What Is The Range Of Occupational Therapist Salary?
The average: The average occupational therapist pay is in
the range of $27.31 to $38.25 per hour with the possibility to earn
over time at the rate of $38 to $53 per hour.
In Addition to this, most occupational therapists also make a yearly bonus of $500 with scope for profit sharing in the vicinity of $300 to $3,400; this puts the average annual occupational therapist salary in the range of $53,000 to $74,500.
In Addition to this, most occupational therapists also make a yearly bonus of $500 with scope for profit sharing in the vicinity of $300 to $3,400; this puts the average annual occupational therapist salary in the range of $53,000 to $74,500.
| Occupational Therapist Salary By Experience (Curated Data) | Per Hour | Per Annum | ||
| Low End | High End | Low End | High End | |
| Beginner/Trainee (0-1 Years) | $21.40 | $33.19 | $44,520 | $69,050 |
| Intermediate (1-4 Years) | $22.78 | $39.46 | $47,380 | $82,070 |
| Advanced (5-10 Years) | $27.91 | $46.24 | $58,060 | $96,190 |
| Senior (10+ Years) | $30.36 | $50.01 | $63,150 | $104,030 |
Occupational
therapist jobs are among the growing breed of health care careers that
have shown a robust growth in demand over the years, and the rise is
expected to continue well into the future. The job of an occupational
therapist can encompass a host of responsibilities; from
helping a developmentally challenged child to aiding a person with long
term disability caused by a spinal injury. The primary goal of an
occupational therapist is to assist people with various levels and
types of mental or physical disabilities to develop the skills that
they need to lead more satisfying and independent lives on the personal
and professional front.
Although occupational therapist jobs are routinely found in hospitals and OTs, it’s also possible for a qualified professional to draw a handsome occupational therapist salary by being employed with schools, nursing facilities, elderly care centers and mental health settings.
What does a professional have to do to earn this occupational therapist salary?
While practitioners of occupational therapy are routinely confused with physical therapists, an occupational therapist does not help the patient to improve his abilities; au contraire, he/she is responsible for helping a person to come to terms with his limitations and learn new ways of doing things which mitigate the debilitating impact of the patient’s physical or mental condition on his life. Occupational therapist are also often called in to work with individuals who have had their ability to perform the regular tasks of their job impaired; a therapist can help such people to recognize their abilities and find a suitable position.
A professional in the field will regularly be expected to assist patients who are suffering from physical as well as mental disabilities such as depression, trauma or stress. They help the patient to improve his motor functions as well as reasoning faculties. In order to improve the patient’s capabilities, an occupational therapist will chart out a strategy that will aid the patient’s transition to the new lifestyle; the professional will then teach the patient new ways of taking care of regular chores such as cleaning, grooming, eating, cooking etc. Finally, the therapist is also responsible for tracking treatment and progress, writing reports and liaising with other health care professionals.
The Educational Qualification Required To Work As An Occupational Therapist
Occupational therapy professions are regulated by all states and a person interested in the job of an occupational therapist should at least have a master’s degree or a higher certification to his credit. After completing the requisite educational qualification, a professional will also need to apply for an occupational therapist license that qualifies him/her to practice in the licensed state. In order to qualify for licensure, a would-be occupational therapist will need to complete the accredited occupational therapist program and take the state exam.
A professional can practice in a host of settings; while hospitals, orthopedic offices and rehabilitation centers commonly employ occupational therapists, it is also possible to find employment with schools. However, this will usually call for specialization or at least additional training.
Occupational Therapist Salary Benefits
The job also comes with some enticing benefits including paid holidays, educational expense, pension, insurance, reimbursements, health expenses, higher tax compensation of almost 27.7%, bonuses and health care assistance. In fact, if all the benefits were to be included in the gross salary of an occupational therapist the figure would easily surpass $100,000 per annum.
Different Types Of Employers And The Occupational Therapist Salary That They Offer:
The type of employer that a therapist chooses to work with will have a direct bearing on his/her earnings. However, self employed therapists earn the most with some reporting having an annual occupational therapist salary in the range of $53,000 to $88,500 as compared to individuals working with private sector employers who draw an average salary of $53,000 to $66,500. Professionals who work for the federal government are on the second spot with salaries in the range of $49,000 to $77,000.
Although occupational therapist jobs are routinely found in hospitals and OTs, it’s also possible for a qualified professional to draw a handsome occupational therapist salary by being employed with schools, nursing facilities, elderly care centers and mental health settings.
What does a professional have to do to earn this occupational therapist salary?
While practitioners of occupational therapy are routinely confused with physical therapists, an occupational therapist does not help the patient to improve his abilities; au contraire, he/she is responsible for helping a person to come to terms with his limitations and learn new ways of doing things which mitigate the debilitating impact of the patient’s physical or mental condition on his life. Occupational therapist are also often called in to work with individuals who have had their ability to perform the regular tasks of their job impaired; a therapist can help such people to recognize their abilities and find a suitable position.
A professional in the field will regularly be expected to assist patients who are suffering from physical as well as mental disabilities such as depression, trauma or stress. They help the patient to improve his motor functions as well as reasoning faculties. In order to improve the patient’s capabilities, an occupational therapist will chart out a strategy that will aid the patient’s transition to the new lifestyle; the professional will then teach the patient new ways of taking care of regular chores such as cleaning, grooming, eating, cooking etc. Finally, the therapist is also responsible for tracking treatment and progress, writing reports and liaising with other health care professionals.
