Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant (COTA)
Listed compensation
$42/hr
The week · per this posting
Ask the employer about call expectations, nights and shift pattern and time off.
Job Description
Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation
- Position: Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant (COTA)
- Location: 1199 Pleasant Valley Way, West Orange, NJ 07052
- Schedule: Per Diem/PRN 8:30AM to 4:30pm weekday and weekend needs
- Compensation: $42/hr
Our Inpatient Rehabilitation Hospital is committed to providing exceptional and compassionate care to best address the medical, physical, emotional, and vocational challenges for individuals with brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, neurological disorders, orthopedic issues, amputation, and multiple traumas.
- At our company, we support your career growth and personal well-being.
- Start Strong: Extensive and thorough orientation program to ensure a smooth transition into our setting
Recharge & Refresh: Generous PTO and Paid Sick Time for full-time team members to maintain a healthy work-life balance
Your Health Matters: Comprehensive medical/RX, health, vision, employee assistance program (EAP), and dental plan offerings for full-time team members
Invest in Your Future: Company-matching 401(k) retirement plan, as well as life and disability protection for full-time team members
Your Impact Matters: Join a team of over 44,000 committed to providing exceptional patient care
Responsibilities
As a COTA you will be reporting directly to the Occupational Therapist, you will be treating patients with complex needs and challenging diagnoses.
- Conducting individual patient therapy regimens under the supervision of an Occupational Therapist (OT).
- Monitoring patient's response to treatment and modifying treatment during sessions as indicated in collaboration with an OT.
- Completing appropriate documentation according to department policies and procedures.
- Participating in departmental, hospital, and community continuing education seminars and in-services.
Minimum Qualifications
Current state licensure or eligibility for state licensure as a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant required.
- Certified BLS or completion in first 90 days of employment required or as required by state regulations.
- Additional Data
- Equal Opportunity Employer/including Disabled/Veterans
Qualifications
- Education
- Professional certificate or licensure
Key Skills
Occupational Therapist Career Context
In New Jersey, the Occupational Therapy weighted monthly median benchmark on WeekdayDoc is ~$98k (208 salary observations; 476 listings), vs ~$97k nationally (6,812 salary observations; 26,149 listings). Monthly aggregates cover 2026-01-01 through 2026-10-01; these are not the modal's selected comparable-job medians.
The cost-of-living index for New Jersey is 108.8 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$87k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $80k in an average-cost state. 63.8% of New Jersey clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).
| Measure | This job | Market |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey vs national | $98k median in New Jersey | $97k nationally (+1%)208 state / 6,812 national salary observations |
| Cost-of-living adjusted pay | ~$80k in purchasing power | New Jersey index 108.8 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) |
| Occupational Therapy listings in New Jersey | 157 active | 9,298 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Oct 2026 |
| Occupational Therapy pay trend | +1.5% vs prior quarter | —through Sep 2026 |
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