Occupational therapy continues to attract strong interest from clinicians seeking stable careers, consistent demand, and long-term earning potential. Many job seekers want accurate information about occupational therapist salary, how pay differs by setting, and which jobs are actively hiring.
Across the United States, including high-demand regions such as New Mexico, facilities continue hiring therapists to support hospitals, rehabilitation centers, nursing care facilities, and schools. Employers and therapists who want clarity around pay structure and job expectations often benefit from working with therapy-focused staffing partners such as Flagstar Rehab’s occupational therapist staffing agency. This guide explains how occupational therapy salary works, what affects earnings, and how occupational therapists can make informed career decisions.
Occupational therapists work with patients who need support performing daily activities due to injury, illness, disability, or developmental challenges. Occupational therapy focuses on function rather than diagnosis alone. The goal is to help individuals regain or maintain independence across home, work, and community life.
In most health care environments, occupational therapists evaluate patient abilities and develop structured treatment plans. These plans focus on restoring daily living skills and supporting long-term participation. Occupational therapists work closely with nurses, physicians, and rehabilitation teams to support recovery and safe discharge planning.
Structured, goal-based care is one of the responsibilities of occupational therapists. While duties vary by setting, the foundation remains consistent across practice environments.
Occupational therapists commonly:
This work directly affects patient independence and overall quality of life.
An occupational therapist serves diverse populations, including:
Across all settings, occupational therapy supports functional participation in daily tasks.
Occupational therapy requires formal graduate education and supervised clinical training. This structure prepares therapists to work independently in complex health care environments. Most occupational therapists complete graduate-level coursework combined with hands-on clinical experience before entering the workforce.
To practice, occupational therapists must earn a master’s degree from an accredited program. Coursework includes anatomy, neuroscience, mental health, rehabilitation methods, and clinical reasoning.
Programs also require supervised fieldwork in multiple practice settings. Fieldwork allows therapists to apply classroom knowledge in real patient environments under professional guidance. Graduates must pass national certification and meet state licensing requirements before employment.
Some therapists pursue specialized areas that influence job opportunities and earning potential. Specialization often improves negotiating leverage, especially in high-demand markets.
OT may choose to work in specialized areas such as neurological rehabilitation, hand therapy, seating and mobility, school-based therapy, and mental health practice. Certifications in high-demand specialties can give therapists more flexibility during salary discussions and job selection.
An occupational therapist’s salary varies widely, but national data provides a clear starting point. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for occupational therapists was $98,340 in May 2024. This places occupational therapy among higher-paying rehabilitation occupations.
The average salary for occupational therapists is estimated at approximately $98,833 nationally. Actual earnings vary based on location, experience, and practice setting.
The median annual wage represents the midpoint of all reported earnings. Half of workers earn more, and half earn less. This measure provides a stable benchmark because it limits distortion from unusually high or low salaries.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics also reported a median annual pay of $96,370 in 2023, showing continued upward movement in occupational therapy wages in recent years.
Average salary figures often appear higher due to overtime, travel roles, and specialty positions. An occupational therapy salary commonly falls within a broad range.
| Pay Structure | Typical Range |
|---|---|
| Entry-level annual salaries | $65,000 to $104,900 |
| Median annual | Around $98,000 |
| Overall salary range | $60,000 to over $130,000 |
| Exceptional leadership or ownership roles | Up to seven figures |
Job seekers should always compare offers using consistent pay units before deciding.
OT salaries are shaped by multiple factors rather than one fixed number. Understanding these influences helps therapists evaluate offers clearly and avoid misleading comparisons. Pay differences reflect setting, experience, region, and employer structure.
Practice settings strongly affect pay. Settings tied to Medicare reimbursement often support higher wages.
Higher paying settings frequently include:
School-based and educational settings typically pay less due to funding structures.
Geographic location plays a major role in earnings. Urban regions and states with a higher cost of living usually offer higher wages. High-paying states include California, Nevada, New Jersey, and Oregon. New Mexico continues to experience strong demand due to therapist shortages and rural care needs.
Experience levels play a major role in a therapist’s salary. Gaining years in practice often leads to higher compensation through skill efficiency and clinical confidence. Other contributing factors that can affect pay include whether the role is PRN or full-time, expectations for weekend or holiday coverage, and any leadership or mentor responsibilities tied to the position.
Salary alone does not reflect total compensation. Benefits can add meaningful value to an offer, including health insurance, paid time off, continuing education funding, and retirement contributions. Reviewing benefits alongside wages gives a clearer picture of overall compensation.
