Occupational therapy aides are seeing the greatest jump in employment and pay among 15 post-acute care positions.
Becker’s examined Bureau of Labor Statistics data for 15 nursing home, rehabilitation and post-acute jobs. We collected 2024 and 2025 employment and pay data in order to calculate the percent change.
Occupational therapy aides and exercise physiologists are seeing the greatest jumps in employment at 19.7% and 17.1% respectively. Meanwhile, occupational therapy aides and respiratory therapists are seeing the greatest increase in pay at 4.2% and 4%, respectively.
Orderlies were the only job to see an employment decrease, dropping 1.3% in 2025.
Here are the employment and pay changes for 15 post-acute positions.
| Job Title | 2025 employment total | % change in employment(2024–2025) | 2025 annual mean wage | % change in pay(2024–2025) |
| Rehabilitation counselors | 94,740 | +6.1% | $51,820 | +1.2% |
| Occupational therapists | 162,450 | +6.5% | $101,280 | +3.2% |
| Physical therapists | 267,330 | +7.3% | $105,280 | +2.9% |
| Recreational therapists | 14,930 | +1.4% | $67,630 | +3.7% |
| Respiratory therapists | 139,790 | +1.9% | $87,300 | +4% |
| Speech-language pathologists | 183,390 | +2.8% | $98,170 | +2.5% |
| Exercise physiologists | 8,560 | +17.1% | $60,940 | +2.7% |
| Home health and personal care aides | 4,305,810 | +7.7% | $36,120 | +3.3% |
| Nursing assistants | 1,448,910 | +4.3% | $42,700 | +3.5% |
| Orderlies | 52,440 | -1.3% | $40,660 | +1.9% |
| Occupational therapy assistants | 51,290 | +7.1% | $70,710 | +3.2% |
| Occupational therapy aides | 4,310 | +19.7% | $44,110 | +4.2% |
| Physical therapist assistants | 112,430 | +3.5% | $68,730 | +2.7% |
| Physical therapist aides | 48,150 | +9.5% | $36,430 | +2.6% |
| Medical assistants | 817,870 | +2.9% | $46,120 | +3.2% |
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