Functional Pathways logo
Functional Pathways
Rockford, Illinois

Full-time Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant

Occupational TherapistFull-Time

Listed compensation

$29-$33/hr

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

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

Posted 2mo ago

Job Description

Job DetailsJob Location: Wesley Willows - Rockford, IL 61103-1524Position Type: Full TimeSalary Range: $29.00 - $33.00 HourlyFunctional Pathways is currently hiring at our newest location, Wesley Willows in Rockford, IL, for a full-time Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant.

About Us

Wesley Willows is a senior living community in Rockford, IL, that has been serving seniors since 1966. Located on a beautiful campus, Wesley Willows offers a full continuum of care, including independent living, assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing, and rehabilitation.

With a focus on wellness, connection, and compassionate care, the community provides residents with opportunities to stay active, engaged, and comfortable while having peace of mind as their needs change.

Why Choose Functional Pathways: At Functional Pathways, we offer a supportive family environment, ethical care, innovation, and a strong focus on values and customer service. Join us in making a positive impact on our residents' lives!

Qualifications

Job Summary

As a COTA you will implement the plan of care established by the OTR/L and physician, delivering excellence in quality of care.

Qualifications

Associate degree from an accredited Occupational Therapy Assistant program Certification and licensure requirements as established by state and national board associations.

Active state license Excellent organizational and time management skills Excellent written and verbal communication skills Current working knowledge of Functional Pathways policies and procedures Completion of all required screenings, certifications, and licensure.

Screening requirements may vary by location. **Please be aware this is a job summary, not an all-inclusive listing of the tasks and duties for this position.

Employment decisions and actions will be administered without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, veteran status, gender, disability, or any other classification protected by law.

Key Responsibilities

The Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant will implement care plans established by the OTR/L and physician. They are responsible for delivering high-quality care to residents within the senior living community.

Requirements

Candidates must hold an associate degree from an accredited Occupational Therapy Assistant program. Additionally, they must possess an active state license and meet all relevant certification requirements.

Key Skills

Patient CareOrganizational SkillsWritten CommunicationClinical Documentation

Occupational Therapist Career Context

In Illinois, the Occupational Therapy weighted monthly median benchmark on WeekdayDoc is ~$93k (258 salary observations; 920 listings), vs ~$97k nationally (4,521 salary observations; 25,570 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 Illinois is 100.0 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$64k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $64k in an average-cost state. 62.6% of Illinois clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Occupational Therapy pay on WeekdayDoc is up 3.7% vs. the prior quarter (through Sep 2026).

Top OTA Jobs

3 matches · ranked by pay
#1

COTA / Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant - Home Health

Adoration Health · Richmond, Virginia

$35-$40/hr
#2

Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant (COTA)

Healthpro Heritage · Holland, Michigan

$33-$38/hr
#3

Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant Day Institute

$24.5-$36.4/hr
+ 1 more · ranked by pay

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 Rockford

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$193k
Typical market rent
$1,195/mo
Residents’ average commute
22 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
92.2
State income tax
Up to 5%
Sources & methodology

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

BEA 2024 · Rockford, IL metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

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