What is an Occupational Therapist

An occupational therapist (or an OT), is someone who helps people with severe mental, physical, or development conditions to develop or recover their ability to maintain daily work and life skills. Various treatments involve adapting the environment, learning new skills, or modifying tasks in order to perform them. For more information on how to become an occupational therapist, visit our occupational therapist job description page.

Work Environment

Occupational therapists work in relatively spacious rooms, often with various machines and tools to aid in treatment. They spend a great deal of time on their feet, helping patients in their recovery. There is some risk of back strain, due to the lifting and moving of equipment and, in some cases, clients.

Work Schedule

Generally occupational therapists will work a standard 40-hour work week, maintaining business hours, however this will often depend on their chosen practice. Certainly in hospitals or other health care and community settings, this would be the case. For private practices, however, the therapist dictates their own schedule, and thus can work longer hours if desired. Many (around a quarter), work part-time.

Mean Annual Occupational Therapist Salary

The average annual OT salary is $76,400. Lowest 10% of this occupation makes less than $50,500 and the top 10% makes over $107,070.

Occupational Therapist Salary: Quick Summary

2012 Mean Salary$76,400 per year
$36.73 per hour
Top 10% Salary$107,070 per year
$51.47 per hour
Bottom 10% Salary$50,500 per year
$24.28 per hour
Number of Jobs, 2012105,540

Job Outlook

Proposed federal legislation set to impose limits on reimbursement for therapy services, which is expected to negatively impact job prospects in the short term,lead to a great demand for their services as more people seek them due to the affordability. So, while the amount earned per patient may decrease in the immediate future, the overall amount earned is expected to rise.

The job outlook of occupational therapists is very promising as aging baby-boomers will likely to increase the demand for occupational therapists. Many healthcare facilities will have vacancies for licensed occupational therapists owing to the role they play in the treatment of patients suffering from cerebral palsy, Alzheimer’s disease and other conditions associated with aging.

Overall, the employment prospects are expected to grow by 29%. California and New York offer the best employment prospects, with Texas a close third.

Salary Analysis

There are several factors affecting the salary of an occupational therapist, including experience, demographics, settings, and the ability to travel.

The current mean salary for an OT is $76,400, with overall wages fluctuating between $50,000 and $107,000. Nevada has the highest-paid therapists, followed by New Jersey and California.

A low supply of occupational therapists coupled with high demand is one of the leading factors in salaries. As such, this chart outlines the areas most in need.

As well, the setting will greatly impact on a salary, with the best paid OTs working in home care or nursing care facilities, earning between $8,000 and $10,000 more than the national average.

Education and Specialization 

Experience is more important than education in determining an OT’s income. Education seems to play very little role in their salary. While a degree in occupational therapy is needed for licensing purposes, the holding of a bachelor’s degree or master’s degree seems to make little difference in salary earned.

There are a number of specialty areas, but advanced certification in physical disability-related areas will definitely aid in better opportunities and higher wage.

Experience and Position 

As stated, experience is the largest factor impacting on salaries. An occupational therapist with five or fewer years of experience will earn an average of around $64,000, whereas an OT with 20 or more years will earn more than $75,000. Having ten or more years’ experience will be the best means of increasing a salary.

Occupational therapists can also see salary increases through their position; in health care facilities especially, an individual working as the head of a team will have a higher pay than an entry-level position.


Given the various work settings in which occupational therapy can take place, such as personal home visits, therapists who can travel tend to earn more than those in a fixed location. On average, traveling OTs will see a 15% pay increase, and receive a mileage reimbursement. Though it may mean travel to longer distances, these potential costs are often mitigated by housing and living stipends, so this is a lucrative option for those who enjoy traveling.


With demand being a major factor, Nevada, New Jersey, California, D.C., and Texas are some of the highest-paying states. Las Vegas is the metropolitan area that pays OT the highest salaries. Interestingly, Elizabethtown, Kentucky, holds the second-highest average wage, while the above states hold the majority of the rest of the top ten metropolitan areas.

Occupational Therapist Salary: Top 5

Top Paying Metropolitan AreasTop Paying StatesTop Paying IndustriesStates with Highest Employment Level
Las Vegas, NV: $109,880Nevada: $105,290Home Health Care Services: $86,850California: (9,250 jobs) $86,380
Elizabethtown, KY: $109,150New Jersey: $86,680Nursing Care Facilities: $83,180New York: (7,650 jobs) $74,450
Sherman-Denison, TX: $99,860California: $86,380Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services: $83,050Texas: (7,050 jobs) $84,810
Stockton, CA: $99,190District of Columbia: $85,260Employment Services: $81,830Florida: (6,160 jobs) $79,560
Carson City, NV: $98,690Texas: $84,810Insurance Carriers: $79,560Pennsylvania: (5,580 jobs) $70,450

occupational therapist salary state by state