Occupation · SOC 29-1122
Occupational Therapists
Assess, plan, and organize rehabilitative programs that help build or restore vocational, homemaking, and daily living skills, as well as general independence, to persons with disabilities or developmental delays. Use therapeutic techniques, adapt the individual's environment, teach skills, and modify specific tasks that present barriers to the individual.
Median wage
$98,340
$67,090–$129,830
Projected growth
+13.8%
Faster than average
Annual openings
2,210
per year
Employed (US)
152,280
Job Zone 5
Typical preparation
Extensive preparation
Stackable credential programs
111 mapped
Core skills
Service OrientationActive ListeningMonitoringSpeakingJudgment and Decision MakingInstructingCritical ThinkingSocial Perceptiveness
Knowledge areas
Therapy and CounselingPsychologyCustomer and Personal ServiceMedicine and DentistryEnglish Language
Technology & tools
Medical softwareGraphics or photo imaging softwareWord processing softwareOptical character reader OCR or scanning softwareElectronic mail software
Representative tasks
Test and evaluate patients' physical and mental abilities and analyze medical data to determine realComplete and maintain necessary records.Plan, organize, and conduct occupational therapy programs in hospital, institutional, or community sRecommend adaptive equipment to individuals to increase independence in daily living activities.
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Standardized assessment instruments — administer under clinical supervision to evaluate patients' physical and mental abilities in an acute care or outpatient setting.Medical and therapy records — complete and maintain accurately using electronic health record software under direct supervision in a hospital or institutional environment.Occupational therapy program materials — lay out, clean, and repair tools such as puzzles, scissors, and adaptive utensils in preparation for scheduled therapy sessions.Patient disability profiles — review and interpret medical data with supervisor guidance to identify preliminary rehabilitation needs across clinical contexts.Therapy activity selections — identify age- and ability-appropriate tasks that support work and life-management skill development under practitioner direction.Caregiver communication — assist senior therapists in delivering basic instructions to caregivers regarding patient support needs during structured therapy sessions.Patient progress observations — document behavioral and functional changes using standardized formats under clinical oversight in rehabilitation settings.Occupational therapy program schedules — organize and coordinate session logistics, materials, and room setup following established departmental protocols.Active listening and social perceptiveness — apply during initial patient interviews to gather accurate occupational history under close clinical mentorship.Medical terminology and clinical language — use correctly in written documentation and verbal reporting within interdisciplinary healthcare team environments.
developing
Comprehensive patient evaluations — conduct independently, integrating physical, cognitive, and psychosocial data to establish realistic rehabilitation goals in outpatient or community settings.Individualized occupational therapy programs — plan and implement with limited oversight, adapting evidence-based interventions to patients recovering from illness, injury, or developmental challenges.Progress evaluation reports — prepare and communicate to referring physicians and interdisciplinary teams, detailing measurable functional gains in hospital or institutional contexts.Work and school skill programs — design and lead structured social and vocational activities that help patients adjust to physical or psychological limitations in rehabilitation environments.Therapeutic activity sequences — select and modify tasks within a patient's cognitive and physical capabilities, applying inductive reasoning to refine intervention approaches.Caregiver training sessions — conduct with moderate independence, providing practical instruction on home care techniques and adaptive strategies following discharge planning conferences.Electronic health records and billing software — maintain complete, timely, and compliant documentation that meets regulatory standards across clinical practice settings.Time management and caseload coordination — balance multiple patient schedules and documentation demands efficiently within a fast-paced clinical or community health environment.Adaptive equipment recommendations — evaluate patient needs and prescribe assistive devices appropriate to functional limitations in home, school, or workplace contexts.Interdisciplinary collaboration — coordinate care plans with physicians, physical therapists, and social workers, contributing occupational therapy expertise within team-based rehabilitation programs.
proficient
Complex functional assessments — perform autonomously across pediatric, adult, and geriatric populations, synthesizing medical data and standardized test results to establish individualized rehabilitation goals in diverse clinical contexts.Non-routine rehabilitation programs — design and lead occupational therapy interventions for patients with multi-system disabilities or comorbid psychological conditions across hospital, community, and institutional settings.Outcome measurement and quality reporting — evaluate program-wide patient progress data, prepare detailed clinical reports, and apply systems evaluation methods to improve therapeutic effectiveness.Vocational and life-skills curricula — develop comprehensive, occupation-centered programs that address work reintegration and independent living for patients with complex physical or developmental limitations.Critical clinical judgment — exercise independent decision-making in ambiguous or high-acuity cases, applying deductive and inductive reasoning to resolve non-standard therapeutic challenges.Caregiver and family education — design and deliver structured training programs that build sustainable home-management capacity for caregivers of patients with chronic or progressive conditions.Advanced assistive technology integration — evaluate and implement specialized medical software, OCR scanning tools, and computer-based training systems to augment patient function and independence.Interprofessional care leadership — coordinate and advocate for occupational therapy's role within complex, multi-disciplinary treatment teams serving medically complex patient populations.Evidence-based practice application — systematically incorporate current research literature and clinical guidelines into individual treatment planning and program development across all service settings.Regulatory compliance and ethical practice — ensure all documentation, billing, and patient interaction practices meet professional, legal, and institutional standards without supervisory review.
advanced
Occupational therapy service lines — establish strategic direction, scope, and quality benchmarks for departmental or organizational programs serving diverse patient populations across a healthcare system.Clinical supervision and workforce development — mentor and evaluate emerging and developing occupational therapists, structuring competency-based learning pathways within academic medical centers or large rehabilitation organizations.Organizational rehabilitation policy — lead the design and implementation of institution-wide protocols governing occupational therapy assessment, documentation, and outcomes measurement across all practice settings.Community and population health programs — architect large-scale occupational therapy initiatives addressing disability, aging, and developmental needs at the community, regional, or public health system level.Research and knowledge translation — direct clinical research programs, disseminate findings through publication or professional conference presentation, and integrate evidence into organizational and field-level practice standards.Interdisciplinary system integration — lead cross-functional coalitions of physicians, administrators, educators, and payers to embed occupational therapy services into value-based care and integrated delivery models.Technology and innovation strategy — evaluate and champion adoption of emerging medical software, digital health tools, and assistive technologies that advance patient outcomes at organizational scale.Caregiver and community training ecosystems — design scalable education programs for caregivers, community health workers, and allied health staff, extending the reach of occupational therapy expertise beyond direct clinical care.Accreditation and regulatory leadership — represent the organization in interactions with licensing bodies, accrediting agencies, and professional associations, shaping compliance standards and advocacy priorities.Ethical and cultural stewardship — model and institutionalize values of empathy, equity, and social orientation in organizational culture, policy, and patient care practices across all occupational therapy service contexts.
Also known as
23 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Rehabilitation Occupational Therapist (Rehab OT)Job TrainerOccupational TherapistIndustrial TherapistIndependent Living SpecialistPediatrics and Acute Care Occupational TherapistOccupational Therapist (OT)Assistive Technology TrainerTravel Occupational Therapist (Travel OT)Certified Hand Therapist (CHT)Home Care Occupational Therapist (Home Care OT)Home Health Occupational TherapistEarly Intervention Occupational TherapistAcute Care OT (Acute Care Occupational Therapist)Outpatient Occupational Therapist (Outpatient OT)Inpatient Occupational Therapist (Inpatient OT)School Occupational Therapist (School OT)Rehabilitation EngineerRegistered Occupational Therapist (OTR)Industrial Rehabilitation ConsultantPediatric Occupational Therapist (Pediatric OT)Vocational Rehabilitation SpecialistVocational Trainer