Occupational Therapy Assistants vs. Home Health and Personal Care Aides: Who Earns More?
Occupational Therapy Assistants out-earn Home Health and Personal Care Aides by $37K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Occupational Therapy Assistants land at $72,300 and Home Health and Personal Care Aides at $35,800. The education gap is real: occupational therapy assistant programs typically require postsecondary nondegree award, while home health and personal care aide programs require high school diploma or equivalent. Top-paying state for Occupational Therapy Assistants is Maryland ($82,010); for Home Health and Personal Care Aides it's Washington ($47,730).
Pay by state
States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Occupational Therapy Assistants median pay.
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.
Common questions
Who earns more, Occupational Therapy Assistants or Home Health and Personal Care Aides?
Occupational Therapy Assistants earn more nationally. The median is $72,300 for Occupational Therapy Assistants versus $35,800 for Home Health and Personal Care Aides, a difference of $37K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.
Which has better job growth, Occupational Therapy Assistants or Home Health and Personal Care Aides?
Occupational Therapy Assistants has the better 10-year outlook at 19.2% projected growth, compared to 17% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.
Which requires more education, Occupational Therapy Assistants or Home Health and Personal Care Aides?
Occupational Therapy Assistants typically requires postsecondary nondegree award. Home Health and Personal Care Aides requires high school diploma or equivalent. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.
Where do Occupational Therapy Assistants get paid the most?
Maryland is the top-paying state for Occupational Therapy Assistants at $82,010/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.
How does Occupational Therapy Assistants vs. Home Health and Personal Care Aides pay differ by state?
The gap varies significantly by state. In Washington, Occupational Therapy Assistants earn $77,590 vs. $47,730 for Home Health and Personal Care Aides. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.