It can be nerve-wracking to embark on a new career path. Once you’ve acquired the skills and education that your dream job requires, what’s next? How will you secure your dream job? After earning your degree, how do you get the best return on your investment? First and foremost, it helps to know the job outlook for your intended career path. This ensures that you have realistic expectations of potential job opportunities and average salaries in your field.
If you’re interested in the field of occupational therapy, then look no further! Below you’ll find an in-depth guide on job outlook for occupational therapists—as well as tips on making your dream career a reality.
Key Takeaways:
- The field of occupational therapy promises high employment growth rates and above-average salary expectations.
- Occupational therapists work in a variety of settings, including skilled nursing facilities, home health care, and schools.
- Individuals interested in a growing health care field with a wide range of opportunities should consider an occupational therapy career.
Understanding the Role of an Occupational Therapist
Occupational therapists (OTs) utilize daily activities, also known as occupations, to build their clients’ independence. This form of care can be especially impactful for individuals recovering from injury or managing a chronic condition. OTs may work in a variety of settings and in conjunction with other health care providers.
A thorough evaluation of the patient’s mental and physical health allows the OT to understand their full situation. From there, the OT develops a treatment plan that targets the patient’s specific challenges and desired areas of improvement. Assisting patients with the tasks of daily living and helping them regain their autonomy is central to the OT’s role.
Job Growth Projections for Occupational Therapists
In 2025, U.S. News & World Report named OT as one of the top 25 jobs in America. Along with the promise of a patient-centric, fulfilling career, OT ranks so highly due to its high job growth projections.
National Employment Trends
From 2023 to 2033, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment growth of 11% for the OT field. This equates to roughly 9,800 open jobs for occupational therapists each year. With this being higher than the national average for all other occupations, OTs have great odds for post-graduation employment.
At the state level, OTs have the highest employment rates in California, Texas, New York, Florida , and Illinois. Additionally, metropolitan areas like New York City, Chicago, and Boston have high employment rates. Non-metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of OTs include Newark, NJ, Naperville, IL, and Cambridge, MA.
Factors Driving Growth
Along with the typical factors that drive growth, such as current OTs retiring or shifting careers, a huge driving factor is increasing patient needs. Increasingly, people are recognizing not only the value of occupational therapy but also the variety of patients it can help. With this increasing demand for occupational therapy services, the employment rate also goes up.
OT will always be an integral part of treatment plans for injury or surgery recovery, managing disabilities, and illnesses. OTs also frequently work with patients who have developmental disabilities, which has improved employment growth. Additionally, after the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, OTs have carved out a new niche by using occupational therapy to treat chronic COVID-related fatigue.
Salary Expectations in Occupational Therapy
While your passion for helping others may lead you to the field of occupational therapy, it’s natural to be curious about typical salaries in the field.
Median Annual Salaries
In 2024, the median annual wage for occupational therapists was $98,340. However, there is some variance in that amount; while the lowest 10% of earners made $67,090, the highest 10% earned more than $129,830. As mentioned before, this can also shift depending on your location and experience level.
Salary Variations by Setting
As previously mentioned, the setting you work in can make a difference in your compensation level. For example, OTs who work in skilled nursing facilities earn a median annual wage of $103,210. Home health care OTs also tend to earn higher than average median salaries, as well as those employed by hospitals.
Employment Settings for Occupational Therapists
A major selling point for the field of occupational therapy is the array of settings you can work in. When breaking down the data of where OTs work, most were employed by state, local, and private hospitals. Other settings in which OTs work include:
- Private practice
- Schools
- Home health care
- Nursing facilities and skilled nursing facilities
- Mental health facilities
- Colleges and universities
- Military rehabilitation
- Consulting
While most occupational therapists work directly in health care settings, some also work in schools and within educational settings. Additionally, while OTs typically work full-time, some work part-time as needed. Many OT positions offer flexible work schedules, but it largely depends on client needs. Even if a career as an OT isn’t for you, you can leverage an OT education when pursuing other opportunities in health care—even leadership roles.
Educational Pathway to Becoming an OT
The pathway to becoming an OT includes either earning a master’s degree in occupational therapy (MOT) or a Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD). Admittance into an OT graduate program can be selective and often requires that applicants meet several criteria, such as observation hours within an OT setting or a certain GPA.
Students interested in OT graduate school may obtain a bachelor’s degree in any major as long as they meet program prerequisites. While these vary slightly from program to program, they typically include psychology, anatomy, statistics, and writing courses. Enrolling in a pre-occupational therapy undergraduate program allows many students to meet these prerequisites and set themselves up for success.
Licensure, Continuing Education, and Specializations
After you have graduated from an OT school that’s been accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE), you still have several steps left before you officially become an OT. You must then pass the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT)’s national certification exam. Passing that exam allows you to work anywhere in the US or US territories, but you must apply for licensure in the state(s) that you want to work in. Since state licensing requirements can vary, it’s important to research what your state requires.
Once you’re a practicing occupational therapist, you’ll typically need to complete continuing education to maintain your license. One way this can be accomplished is through earning advanced or specialty certifications. The American Occupational Therapy Association, for example, offers these opportunities in gerontology, pediatrics, and physical rehabilitation. Numerous other certifications allow you to specialize in specific conditions like brain injury, autism, low vision, or home modifications.
Is Occupational Therapy the Right Career for You?
Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide whether or not occupational therapy is a good fit for you. Some factors you’ll want to consider are salary expectations, educational requirements, and opportunities in various environments.
If you’re passionate about health care and enjoy working with patients one-on-one to improve their daily lives, then a future in OT is absolutely worth exploring.
How UC Can Help You
If you’re already a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant and dream of becoming a fully-fledged OT—that dream is within your reach! At UC, we offer an online Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences — Pre-Occupational Therapy degree.
This program will streamline the process of completing your bachelor’s degree and set you up for success when applying to an OT graduate program. Alternatively, if you simply want to advance in your OTA career, then a pre-occupational therapy degree can open doors and help you secure a salary increase.
Want to Earn Your Pre-OT Degree Online? Contact Us Today for a One-on-One Consultation
Occupational therapy is a booming field filled with opportunities. It’s time for you to take advantage of them! UC’s online pre-OT program equips you with the skills and education you need to do that. Best of all, the program is offered 100% online. Even as a working professional, you can take the next step in your OT journey without sacrificing your current career.
Still have questions? Your Enrollment Services Advisor is here to help. UC’s dedicated online staff is committed to offering personalized, flexible, and timely support—a reflection of your experience as an online UC student.
You know that you have what it takes to make a huge impact as an OT. Let us help you get there—contact us today for more information.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is the OT field oversaturated?
No, the overall trend of employment growth suggests that the field is not oversaturated. While some metropolitan hubs may have a higher concentration of OTs, there are still plenty of opportunities—particularly in rural and less populated areas.
Why is there an OT shortage?
Like with many occupations, the OT shortage is primarily because of working OTs exiting the field. This is often because they’re transitioning to a new career or retiring.
Is occupational therapy a stable job?
Overall, yes! Above-average employment growth and the variety of patients who require OT cement it as a stable career path.
