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Occupational Therapist Salary | How Much Money Does an Occupational Therapist Make?

How much money do occupational therapists make per year? What does an occupational therapist do on the job? What are the education requirements to become an occupational therapist? This article will provide a general job overview, as well as detailed salary statistics.

Occupational therapists treat injured, ill, or disabled patients through the therapeutic use of everyday activities. They help these patients develop, recover, and improve the skills needed for daily living and working. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the field of occupational therapy is expected to grow 29% between years 2012-2022.

What Does an Occupational Therapist Do?

Occupational therapists typically do the following activities on the job:

  • Observe patients doing tasks, ask them questions, and review their medical history
  • Evaluate a patient’s condition and needs
  • Develop a treatment plan for patients, laying out the types of activities and specific goals to be accomplished
  • Help people with various disabilities with different tasks, such as leading an autistic child in play activitiesDemonstrate exercises—for example, joint stretches for arthritis relief—that can help relieve pain for people with chronic conditions
  • Evaluate a patient’s home or workplace and, based on the patient’s health needs, identify potential improvements, such as labeling kitchen cabinets for an older person with poor memory
  • Educate a patient’s family and employer about how to accommodate and care for the patient
  • Recommend special equipment, such as wheelchairs and eating aids, and instruct patients on how to use that equipment
  • Assess and record patients’ activities and progress for patient evaluations, for billing, and for reporting to physicians and other healthcare providers

Education Requirements to Become an Occupational Therapist

Occupational therapists need at least a master’s degree in occupational therapy; some therapists have a doctoral degree. Occupational therapists also must be licensed or registered. In March 2013, there were 149 occupational therapy programs accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education, part of the American Occupational Therapy Association; 145 are master’s degree programs and the remaining 4 are doctoral degree programs.

Admission to graduate programs in occupational therapy generally requires a bachelor’s degree and specific coursework, including biology and physiology. Many programs also require applicants to have volunteered or worked in an occupational therapy setting.

Master’s programs generally take 2 to 3 years to complete; doctoral programs take about 3 years. Some schools offer a dual-degree program in which the student earns a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in 5 years. Part-time programs that offer courses on nights and weekends are also available.

Both master’s and doctoral programs require at least 24 weeks of supervised fieldwork, in which prospective occupational therapists gain clinical work experience.

All states require occupational therapists to pass the national examination administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapists (NBCOT). To sit for the NBCOT exam, candidates must have earned a degree from an accredited educational program and completed all fieldwork requirements. Therapists must pass the NBCOT exam to use the title “Occupational Therapist Registered” (OTR). They must also take continuing education classes to maintain certification.

Occupational Therapy Salary Averages

Occupational therapists often earn very competitive salaries. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2014, occupational therapists earned an average of $38.46 per hour and $80,000 in income per year. These numbers are only averages, and the exact amount can vary depending on job experience, job location, and job industry. Below is additional salary information.

Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:

Percentile 10% 25% 50% (Median) 75% 90%
Hourly Wage $25.32 $31.26 $37.89 $45.28 $54.30
Annual Wage $52,670 $65,020 $78,810 $94,190 $112,950

Industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation:

Industry Employment Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage
Offices of Other Health Practitioners 28,040 3.62 $39.64 $82,460
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals 24,720 0.47 $37.96 $78,950
Elementary and Secondary Schools 14,370 0.17 $33.86 $70,430
Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities) 10,420 0.63 $41.71 $86,750
Home Health Care Services 10,020 0.80 $43.30 $90,070

Top paying industries for this occupation:

Industry Employment Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage
Scientific Research and Development Services n/a n/a $55.44 $115,320
Home Health Care Services 10,020 0.80 $43.30 $90,070
Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities) 10,420 0.63 $41.71 $86,750
Employment Services 2,730 0.08 $39.82 $82,830
Other Ambulatory Health Care Services 160 0.06 $39.74 $82,660

Top paying states for this occupation:

State Employment Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage
Nevada 690 0.58 0.71 $51.80 $107,750
California 9,540 0.63 0.77 $43.14 $89,740
New Jersey 3,530 0.91 1.12 $43.13 $89,710
Texas 7,320 0.65 0.80 $43.12 $89,690
District of Columbia 610 0.91 1.11 $41.40 $86,110

Lowest paying states:

North Dakota 30.32 63,070 60,730
South Dakota 30.90 64,260 61,840
Maine 31.50 65,510 64,580

Average Salary and Wage for Occupational Therapists by State

State Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage Annual median wage
Alabama 38.26 79,580 77,300
Alaska 36.41 75,730 77,330
Arizona 38.27 79,610 79,230
Arkansas 39.15 81,440 83,960
California 43.14 89,740 91,090
Colorado 39.12 81,380 80,850
Connecticut 40.82 84,910 84,360
Delaware 38.00 79,050 75,810
District of Columbia 41.40 86,110 84,210
Florida 40.72 84,690 81,790
Georgia 38.12 79,290 80,650
Hawaii 35.94 74760 78340
Idaho 33.19 69,040 71,220
Illinois 37.46 77,930 78,980
Indiana 37.05 77,060 76,370
Iowa 34.43 71620 71150
Kansas 38.50 80,090 78,450
Kentucky 37.95 78,940 79,480
Louisiana 36.08 75,040 74,170
Maine 31.50 65,510 64,580
Maryland 40.96 85,200 85,550
Massachusetts 38.06 79,170 80,420
Michigan 34.25 71,240 68,610
Minnesota 33.47 69,610 69,850
Mississippi 39.40 81,950 84,550
Missouri 34.41 71,570 70,800
Montana 32.97 68,580 68,210
Nebraska 35.13 73,070 71,650
Nevada 51.80 107,750 93,800
New Hampshire 35.40 73630 73540
New Jersey 43.13 89,710 89,620
New Mexico 38.25 79,550 76,570
New York 37.91 78,850 76,060
North Carolina 36.33 75,570 76,560
North Dakota 30.32 63,070 60,730
Ohio 38.76 80,620 79,390
Oklahoma 36.56 76,040 76,600
Oregon 37.92 78,880 81,550
Pennsylvania 35.14 73,090 71,530
Puerto Rico 19.66 40,890 35,460
Rhode Island 37.43 77,850 77,840
South Carolina 37.54 78,090 79,490
South Dakota 30.90 64,260 61,840
Tennessee 39.10 81,320 81,820
Texas 43.12 89,690 87,250
Utah 37.55 78,110 80,780
Vermont 35.91 74,700 68,990
Virginia 40.81 84,890 85,200
Washington 39.03 81,180 82,840
West Virginia 35.21 73,230 71,400
Wisconsin 32.61 67,820 67,330
Wyoming 35.08 72,960 70,990

References:

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2014-15 Edition, Occupational Therapists, on the Internet at bls.gov.

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