Occupational Therapy Assistants vs. Home Health and Personal Care Aides: Who Earns More?
Occupational Therapy Assistantss out-earn Home Health and Personal Care Aidess by $37K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Occupational Therapy Assistantss land at $72,300 and Home Health and Personal Care Aidess 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 Assistantss is Maryland ($82,010); for Home Health and Personal Care Aidess 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 Assistantss or Home Health and Personal Care Aidess?
Occupational Therapy Assistantss earn more nationally. The median is $72,300 for Occupational Therapy Assistantss versus $35,800 for Home Health and Personal Care Aidess, 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 Assistantss get paid the most?
Maryland is the top-paying state for Occupational Therapy Assistantss 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 Assistantss earn $77,590 vs. $47,730 for Home Health and Personal Care Aidess. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.