Occupational Therapists

Also Called: Occupational Therapist (OT), Pediatric Occupational Therapist, Registered Occupational Therapist, Staff Therapist

Master's Degree

usually needed

Not Available
(Students Only)
Match Percentage

$65,210

Entry Salary

Bright

Job outlook

What Occupational Therapists do

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.

  • Complete and maintain necessary records.
  • Test and evaluate patients' physical and mental abilities and analyze medical data to determine realistic rehabilitation goals for patients.
  • Train caregivers in providing for the needs of a patient during and after therapy.
Industry Areas:

Health Care

Training Program Areas:

OCT-Only Health Care • Rehabilitation Technician

Expand For Additional Details

Work Context

  • Face-to-Face Discussions
  • Contact With Others
  • Physical Proximity
  • Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
  • Electronic Mail

Tools

  • Adaptive communication switches for the physically challenged
  • Wheelchairs
  • Therapeutic balls or accessories
  • Visual presenters
  • Vascular or compression apparel or support

Technology

Word processing software
Crick Software Clicker 4
Microsoft Word
Computer based training software
Text reader software
Text to speech software
Medical software
HMS
Lexrotech LxPediatric

The Education & Training You Need

Skills

  • Monitoring
  • Service Orientation
  • Active Listening
  • Critical Thinking
  • Judgment and Decision Making

Knowledge

Health
therapy and counseling
medicine and dentistry
Math and Science
psychology
sociology and anthropology
Education and Training
teaching and course design
Arts and Humanities
English language

Education

  • 71% Master's degree
  • 19% Bachelor's degree
  • 5% Professional degree

Experience

Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.

What are some related occupations at different educational levels?


Job Training Match

Cooks, Institution & Cafeteria

Educational Level

High School Diploma or Equivalent

 Job Training Match

Licensed Practical & Licensed Vocational Nurses

Educational Level

Post-secondary, non-degree

Critical Care Nurses

Educational Level

Associate's Degree

 Job Training Match

Recreational Therapists

Educational Level

Bachelor's Degree

 Job Training Match

Occupational Therapists Currently Selected

Educational Level

Advanced Degree

What are your training options on the pathway to this occupation?

Advanced Training

There are currently no advanced training opportunities for this career.

ACT & College

  • Aaniiih Nakoda College

    Harlem, MT

  • Abilene Christian University

    Abilene, TX

Apprenticeships

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Are You a Good Fit?

Occupation Traits

    • Investigative (Thinker)
    • Social (Helper)

Work Styles

  • Integrity
  • Adaptability/Flexibility
  • Concern for Others
  • Dependability
  • Self Control
  • Cooperation

Values

  • Relationships
  • Achievement
  • Working Conditions

Abilities

  • Verbal
  • Ideas and Logic
  • Attention

This is what Occupational Therapists across the country typically make.

$31.35 / hour
$65,210 /year

Entry Level

$46.33 / hour
$96,370 /year

Median Level

$62.32 / hour
$129,620 /year

Experienced Level

Income information reflects a regional average.
Income information reflects a national average.

This career’s National Job Outlook is

Bright

Please be sure to verify the outlook of this occupation with your instructor.

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