All careersHealthcare

Occupational Therapist

$100,330
median pay per year
full range coming in the next data update

What the job actually is

Help people regain the skills for daily living and working after injury, illness, or disability.

Where you work

Hospitals, schools, clinics, and homes; hands-on, active work.

The hours

Usually full-time; some evenings and weekends.

By the numbers

May 2024–25 BLS wage data · 2024–34 BLS employment projections.

Median pay
$100,330
per year
What most earn
range coming soon
Openings a year
~10,200
projected, 2024–34
Outlook to 2034
+14%
Much faster than average
Working in the U.S.
coming soon

Openings a year counts new jobs plus the ones that open when people retire or move on — a truer picture of your odds than growth alone.

“Median” means half earn more and half earn less. Your city, employer, and years on the job move it a lot — that is what the 10th-to-90th range shows.

How you get in

Typical starting education

Master's degree

Training path: Master's + license.

License or certification

Requires a master's degree, a national exam, and a state license.

What it takes

CompassionPatienceCommunicationProblem solving

The honest take

Helping people relearn daily life — schools, hospitals, home care.

Standard Occupational Classification 29-1122. Pay, employment, and outlook from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS wage survey and 2024–34 employment projections). See something off? Tell us.