Disciplines / OT
Occupational Therapist (OT)
OTs build the functional and sensory skills that let clients take part in daily life, from pediatric sensory integration to adult rehabilitation.
- Advertised pay
- $78k – $108k
- Credential
- State licensure; NBCOT certification (OTR)
- Live roles
- None open today
What is a Occupational Therapist (OT), and what does the role pay?
What the role does
- Complete functional, sensory and developmental evaluations
- Write and deliver individualized intervention plans
- Recommend adaptive equipment and environmental modifications
- Write IEP-aligned goals in school settings
- Coach families and care staff
- Supervise COTAs
Credential and route in
State licensure; NBCOT certification (OTR) · NBCOT and state licensing boards
- 1Master's or doctoral OT degree from an ACOTE-accredited program
- 2Level I and Level II fieldwork
- 3Pass the NBCOT examination
- 4State licensure and continuing competency
Advertised pay
| Career stage | Advertised pay | What typically sits behind it |
|---|---|---|
| Entry | $78k | Newly credentialed, supervised caseload |
| Mid-career | $92k | Full caseload, independent, some supervision of others |
| Senior | $108k | Lead or multi-site scope, clinical quality ownership |
Ranges reflect what we typically see advertised on roles we recruit for in the US. They are a market guide, not a survey, and vary by setting, caseload and experience. Last reviewed August 2026. For federal wage and outlook data, see the Bureau of Labor Statistics occupation page.
Full OT salary guideWhere OTs work
Pediatric clinics · School districts · Hospitals and rehab · Skilled nursing · Early intervention · Home health
Specialties
- Pediatric therapyOutpatient pediatric speech, occupational and physical therapy clinics, frequently multidisciplinary alongside ABA.
- School-based servicesDistrict-employed and contract services across special education: evaluations, IEP-aligned therapy, behavior support and school mental health.
- Early interventionBirth-to-three programs delivering developmental, speech, occupational and behavioral support in homes and community settings.
- Skilled nursing and rehabAdult rehabilitation caseloads across skilled nursing facilities, acute rehab and home health, where speech and occupational therapy meet medical care.
Demand right now
Consistently short in pediatrics and school contracts, especially where sensory integration or feeding experience is needed.
Hiring OTs?
Pediatric OT candidates screen hard on evaluation load and documentation time. Roles that quote both fill faster.
Submit a roleLive OT roles
No live OT roles today. Join the talent network and we will contact you when one opens in your state.
Join the talent networkQuestions we get asked
- Is there an OT licensure compact?
- Yes. The OT Licensure Compact is being implemented across participating states and will make multi-state practice significantly easier as it goes live.
Related roles
- Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA)COTAs deliver occupational therapy interventions under OT supervision across pediatric, school and rehabilitation caseloads.$28/hr – $42/hr
- Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP)SLPs assess and treat communication, language, feeding and swallowing across pediatric and adult caseloads, in schools, clinics and medical settings.$72k – $108k
- Physical Therapist (PT)PTs restore movement and function, working alongside OT and speech teams in pediatric, school and rehabilitation programs.$80k – $112k