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AW Health Care
University City, Missouri

Occupational Therapist Assistant ( COTA ), Independent and Assisted Living

Occupational TherapistFull-Time

Listed compensation

$32-$38/hr

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations, weekend coverage and time off.

Posted 1mo ago · Verified live

Job Description

A Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA) administers occupational therapy to patients on an intermittent basis in their place of residence. This is performed in accordance with physician orders and plan of care under the direction and supervision of the Occupational Therapist and Director of Therapy, Outpatient. AW Health Care is looking to add a consistent Full Time or Part Time COTA to service our St Louis County Facilities.

Responsibilities

  • Understands and adheres to established Agency policies and procedures.
  • Improves or minimizes residual physical disabilities of the patient.
  • Returns the individual to optimum and productive level within the patient’s capabilities.
  • Participates with all other health care personnel in patient care planning.
  • Performs all skilled procedures as ordered by physician and according to the plan of care established by the OT.
  • Consults with OT regarding change in treatment.
  • Instructs patients and family members in home programs and fine motor movement exercises.
  • Participates in in-service education and presents in-service programs as assigned.
  • Participates in performance improvement activities as assigned.
  • Attends all patient care conferences as scheduled.
  • Prepares medical records and updates care plans for each patient visit in a timely manner as per Agency policy.
  • Performs services planned, delegated and supervised by the OT.
  • Assists in preparing clinical and progress notes.
  • Participates in educating the patient and family.

Requirements

  • Qualifications:
  • A person who meets the requirements for certification as an Occupational Therapy Assistant established by the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTO).
  • Certification is maintained by the AOTA.
  • Currently certified in the state(s) in which practicing.
  • Two (2) years of experience, preferred.

Physical Requirements

Ability to Perform the Following Tasks If Necessary

  • Ability to participate in physical activity.
  • Ability to work for extended period of time while standing and being involved in physical activity.
  • Moderate lifting.
  • Ability to do extensive bending, lifting and standing on a regular basis.

Qualifications

Education
Professional certificate or licensure
Experience
2+ years of experience

Key Skills

Clinical DocumentationPhysical RehabilitationTreatment PlanningPatient EducationFine Motor ExercisesMedical Records ManagementCare Plan Updates

Occupational Therapist Career Context

The cost-of-living index for Missouri is 90.8 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$73k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $80k in an average-cost state. 60.1% of Missouri clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Occupational Therapy pay on WeekdayDoc is up 1.5% vs. the prior quarter (through Sep 2026).

Work-life snapshot

median 4.8this job 3.0
Better work-life than 20% of Occupational Therapy Assistant listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 1,043 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

Living in University City

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$311k
Typical market rent
$1,454/mo
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
95.1
State income tax
Up to 5.3%
Sources & methodology

Sources: Zillow home values (Aug 2026), Zillow market rents (Aug 2026).

BEA 2024 · St. Louis, MO-IL metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

City-level figures. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.