What Do Occupational Therapy Assistants Do?
Wondering what the job is really like for occupational therapy assistants?
You've come to the right place.
Keep reading to find detailed information about what occupational therapy assistants do, including the type of work they are tasked with on a daily basis, industries in which they work, and the specific skills needed for a successful career.
Occupational Therapy Assistants Overview & Description
Let's get started with the basics about occupational therapy assistants by taking a look at a simple description and popular job titles.
Occupational Therapy Assistants compile and compute data according to statistical formulas for use in statistical studies. May perform actuarial computations and compile charts and graphs for use by actuaries. Includes actuarial clerks.
Popular Job Titles For Occupational Therapy Assistants
Sample of Reported Job Titles
- Statistical Analysts
- Assistant Professors of Mathematics
- Assistant Professors of Political Science
- Mathematics Assistant Professors
- Tenure-Track Professors
- Assistant Professors of Statistics
- IT Student Assistants
- Statistical Scientists
- Assistant/Associate/Full Professors
- Clinical Assistant Professors
- Mathematical Statisticians
- Directors of Data Science
Read on for insight into the industries where the highest concentration of jobs for occupational therapy assistants can be found.
Best Industries for Occupational Therapy Assistants
Occupational Therapy Assistants Jobs By Industry
- Scientific Research and Development Services: 12%
- Computer Systems Design and Related Services: 10.2%
- Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools: 10%
- Federal Government, Civilian: 9.7%
- Insurance Carriers: 9.3%
- State Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals: 8.2%
- Other: 40.6%
When it comes to jobs in the United States, the largest single category of occupational therapy assistants can be found working in the Scientific Research and Development Services sector. In 2023, about 12% of all jobs for occupational therapy assistants were found there.
Other top industries by percentage include Computer Systems Design and Related Services (10.2%), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (10%), Federal Government, Civilian (9.7%), Insurance Carriers (9.3%) and State Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals (8.2%).
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Degree Options for Occupational Therapy Assistants
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What Do Occupational Therapy Assistants Do on a Daily Basis?
So you have a high-level understanding of what occupational therapy assistants do and the types of industries in which they work - but what do they really do each day?
A great way to understand the type of work occupational therapy assistants do is to examine actual job postings and focus on the specific skills that employers are seeking. That will help paint a clearer picture of the tasks that occupational therapy assistants tackle each day.
Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for occupational therapy assistants, as well as common skills - interpersonal qualities and attributes - that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Occupational Therapy Assistants
Based on 150 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Occupational Therapy Assistants
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Statistics | 141 | 94% |
| Data Analysis | 114 | 76% |
| Statistical Analysis | 104 | 69% |
| Data Mining | 103 | 69% |
| Data Structures | 103 | 69% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Occupational Therapy Assistants
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Research | 145 | 97% |
| Innovation | 113 | 75% |
| Communication | 110 | 73% |
| Collaboration | 105 | 70% |
| Problem Solving | 105 | 70% |
Based on 150 job postings related to occupational therapy assistants, statistics was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 94% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for data analysis, statistical analysis, data mining, data structures and software development were also highly sought.
As for common skills, research was the most desired skill found in job postings for occupational therapy assistants, followed by innovation, communication, collaboration, problem solving and coordinating.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Statistics | 141 | 94% |
| Data Analysis | 114 | 76% |
| Statistical Analysis | 104 | 69% |
| Data Mining | 103 | 69% |
| Data Structures | 103 | 69% |
| Software Development | 103 | 69% |
| Usability | 103 | 69% |
| SAS (Software) | 101 | 67% |
| Computer Programming | 100 | 67% |
| Python (Programming Language) | 100 | 67% |
| R (Programming Language) | 100 | 67% |
| C# (Programming Language) | 99 | 66% |
| Java (Programming Language) | 99 | 66% |
| Structured Programming | 99 | 66% |
| Version Control | 99 | 66% |
| Task Management | 97 | 65% |
| Data Science | 22 | 15% |
| Mathematical Statistics | 15 | 10% |
| Algebra | 12 | 8% |
| Biostatistics | 12 | 8% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Research | 145 | 97% |
| Innovation | 113 | 75% |
| Communication | 110 | 73% |
| Collaboration | 105 | 70% |
| Problem Solving | 105 | 70% |
| Coordinating | 103 | 69% |
| Dealing With Ambiguity | 103 | 69% |
| Mathematics | 30 | 20% |
| Teaching | 29 | 19% |
| Mentorship | 22 | 15% |
| Writing | 12 | 8% |
| English Language | 10 | 7% |
| Foreign Language | 8 | 5% |
| Curiosity | 7 | 5% |
| Microsoft Excel | 7 | 5% |
| Customer Service | 6 | 4% |
| Management | 6 | 4% |
| Leadership | 4 | 3% |
| Operations | 4 | 3% |
| Organizational Skills | 4 | 3% |
Most In-Demand Jobs for Occupational Therapy Assistants
Top 5 Posted Job Titles
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Statistical Analysts | 149 | 59.6% |
| Assistant Professors of Mathematics | 16 | 6.4% |
| Assistant Professors of Political Science | 12 | 4.8% |
| Mathematics Assistant Professors | 5 | 2% |
| Tenure-Track Professors | 9 | 3.6% |
According to job postings that were published between September 2022 and August 2023, the top job sought by employers was statistical analysts, with 106 unique job postings. Assistant professors of mathematics were second, with 6 postings, followed by assistant professors of political science, mathematics assistant professors and tenure-track professors.
Expand the section below to see unique job postings for all occupations related to occupational therapy assistants.
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Statistical Analysts | 149 | 59.6% |
| Assistant Professors of Mathematics | 16 | 6.4% |
| Assistant Professors of Political Science | 12 | 4.8% |
| Mathematics Assistant Professors | 5 | 2% |
| Tenure-Track Professors | 9 | 3.6% |
| Assistant Professors of Statistics | 4 | 1.6% |
| IT Student Assistants | 7 | 2.8% |
| Statistical Scientists | 4 | 1.6% |
| Assistant/Associate/Full Professors | 4 | 1.6% |
| Clinical Assistant Professors | 5 | 2% |
| Mathematical Statisticians | 4 | 1.6% |
| Directors of Data Science | 10 | 4% |
| Environmental Scientists | 2 | 0.8% |
| Financial Reporting and Analysis Managers | 7 | 2.8% |
| Mathematics Teaching Assistants | 1 | 0.4% |
| Occupational Therapy Assistants | 2 | 0.8% |
| Quantitative Analytics Managers | 2 | 0.8% |
| Statistical Research Analysts | 2 | 0.8% |
| Statistical Research Assistants | 3 | 1.2% |
| Technical Resource Specialists | 2 | 0.8% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information for occupational therapy assistants? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for occupational therapy assistants.
How much do occupational therapy assistants make?
Occupational Therapy Assistants: How do you become one?
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