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Bakersfield, California

COTA-Certified Occupational Therapist Asst PRN

Occupational Therapy AssistantPer Diem

Listed compensation

$40-$45/hr

The week · per this posting

Schedule not stated in this posting — no days, weekends, call or nights given.

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

Posted 24m ago · Verified live

Job Description

  • Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA) – PRN
  • Bakersfield Post Acute
  • Location: Bakersfield, CA
  • Pay Range: $40.00 – $45.00 per hour (DOE)
  • Status: PRN / Per Diem
  • Setting: Skilled Nursing Facility | Short-Term Rehabilitation

Join a Team That Truly Cares

If you are caring, compassionate, and passionate about helping residents regain independence and quality of life, this is a great opportunity to join a supportive and collaborative rehab team. At Bakersfield Post Acute, we are committed to exceptional care and a positive, professional environment for our clinicians.

New grads welcome. Immediate availability.

Why Bakersfield Post Acute?

  • Competitive PRN pay
  • Supportive leadership and collaborative rehab team
  • Career stability with a positive workplace culture
  • Referral program
  • Educational and professional development opportunities
  • Skilled nursing and short-term rehab setting

General Purpose

The Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA) provides direct patient care under the supervision of a licensed Occupational Therapist. The COTA assists residents in improving functional abilities related to activities of daily living while ensuring accurate documentation and collaboration with the interdisciplinary care team.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

  • Provide treatment to residents as directed by the supervising Occupational Therapist
  • Implement individualized treatment plans in accordance with physician orders
  • Document daily treatment notes and progress per regulatory and facility standards
  • Communicate resident progress, challenges, and plans with the supervising OT and rehab team
  • Assist with patient care conferences, rehab meetings, and interdisciplinary collaboration as needed
  • Educate residents, families, and caregivers on therapeutic activities and carryover programs
  • Assist with discharge planning and transition of care
  • Maintain a clean, safe, and organized treatment environment
  • Report equipment issues to ensure safe and effective operation
  • Maintain positive, professional relationships with residents, families, and staff
  • Supervisory Responsibilities
  • This position has no supervisory responsibilities

Qualifications

  • Education & Experience
  • Graduate of an accredited Occupational Therapy Assistant program
  • Skilled Nursing Facility or geriatric experience preferred

Licensure & Certifications

  • Current, active California COTA license in good standing
  • Must meet all continuing education requirements per state regulations

Skills

  • Proficient in electronic documentation systems (NetHealth and PointClickCare preferred)
  • Strong clinical judgment and communication skills
  • Ability to work independently and as part of a collaborative team

Work Environment

  • Inpatient Skilled Nursing Facility
  • Long-term care and short-term rehabilitation
  • Geriatric population

One Primary Location

We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other legally protected status.

Key Responsibilities

The COTA provides direct patient care and implements individualized treatment plans under the supervision of an Occupational Therapist. They are responsible for documenting daily treatment notes and collaborating with the interdisciplinary team to support resident recovery.

Key Skills

Treatment planningClinical documentationGeriatric carePatient education

Occupational Therapist Career Context

In California, the Occupational Therapy weighted monthly median benchmark on WeekdayDoc is ~$116k (757 salary observations; 2,372 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 California is 110.7 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$88k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $80k in an average-cost state. 63.6% of California clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

What does the Occupational Therapy market look like in California?
MeasureThis jobMarket
California vs national$116k median in California$97k nationally (+20%)757 state / 5,357 national salary observations
Cost-of-living adjusted pay~$80k in purchasing powerCalifornia index 110.7 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Occupational Therapy listings in California902 active9,047 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Sign-on & loan repaymentnot statedCalifornia occupational therapist listings (all specialties): 16% state a sign-on bonus (median $5k) · 5% offer loan repayment951 active listings, Nov 2026
New Occupational Therapy listings3,267 in the last 30 days1,694 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, BEA Regional Price Parities (2024); as of Nov 2026. Same values as the Weekday Verdict and Market Insights on this page.

Top contract/1099 OTA Jobs

3 matches · ranked by pay
#1

Therapist (OT/ COTA) On-CallPer Diem

Cassia · Montevideo, Minnesota

$50-$60/hr
#2

Occupational Therapist AssistantPer Diem

Presbyterian Homes & Services · Dubuque, Iowa

$27.58-$31.88/hr
#3

Occupational Therapist Assistant | COTA

$30-$33/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 Bakersfield

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$354k
Typical market rent
$1,901/mo
Residents’ average commute
24 min
State income tax
Up to 13.3%
Sources & methodology

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

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