Occupational Therapy - Salaries

Many of us take our ability to support ourselves for granted, but suffering an illness or injury that impairs that ability can be devastating. Occupational therapists are perhaps best known for teaching those with permanent mental or physical disabilities the skills they need to function in their daily lives. An occupational therapy career involves providing help that can make a world of difference in a person's life. For the average occupational therapist, salary is of secondary concern to helping people regain or maintain their independence. But, that's not to say that there is no room for salary consideration in an occupational therapy career. Occupational therapy salaries are affected by a number of complex factors, including years of experience, education level, employment setting and more. Given the number of variables that can affect salary, it's important to have as much data as possible when doing occupational therapist salary research.

Occupational Therapist Salary Data

To get started on an OT career path, aspiring therapists should plan on an initial investment in education - a Master's Degree in Occupational Therapy is generally required. For job-seekers or those already working in the field, occupational therapy salaries will vary from one city to the next. The Occupational Therapist Salary by City chart shows that Los Angeles and New York both offer high occupational therapy salaries. California also ranks high when comparing Occupational Therapy Salaries by State, but that chart also puts Texas and New Jersey high on the list for median occupational therapist salaries. If you're not sure where to start looking for occupational therapy jobs, check out the Occupational Therapist Salary by Employer Type chart to see which employment settings offer the most competitive occupational therapy salaries. The average occupational therapist salary may also be affected by years of experience, since so many of the finer points of occupational therapy are learned on the job. See the Occupational Therapist Salary by Years Experience report to make sure you're earning what you should for your time in the field.

Career Profile - Occupational Therapist Salary Story

Salary is important, but for the average occupational therapist, salary is just one consideration in a unique and multi-faceted field. Ready to expand your research beyond occupational therapist salary information? Read "Occupational Therapy Careers" over in the Salary Stories blog. It's the true story of Cheryl Hall, a Baltimore occupational therapist with more than 23 years of experience in a job she loves.