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Occupational Therapy Assistants Salary in Chicago, IL

In the 2025 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS dataset, Occupational Therapy Assistants in Chicago, IL have a median annual salary of $67,840, with 1,710 recorded jobs in this area. Recorded earnings range from $48,980 at the 10th percentile to $82,560 at the 90th percentile.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · Data year: 2025 · Last updated: 2026-09-22

Salary overview

Median annual salary

$67,840

Data year: 2025

Hourly median

$32.61

Employment

1,710

Source

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS

Salary distribution

$48,980
10th
$61,730
25th
$67,840
Median
$74,250
75th
$82,560
90th

Local compared with national

Chicago, IL

$67,840

Median annual · 2025

United States

$72,300

Median annual · 2025

The Chicago, IL median is 6.2% below the national median in the available dataset (a difference of $4,460).

Top skills

  1. 1.Active ListeningImportance 3.9
  2. 2.SpeakingImportance 3.9
  3. 3.Social PerceptivenessImportance 3.9
  4. 4.Service OrientationImportance 3.9
  5. 5.Reading ComprehensionImportance 3.6
  6. 6.Time ManagementImportance 3.5
  7. 7.Critical ThinkingImportance 3.4
  8. 8.MonitoringImportance 3.4
  9. 9.WritingImportance 3.3
  10. 10.Active LearningImportance 3.3
  11. 11.Learning StrategiesImportance 3.3
  12. 12.InstructingImportance 3.3

Career information

Education and experience

Typical education
Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree
Experience
Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year
Job zone
3

Technology used

  • Microsoft Office software
  • Billing software
  • Bookkeeping software
  • BrainTrain Captain's Log
  • BrainTrain IVA+Plus
  • BrainTrain SmartDriver
  • Client caseload management software
  • Database software
  • dBASE
  • eClinicalWorks EHR software
  • Email software
  • Facebook
  • Fifth Walk BillingTracker
  • FileMaker Pro
  • Financial record software

Common tasks

  • Order any needed educational or treatment supplies.
  • Instruct, or assist in instructing, patients and families in home programs, basic living skills, or the care and use of adaptive equipment.
  • Maintain and promote a positive attitude toward clients and their treatment programs.
  • Report to supervisors, verbally or in writing, on patients' progress, attitudes, and behavior.
  • Implement, or assist occupational therapists with implementing, treatment plans designed to help clients function independently.
  • Monitor patients' performance in therapy activities, providing encouragement.
  • Observe and record patients' progress, attitudes, and behavior and maintain this information in client records.
  • Select therapy activities to fit patients' needs and capabilities.
  • Attend continuing education classes.
  • Aid patients in dressing and grooming themselves.

Related careers

Occupations recorded as related in the dataset. A relationship does not imply a guaranteed transition.

Occupational Therapy Assistants salary in other locations

Other occupations in Chicago, IL