. Payer restrictions on reimbursement for services given by aides dampen demand for the occupation[32].

Is it a good fit?

The facts suggest this job suits people who want to start working with a high school diploma and short on-the-job training[6][18]. Pay is below the all-occupations median[1][4], and growth is close to the all-occupations rate[2][30]. The work is physical and carries a high injury rate[27][28]. Aides who want to move up may look at the assistant path, which needs more education and a license[17][21].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[33].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a rehabilitation aide make an hour?
The median wage for occupational therapy aides was $18.83 an hour, or $39,160 a year, in May 2025[1].
What education do you need to be a rehabilitation aide?
BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry education, with short-term on-the-job training[6].
How long is the training for a rehabilitation aide?
The Handbook says on-the-job training can run from several days to a few weeks[18].
What is the highest paying state for occupational therapy aides?
North Carolina, with a median of $66,190 a year[12].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Occupational Therapy Aides in the US was $39,160 per year and $18.83 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Occupational Therapy Aides is projected to grow 3.6% from 2025 to 2035, from about 4,400 to 4,600 jobs (a change of +200). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Occupational Therapy Aides: 10th percentile $29,430, 25th percentile $35,920, 75th percentile $46,780, 90th percentile $70,200. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS Employment Projections: about 600 openings for Occupational Therapy Aides are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  6. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Occupational Therapy Aides: education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Short-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Occupational Therapy Aides was $44,110 per year and $21.21 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Occupational Therapy Aides: 10th percentile $14.15, 25th percentile $17.27, 75th percentile $22.49, 90th percentile $33.75. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 4,310 people were employed as Occupational Therapy Aides in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. Median annual wage for Occupational Therapy Aides in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Occupational Therapy Aides jobs: Texas 410; California 330; Pennsylvania 320; New York 250; North Carolina 250. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Occupational Therapy Aides (areas with at least 100 jobs): New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $46,260; Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $45,840; Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX $42,790; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $38,550; Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA $38,090; Pittsburgh, PA $37,100. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Occupational Therapy Aides jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 200 (median $46,260); Pittsburgh, PA 150 (median $37,100); Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 130 (median $38,090); Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA 130 (median $38,550); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 110 (median $42,790); Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 100 (median $45,840). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Occupational Therapy Assistants and Aides" covers Occupational Therapy Aides together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education and Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Advancement. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. O*NET 31-2012.00: Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed. Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job. O*NET OnLine
  23. O*NET 31-2012.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Certified Occupational Rehabilitation Aide (CORA), Direct Service Professional (DSP), Direct Support Professional (DSP), Occupational Rehabilitation Aide, Occupational Therapist Aide (OT Aide), Occupational Therapy Aide (OT Aide), Rehabilitation Aide (Rehab Aide), Rehabilitation Services Aide. O*NET OnLine
  24. O*NET description of Occupational Therapy Aides. O*NET OnLine
  25. O*NET task list for Occupational Therapy Aides. O*NET OnLine
  26. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of occupational therapy assistants and aides in 2025: Offices of other health practitioners 43%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  27. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Injuries and Illnesses. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  31. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Occupational Therapy Aides: 5.5% of workers leave the labor force each year and 6.5% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  32. BLS Employment Projections, factor affecting employment of Occupational Therapy Aides: Demand change - share decreases as payer restrictions in the reimbursement of services provided by occupational therapy aides dampens demand for the occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  33. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers. The Occupational Outlook Handbook text covers a wider group of occupations than this page.

This page includes information from the 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. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.