Occupational therapists at long-term care facilities received an average 1.54% boost in pay this year, up to $41.42 per hour, according to new data released this week in the 14th annual HCS Rehabilitation Salary & Benefits Report.
It was the highest percent boost in pay when compared to OTs in home health agencies, who saw a 0.72% increase, and hospitals, who saw a 2.07% decrease in 2020. The hourly rate for OTs in hospitals was $37.34, and for home health agencies it was $44.57.
LTC certified occupational therapy assistants saw the lowest hourly rate increase (1.43%) in 2020 when compared to hospitals (4.49%) and home health agencies (10%).
COTAs in long-term care saw their hourly rate increase to $28.41. That’s compared to those in hospitals whose hourly rate jumped to $27.45, and in home health agencies whose rate increased to $33 per hour.
The report also revealed that pay for LTC physical therapists increased by 2.84%, and for speech-language pathologists by 2.72%.
Rosanne Zabka, director of Reports for the Hospital & Health Care Compensation Service (HCS), said the findings point to a “savings to LTC facilities when utilizing the PTAs and COTAs, which are less highly compensated.”
The report included data from more than 1,700 LTC facilities, 826 home health agencies and 262 hospitals. The full publication is available for purchase at the HCS website.
