Salary for Occupational Therapist (OT) Jobs

Updated: 1 Feb 2012
United States » Job » Occupational Therapist (OT) Overview » Occupational Therapist (OT) Salary
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National Salary Data

National Salary Data

 (?
XAll compensation data shown are gross, national 10th to 90th percentile ranges. Pay can vary greatly by location. To view local data, take the PayScale survey.
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$0$31K$62K$93K
Salary$40,994 - $76,925  
   
Bonus$0.33 - $6,500  
Total Pay (?
XTotal Pay combines base annual salary or hourly wage, bonuses, profit sharing, tips, commissions, overtime pay and other forms of cash earnings, as applicable for this job. It does not include equity (stock) compensation, cash value of retirement benefits, or the value of other non-cash benefits (e.g. healthcare).
)
$45,460 - $91,090  
PayScale
Country: United States | Currency: USD | Updated: 1 Feb 2012 | Individuals Reporting: 1,019
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Companies and Industries for Occupational Therapist (OT) Jobs

Popular Employers

Salary Range

Healthsouth Rehabilitation HospitalNot enough data
Amedisys Home Health CareNot enough data
U.S. ArmyNot enough data
Popular Industries

Salary Range

Occupational Therapy / Rehabilitation$44,703 - $83,541
Healthcare$43,030 - $79,570
Hospital$44,297 - $82,019
Rehabilitation$43,407 - $80,087
Education, K-12 Schools$40,763 - $77,472

key statistics
Key Statistics for Occupational Therapist (OT) Jobs

Gender
Female
83%
female alumni
 
Male
17%
male alumni
Salary:$49,450 - $65,124 $56,044 - $73,117
Years of Experience
Less than 1 year
18%
1-4 years
39%
5-9 years
18%
10-19 years
20%
20 years or more
5%
Most Common Health Benefits
medical benefits Medical: 77% dental benefits Dental: 64%
vision benefits Vision: 46% employee benefits None: 21%

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career path
Career Path for Occupational Therapist (OT) Jobs

Common Past Jobs
Common Future Jobs

Occupational Therapist (OT)

Salary Range

$45,460 - $91,090
payscale
Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA)
$31,785 - $63,716
Waiter/Waitress
$7,798 - $39,119
Student Services Coordinator
$24,797 - $51,226
 
Common Future Jobs

Occupational Therapist (OT)

Salary Range

$45,460 - $91,090
payscale
Licensed Registered Occupational Therapist
$50,384 - $93,616
Registered Occupational Therapist
$50,004 - $92,975
Occupational Therapist Director
$50,301 - $96,261
 

career path
Salary Map for Occupational Therapist (OT) Jobs

Highest Salaries By City for Occupational Therapist (OT) Jobs

Top Cities by Popularity for Occupational Therapist (OT) Jobs

Highest Salaries By City Top Cities by Popularity

sample job description
Occupational Therapist (OT) Job Description

People with the job title Occupational Therapist (OT) typically fall into one of the following PayScale standard occupations.

Test and evaluate patients' physical and mental abilities and analyze medical data to determine rehabilitation goals for patient. Select and recommend activities that will help individuals learn work and life-management skills consistent with their needs and capabilities. Help clients improve decision making, abstract reasoning, memory, sequencing, coordination and perceptual skills using computer programs. Consult with rehabilitation team to select activity programs and coordinate with other therapeutic activities. Record prognosis, treatment, response and progress in patient's chart or computer.

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salaries
FAQs on Salaries for Occupational Therapist (OT) Jobs

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 tend to offer high occupational therapy salaries. California also ranks high when comparing Occupational Therapy Salaries by State, but that chart also puts Texas and Florida high on the list for median occupational salaries. If you're not sure where to start looking for 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 based on 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.

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