Different industries support different pay structures and workloads.
Occupational therapists working in skilled nursing facilities often earn higher wages. The median annual income in these settings is approximately $90,570. These roles involve higher productivity expectations and fast-paced patient turnover.
Home health roles commonly pay well due to visit-based reimbursement. Occupational therapists working in home health care services earn a median annual salary of about $87,570. Travel time and scheduling flexibility vary by employer.
Hospitals and rehabilitation centers offer stable schedules and structured teams. Pay is typically moderate with strong clinical support.
Medical offices and outpatient clinics focus on orthopedic and neurologic care. Earnings may be lower than SNF or home health, but schedules remain predictable.
School-based therapy provides structured academic calendars. Salaries are generally lower, averaging closer to $67,500, but offer schedule consistency.
Mental health OT roles focus on routines, life skills, and community integration. These positions often emphasize patient impact over salary.
OTs seeking higher pay often focus on strategic career choices rather than relying on tenure alone.
Higher earning roles often include:
Travel occupational therapists often earn higher pay than permanent roles, averaging around $94,375 annually, not including bonuses and benefits.
Certifications in neurological rehabilitation and other advanced specialties can increase earning potential. Employers often value therapists who can manage complex cases efficiently.
Negotiating salary helps therapists secure fair compensation. Preparation improves results.
Helpful negotiation steps include:
The job outlook for occupational therapists remains strong nationwide. Employment is projected to grow 14 percent from 2024 to 2034, much faster than the average for all occupations.
About 10,200 openings for occupational therapists are projected each year over the next decade. Demand continues to rise due to aging populations and increased rehabilitation needs.
Job growth in occupational therapy is driven by several ongoing health care needs. An increasingly older adult population requires support to maintain independence and manage age-related limitations.
At the same time, more patients are living with chronic conditions that affect daily functioning and require long-term therapy support. Demand has also grown for stroke recovery and post acute rehabilitation services, creating consistent hiring needs across hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and long term care settings.
Occupational therapists are increasingly needed in hospitals, schools, outpatient clinics, and long-term care programs.
Employers seek therapists who demonstrate reliability, documentation accuracy, and strong patient communication skills.
Finding the right job requires more than scanning listings. Therapists benefit from understanding employer expectations and setting priorities early. Many clinicians work with therapy-specific staffing agencies to identify roles that match experience, schedule, and pay goals.
Many occupational therapists choose to work with therapy-focused staffing agencies that specialize only in rehabilitation roles. Agencies such as Flagstar Rehab help connect therapists with hospitals, rehabilitation centers, nursing care facilities, and schools based on experience level, schedule preferences, and pay structure.
Occupational therapists can find job openings through several reliable sources, including therapy staffing agencies, hospital career portals, and rehabilitation employers. When reviewing listings, it helps to look closely at how pay is structured, expected hours, and workload details so there are no surprises later in the hiring process.
Before accepting a position, it helps to ask employers about caseload size, productivity standards, documentation time, and the level of onboarding or mentorship provided. Clear answers to these areas can prevent misunderstandings after starting the role.
Therapists tend to perform best when their skills match the patient population and the daily responsibilities of the practice setting. Choosing an environment that fits experience and strengths often leads to better job satisfaction and more consistent performance.
Occupational therapy offers strong earning potential, steady demand, and meaningful patient impact. An occupational therapist’s salary varies based on experience, location, and practice setting, but national data supports long term career stability. Understanding pay structures and job expectations allows therapists to make confident decisions.
Flagstar Rehab provides specialized staffing support for occupational therapists and health care employers nationwide. Our team helps therapists find roles that align with experience, schedule, and pay goals while supporting facilities with dependable coverage. Contact Flagstar Rehab to learn how our occupational therapy staffing solutions can support your next step.
The highest-paid OT jobs are often found in travel occupational therapy, nursing facilities, home health services, and management roles. These positions usually pay more due to staffing shortages, demands, or leadership responsibilities. Pay can vary based on location, experience, and schedule.
OT or occupational therapists complete a master’s degree and are responsible for evaluations and treatment plans. OTAs or occupational therapy assistants provide treatment under the supervision of an OT. Because of this difference in education and responsibility, OTAs earn lower wages.
An occupational therapist helps patients improve daily living skills and regain independence. They work with individuals affected by injury, illness, or disability. Their care focuses on functional tasks for daily life.
Stress levels depend on the practice setting and workload expectations. Higher productivity roles may feel more demanding. Other environments offer more predictable schedules and pacing.