Nysarc logo
Nysarc
Syracuse, New York

Occupational Therapist Assistant

Occupational Therapy AssistantNo weekendsFull-Time

Listed compensation

$26-$30/hr

The week · per this posting · Monday – Friday

Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations, nights and shift pattern and time off.

Posted 1 day ago · Verified live

Job Description

  • Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) – Position Summary
  • Schedule: Full Time & Part-time Positions available, Monday through Friday with flexible scheduling based on clinic and community needs
  • Pay: $26.00-$30.00 per hour
  • Location: Madison & Cortland County service areas

Benefits

Medical, dental, vision, retirement, company-paid life and disability coverage, optional voluntary plans, and generous paid time off for eligible full-time employees.

Why Join ACHIEVE

At ACHIEVE, you'll do more than provide therapy services, you'll help individuals develop the skills they need to live, work, and participate more independently in their communities. Join a mission-driven organization where collaboration, professional growth, and person-centered care are at the heart of everything we do.

The Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) provides occupational therapy services under the supervision of a licensed Occupational Therapist. The COTA works closely with individuals, families, caregivers, and interdisciplinary team members to implement treatment plans designed to improve daily living, vocational, and functional skills.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Provide occupational therapy services in accordance with treatment plans established by a licensed Occupational Therapist.

Assist individuals in developing functional, vocational, prevocational, homemaking, and activities of daily living skills.

Implement therapeutic interventions and activities that promote independence and participation in everyday life.

  • Collaborate with physicians, therapists, caregivers, and support staff to ensure continuity of care.
  • Educate and train staff and caregivers on therapeutic strategies and program implementation.

Complete all required clinical documentation, treatment notes, billing records, and reports accurately and timely.

Support individuals and staff in carrying over therapeutic programs into daily routines and community activities.

  • Participate in interdisciplinary team meetings and treatment planning discussions.
  • Travel to community locations, program sites, schools, homes, or other service settings as needed.
  • Maintain professional standards, confidentiality, and compliance with agency policies and regulatory requirements.
  • Maintain current licensure, certifications, and credentialing requirements.
  • Demonstrate and model ACHIEVE's mission, values, and commitment to person-centered supports.
  • Contribute to quality improvement initiatives and agency-wide success.
  • Perform other related duties as assigned.

Requirements

  • Associate degree from an accredited Occupational Therapy Assistant program.
  • Valid New York State driver's license acceptable to the agency's insurance carrier.
  • Ability to travel throughout the service area as needed.

Key Responsibilities

The Occupational Therapy Assistant provides therapeutic services under the supervision of a licensed therapist to help individuals improve daily living and vocational skills. They are responsible for implementing treatment plans, documenting clinical progress, and collaborating with interdisciplinary teams.

Key Skills

Functional skills trainingVocational skills trainingInterdisciplinary collaborationPatient educationCaregiver trainingReporting

Occupational Therapist Career Context

In New York, the Occupational Therapy weighted monthly median benchmark on WeekdayDoc is ~$94k (321 salary observations; 942 listings), vs ~$97k nationally (5,357 salary observations; 29,628 listings). Monthly aggregates cover 2026-01-01 through 2026-11-01; these are not the modal's selected comparable-job medians.

The cost-of-living index for New York is 107.9 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$58k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $54k in an average-cost state. 64.6% of New York clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

What does the Occupational Therapy market look like in New York?
MeasureThis jobMarket
Work-life score6.3 / 10 · above average in occupational therapy assistantranked against 1,043 Occupational Therapy Assistant listingslisting-based score, 0–10
Listed pay$54k–$62kOccupational Therapy median $57k (middle half $53k–$72k)19 comparable listings, Nov 2026
New York vs national$94k median in New York$97k nationally (−4%)321 state / 5,357 national salary observations
Cost-of-living adjusted pay~$54k in purchasing powerNew York index 107.9 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Occupational Therapy listings in New York357 active8,937 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Sign-on & loan repaymentnot statedNew York occupational therapist listings (all specialties): 7% state a sign-on bonus (median $5k) · 7% offer loan repayment399 active listings, Nov 2026
New Occupational Therapy listings3,267 in the last 30 days1,696 the 30 days before (+93%)U.S., first seen on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Occupational Therapy pay trend+2.9% vs prior quarter—through Oct 2026
Sources: WeekdayDoc live listing index (1,043 Occupational Therapy Assistant listings), BEA Regional Price Parities (2024); as of Nov 2026. Same values as the Weekday Verdict and Market Insights on this page.

Work-Life Balance Analysis

WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Occupational Therapist Assistant at Nysarc a 6.3 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as good. This places the position in the Above average in Occupational Therapy Assistant — ranked against 1,043 active Occupational Therapy Assistant listings on WeekdayDoc. Contributing factors include no weekend requirements.

Top OTA Jobs

3 matches · ranked by pay
#1

Occupational Therapist Assistant | COTA

Rehab Without Walls Neuro Rehabilitation · Rockland, Maine

$30-$33/hr
#2

Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant (COTA)

Family of Kidz · Holtsville, New York

$50-$85/hr
#3

Occupational Therapist Assistant

$27.58-$31.88/hr
+ 1 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 4.8this job 6.3
Better work-life than 70% of Occupational Therapy Assistant listings

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

  • No weekends
Nysarc logo

About Nysarc

Individual and Family Services
51-200 employees

Benefits & Perks

Medical, dental, vision
Retirement
Company-paid life and disability coverage
Optional voluntary plans
Generous paid time off

Living in Syracuse

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$217k
Typical market rent
$1,566/mo
Residents’ average commute
18 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
95.7
State income tax
Up to 10.9%
Sources & methodology

Sources: Zillow home values (Sep 2026), Zillow market rents (Sep 2026), U.S. Census ACS 2024 five-year.

BEA 2024 · Syracuse, NY metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

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