The Educational Qualification Required To Work As An Occupational Therapist
Occupational therapy professions are regulated by all states and a person interested in the job of an occupational therapist should at least have a master’s degree or a higher certification to his credit. After completing the requisite educational qualification, a professional will also need to apply for an occupational therapist license that qualifies him/her to practice in the licensed state. In order to qualify for licensure, a would-be occupational therapist will need to complete the accredited occupational therapist program and take the state exam.
A professional can practice in a host of settings; while hospitals, orthopedic offices and rehabilitation centers commonly employ occupational therapists, it is also possible to find employment with schools. However, this will usually call for specialization or at least additional training.
Occupational Therapist Salary Benefits
The job also comes with some enticing benefits including paid holidays, educational expense, pension, insurance, reimbursements, health expenses, higher tax compensation of almost 27.7%, bonuses and health care assistance. In fact, if all the benefits were to be included in the gross salary of an occupational therapist the figure would easily surpass $100,000 per annum.
Different Types Of Employers And The Occupational Therapist Salary That They Offer:
The type of employer that a therapist chooses to work with will have a direct bearing on his/her earnings. However, self employed therapists earn the most with some reporting having an annual occupational therapist salary in the range of $53,000 to $88,500 as compared to individuals working with private sector employers who draw an average salary of $53,000 to $66,500. Professionals who work for the federal government are on the second spot with salaries in the range of $49,000 to $77,000.
On the other hand,
therapists who work with state and local entities make an average of
$54,500 to $68,000. Colleges and Universities that employ occupational
therapist also pay handsomely at $56,500 to $65,000 while schools pay
$46,500 to $71,600; however, specialty schools usually offer higher
occupational therapist salary which can exceed $75,000 for an
experienced professional. Therapists employed with traditional health
care establishments make an average of $50,000 to $65,000 while those
working with nonprofit establishments take home between $45,500 to
$62,000.
Impact of location on occupational therapist salary
The state and city of employment will also impact the earnings of an occupational therapist. For instance, Los Angeles offers OT jobs with the highest salary in the range of $50,000 to $73,000 followed closely by Chicago and New York with average salary ranges of $50,000 to $68,000 and $57,500 to $68,000 respectively. Baltimore comes in at the fourth spot with OT revenues between $48,600 to $55,000 followed by Minneapolis at the fifth with salaries between $49,500 to $61,500.
As far as highest paying states go, California takes the crown with an average payout of $84,320, with the District of Columbia close on its heels at $83,550. The next three states on the list are Nevada at $82,980, New Jersey at $82,420 and Texas at $81,800 per annum.
The salaries also vary based on the metropolitan area in which an occupational therapist chooses to practice; for instance, Redwood City and San Mateo in San Francisco, CA offer salaries to the tune of $94,500 while Ventura, Thousand Oaks and Oxnard in the same city have lower earning potential at $89,000. Similarly, in Texas, El Paso boasts of the highest mean salary at $96,500 while Laredo only offers $90,000
The Effect Of Educational Qualification And Experience On Occupational Therapist Salary
Occupational therapists with a bachelor’s degree make an average hourly salary of $25 to $35; as opposed to this, professionals with a master’s degree will make significantly more at $30 to $50 an hour. While most professionals start with an occupational therapist salary of $45,000 to $56,000; the earnings go up significantly as the OT collects experience, so a person with four years of experience can easily draw $48,000 to $60,000 per annum. However, the top occupational therapist pay is reserved for professionals with ten plus years of experience, they routinely make $63,000 to $100,000 and above.
The demand for occupational therapist is expected to swell by 26% between 2008 and 2018. So, qualified professionals can expect to find better jobs prospects that offer an impressive occupational therapist salary. As a matter of fact, the requirement for occupational therapists who can help in elderly treatment is pegged for a mammoth increase as more of the population from the baby boomer generation retire.
Impact of location on occupational therapist salary
The state and city of employment will also impact the earnings of an occupational therapist. For instance, Los Angeles offers OT jobs with the highest salary in the range of $50,000 to $73,000 followed closely by Chicago and New York with average salary ranges of $50,000 to $68,000 and $57,500 to $68,000 respectively. Baltimore comes in at the fourth spot with OT revenues between $48,600 to $55,000 followed by Minneapolis at the fifth with salaries between $49,500 to $61,500.
As far as highest paying states go, California takes the crown with an average payout of $84,320, with the District of Columbia close on its heels at $83,550. The next three states on the list are Nevada at $82,980, New Jersey at $82,420 and Texas at $81,800 per annum.
The salaries also vary based on the metropolitan area in which an occupational therapist chooses to practice; for instance, Redwood City and San Mateo in San Francisco, CA offer salaries to the tune of $94,500 while Ventura, Thousand Oaks and Oxnard in the same city have lower earning potential at $89,000. Similarly, in Texas, El Paso boasts of the highest mean salary at $96,500 while Laredo only offers $90,000
The Effect Of Educational Qualification And Experience On Occupational Therapist Salary
Occupational therapists with a bachelor’s degree make an average hourly salary of $25 to $35; as opposed to this, professionals with a master’s degree will make significantly more at $30 to $50 an hour. While most professionals start with an occupational therapist salary of $45,000 to $56,000; the earnings go up significantly as the OT collects experience, so a person with four years of experience can easily draw $48,000 to $60,000 per annum. However, the top occupational therapist pay is reserved for professionals with ten plus years of experience, they routinely make $63,000 to $100,000 and above.
The demand for occupational therapist is expected to swell by 26% between 2008 and 2018. So, qualified professionals can expect to find better jobs prospects that offer an impressive occupational therapist salary. As a matter of fact, the requirement for occupational therapists who can help in elderly treatment is pegged for a mammoth increase as more of the population from the baby boomer generation retire.
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