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Up to 3 careers or trades side by side, on the numbers that decide between them.
Scroll the table sideways to reach every pathway.
| Pathway | Occupational Therapy Assistant Career | Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Career |
|---|---|---|
| Salary range | $50K–$85K+ (planning range) | $30K–$50K+ (planning range) |
| Median salary | None (a planning range has no median) | None (a planning range has no median) |
| Pay basis | Planning range from the Wealth Playbook medical careers guide, 2026 | Planning range from the Wealth Playbook medical careers guide, 2026 |
| Time to qualify | ~2 years | 4–12 weeks |
| Training | Associate degree + license, ~2 years | State-approved certificate, 4–12 weeks |
| Pathway | Rehabilitation & Respiratory (Medical Skilled Trades) | Patient Care (Medical Skilled Trades) |
| Patient contact | High | High |
| Education | Associate degree | Certificate |
| College required | Yes | No |
| Apprenticeship route | No | No |
| Credentials | COTA - Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy) | National Nurse Aide Assessment Program (NNAAP) exam (used by many states) |
| Outlook | Employment of occupational therapy assistants is projected to grow 21 percent from 2025 to 2035 (BLS projections table); assistants and aides combined are projected to grow 20 percent, much faster than the average for all occupations. | Employment of nursing assistants and orderlies is projected to grow 3 percent from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as the average for all occupations. |
| Where you work | Offices of physical, occupational and speech therapists, Nursing care facilities, Hospitals | Nursing care facilities, Hospitals, Assisted living and retirement communities |
| Overtime common | — | — |
| Path to ownership | — | — |
| Next step |
Medical Skilled Trades careers show a planning range from the Wealth Playbook medical careers guide (2026), not wage data, unless BLS wage data has been loaded; the Pay basis row names the source and year, and outlook figures are cited on each career page.