Prevailing Wage for Occupational Therapy Aides
Prevailing wage requirements for Occupational Therapy Aides (SOC 31-2012) are set by DOL using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data. Whether your offer letter says Occupational Therapist Aide (OT Aide), Certified Occupational Rehabilitation Aide (CORA), or Direct Service Professional (DSP), the same four experience-based wage levels apply, and the floor shifts significantly depending on the worksite city.
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Level 1 covers entry-level aides with limited or no prior experience in the occupation, performing routine, closely supervised tasks. Employers typically file at this level for new graduates or candidates transitioning into a healthcare support role for the first time.
Level 2 applies to aides with moderate experience who handle delegated tasks with some independence. This is the most common filing level for Occupational Therapy Aides, reflecting typical roles where workers assist therapists across standard patient care settings.
Level 3 is for experienced aides who take on broader responsibilities, may orient newer staff, and work with reduced supervision. Candidates with several years of hands-on experience in clinical or rehabilitation settings and expanded task scope typically fall here.
Level 4 reflects fully competent aides at the top of the non-licensed support tier, often handling the widest range of delegated tasks, mentoring others, or working across multiple care settings with minimal oversight. Senior aide or lead aide titles commonly correspond to this level.
Prevailing Wage for Occupational Therapy Aides by OES area
Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.
What’s an OES area?
The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.
Top 10 cities · Level 1
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See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for Occupational Therapy Aides and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
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Watch for title mismatches on the LCA
Titles like Direct Support Professional (DSP) or Occupational Rehabilitation Aide sometimes get filed under a different SOC by employers, which can change the prevailing wage floor. Confirm your LCA lists SOC 31-2012 before accepting a sponsored offer.
Compare metro wages before relocating
The prevailing wage floor for OT Aide roles varies sharply by city. Dallas and Albuquerque post notably higher Level 1 and Level 2 floors than Columbus or Oklahoma City, so worksite location directly affects whether a base salary clears compliance.
Check your employer category before negotiating
Staffing agencies and therapy contract firms often file OT Aide roles at Level 1 or Level 2, while hospital systems and large rehab networks more commonly file at Level 2 or Level 3. Knowing which category your employer falls into sets a realistic floor for negotiation.
Use Migrate Mate to find employers who sponsor OT Aides
Migrate Mate shows which employers have historically sponsored Occupational Therapy Aide roles, filtering by visa type and location. This helps you target healthcare networks and rehab companies with an actual sponsorship track record rather than guessing from job boards.
Jobs for Occupational Therapy Aides are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Jobs for Occupational Therapy AidesPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 31-2012.00 alongside Occupational Therapy Aides, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Certified Occupational Rehabilitation Aide (CORA) Prevailing Wage
Certified Occupational Rehabilitation Aide (CORA) Prevailing Wage
Certified Occupational Rehabilitation Aide (CORA) positions fall under SOC 31-2012.00 (Occupational Therapy Aides). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Direct Service Professional (DSP) Prevailing Wage
Direct Service Professional (DSP) Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Direct Service Professional (DSP) for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 31-2012.00 (Occupational Therapy Aides). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Direct Support Professional (DSP) Prevailing Wage
Direct Support Professional (DSP) Prevailing Wage
Direct Support Professional (DSP) is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 31-2012.00 (Occupational Therapy Aides). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Occupational Rehabilitation Aide Prevailing Wage
Occupational Rehabilitation Aide Prevailing Wage
Occupational Rehabilitation Aide positions fall under SOC 31-2012.00 (Occupational Therapy Aides). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Occupational Therapist Aide (OT Aide) Prevailing Wage
Occupational Therapist Aide (OT Aide) Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Occupational Therapist Aide (OT Aide) for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 31-2012.00 (Occupational Therapy Aides). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Occupational Therapy Aide (OT Aide) Prevailing Wage
Occupational Therapy Aide (OT Aide) Prevailing Wage
Occupational Therapy Aide (OT Aide) is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 31-2012.00 (Occupational Therapy Aides). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Rehabilitation Aide (Rehab Aide) Prevailing Wage
Rehabilitation Aide (Rehab Aide) Prevailing Wage
Rehabilitation Aide (Rehab Aide) positions fall under SOC 31-2012.00 (Occupational Therapy Aides). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Rehabilitation Services Aide Prevailing Wage
Rehabilitation Services Aide Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Rehabilitation Services Aide for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 31-2012.00 (Occupational Therapy Aides). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Restorative Aide Prevailing Wage
Restorative Aide Prevailing Wage
Restorative Aide is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 31-2012.00 (Occupational Therapy Aides). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Occupational Therapy Aides?
DOL sets prevailing wages for Occupational Therapy Aides using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The OFLC assigns a wage to each of four experience levels for SOC 31-2012 in every surveyed metro area. Employers must certify on the Labor Condition Application that they will pay at least the applicable prevailing wage for the worksite location.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which one applies to my offer?
The four DOL wage levels reflect experience and responsibility, from Level 1 (entry, closely supervised) to Level 4 (fully competent, broadest task scope). Your level is determined by your actual job duties and experience, not your job title alone. Review the LCA your employer files with OFLC to confirm which level was used, and check that it matches your real scope of work.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same OT Aide role vary so much by city?
DOL calculates prevailing wages from regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys, so each metro area produces its own wage estimate for SOC 31-2012. High-cost metros with dense healthcare employer markets, like Dallas, reflect higher local wages in the survey data. The LCA must list the actual worksite city, so the wage floor tied to that specific metro is what the employer must meet, not the national median.
What happens if my job offer is below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
If an employer files an LCA for a sponsored OT Aide role at a wage below the applicable prevailing wage, OFLC will not certify it. Without a certified LCA, the H-1B or other visa petition cannot proceed. If you are already in a sponsored role and your wage falls below the floor, your employer is required to make up the difference. USCIS and DOL treat prevailing wage violations seriously.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for an Occupational Therapy Aide role in a specific U.S. city?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool to look up the current prevailing wage for SOC 31-2012 in any surveyed metro area. Select the occupation code, enter your worksite location, and review all four wage levels. For context on which employers have sponsored this role and where, Migrate Mate filters sponsored Occupational Therapy Aide listings by location and visa type, giving you a practical starting point alongside the DOL data.
See which employers are hiring and sponsoring visas for Occupational Therapy Aides right now.
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