Occupational Therapists
Assess, plan, and organize rehabilitative programs that help build or restore vocational, homemaking, and daily living skills, as well as general independence, to persons with disabilities or developmental delays. Use therapeutic techniques, adapt the individual's environment, teach skills, and modify specific tasks that present barriers to the individual.
Also called: Acute Care OT (Acute Care Occupational Therapist), Assistive Technology Trainer, Certified Hand Therapist (CHT), Early Intervention Occupational Therapist, Home Care Occupational Therapist (Home Care OT), Home Health Occupational Therapist
Median pay
$100,330
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$71,690 – $131,950
People employed
162,450
Holland code
SIR
Social · Investigative · Realistic
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Are you happy talking and working with people most of the day?
- 2.Do you want variety, with new tasks often?
The hard parts
- Exposure to disease or infection
- Tight deadlines are common
Occupational Therapists pay by state
Highest-paying states
Annual median pay by state (50 states and DC with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
What occupational therapists do
- 01Test and evaluate patients' physical and mental abilities and analyze medical data to determine realistic rehabilitation goals for patients.
- 02Complete and maintain necessary records.
- 03Plan, organize, and conduct occupational therapy programs in hospital, institutional, or community settings to help rehabilitate persons with disabilities because of illness, injury or psychological or developmental problems.
- 04Plan and implement programs and social activities to help patients learn work or school skills and adjust to handicaps.
- 05Select activities that will help individuals learn work and life-management skills within limits of their mental or physical capabilities.
- 06Evaluate patients' progress and prepare reports that detail progress.
Skills that matter most
- Active Listening
- Monitoring
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
Knowledge
- Therapy and Counseling
- Psychology
- Customer and Personal Service
- Medicine and Dentistry
- English Language
Work styles that stand out
- Attention to Detail
- Integrity
- Intellectual Curiosity
- Cooperation
- Social Orientation
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs a graduate degree (O*NET Job Zone 5).
- Related work experience: over 6 months, up to and including 1 year.
- On-the-job training: over 1 month, up to and including 3 months.
- A professional certification is often expected.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from occupational therapists
- Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary79% · +7%
- Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary78% · −20%
- Genetic Counselors75% · 0%
- Occupational Therapy Assistants73% · −28%
- Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary72% · −20%
Change into occupational therapists
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Athletic Trainers87% · $62,520
- Neuropsychologists86% · $110,840
- Healthcare Social Workers84% · $67,880
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers84% · $60,280
- Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary84% · $80,250
Majors that lead here
- Occupational Therapy/Therapist
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.