Rehabilitation Counselor
Median wage · national
$46,850
Range: $39K – $59K
Employed
95K
Openings/yr
10K
Typically: master's degree
HEALTH
Occupational Therapist
With a national median of $100,330 and +13.8% projected job growth through 2034, Occupational Therapist offers both strong financial return and stable long-term demand.
About Occupational Therapist
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
- $100,330
- Employed Nationally
- 162K
- Openings / Year
- 10,200
- Entry Education
- Master's degree
- Job Zone
- Zone 5: Extensive Preparation
Also known as:
Assistive Technology Trainer
Certified Hand Therapist (CHT)
Early Intervention Occupational Therapist
Home Care Occupational Therapist (Home Care OT)
Home Health Occupational Therapist
How Much Do Occupational Therapists Make?
Occupational Therapist earn $100,330 nationally, well above the national median for college graduates. The middle 50% of earners fall between $82,510 and $116,670. Actual pay varies by employer, specialization, and location.
$100,330
National Median (Annual)
Well above average for college graduates.
$83K–$117K
Middle 50% Range
25th to 75th percentile. Most workers earn within this band.
Earnings Range
$82,510
Entry-level
$100,330
Median
$116,670
Experienced
What Do Occupational Therapists Do?
O*NET data identifies 5 core activities and 5 measurable skills for Occupational Therapist roles. Use this section to judge whether the day-to-day reality aligns with what you actually want to spend time doing.
What You'll Do
- Test and evaluate patients' physical and mental abilities and analyze medical data to determine realistic rehabilitation goals for patients.
- Complete and maintain necessary records.
- Plan, organize, and conduct occupational therapy programs in hospital, institutional, or community settings to help rehabilitate persons with disabilities because of illness, injury or psychological or developmental problems.
- Plan and implement programs and social activities to help patients learn work or school skills and adjust to handicaps.
- Select activities that will help individuals learn work and life-management skills within limits of their mental or physical capabilities.
Core Skills Employers Look For
Monitoring
Active Listening
Service Orientation
Instructing
Reading Comprehension
Who Thrives Here
S
Social
Working closely with people, teaching, advising, or helping others navigate challenges is a defining feature of this career's daily work.
S
Social
Working closely with people, teaching, advising, or helping others navigate challenges is a defining feature of this career's daily work.
I
Investigative
This career demands analytical thinking: researching problems, interpreting data, and applying logical reasoning to find practical solutions.
Where Do Occupational Therapists Work?
What the physical and mental conditions of this job actually look like day to day, based on O*NET Work Context data collected from people working in this occupation.
Work Setting
Mixed
Split between indoor and outdoor or field settings.
Physical Demands
Light
Mix of sitting and movement throughout the day.
Stress Level
Moderate
Moderate pressure. Regular deadlines exist but are generally manageable with experience.
What Is the Job Outlook for Occupational Therapists?
The BLS projects +13.8% employment change for Occupational Therapist through 2034, well above the national average of +5%. About 10,200 openings per year keep the field accessible to new entrants.
↗ +13.8%
10-Year Growth (2024–2034)
Faster than average.
10,200
Annual Openings
New positions plus replacements for retirees and career-changers.
162K
Currently Employed
Total US employment as of BLS May 2024.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2024.
Where the Jobs Are
The five states below employ the most Occupational Therapist professionals nationwide. State-level wages can differ significantly from the $100,330 national median. Research your specific market before committing to a program.
| # | State | Jobs | Median Wage | vs. National |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 12,020 | $119,470 | +19.1% |
| 2 | Texas | 11,700 | $101,760 | +1.4% |
| 3 | New York | 10,540 | $95,370 | -4.9% |
| 4 | Florida | 9,230 | $99,070 | -1.3% |
| 5 | Illinois | 7,410 | $98,900 | -1.4% |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024. Employment figures rounded. Read our methodology →
How to Get Here
Most Occupational Therapist positions require a master's degree to qualify. The program below is the most common academic pathways into this field, ranked by how many graduates they produce each year.
Typical Entry Education
Master's degree
Job Zone
Zone 5: Extensive Preparation
Extensive education (usually a master's or doctoral degree) plus years of field experience is required to qualify for most positions.
Degree Programs That Lead Here
| # | Program | Graduates/yr | 4yr Median | Colleges |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rehabilitation | 29,934 | $55,792 | 609 |
Top Colleges for Aspiring Occupational Therapists
Colleges offering the degree programs that lead to this career, ranked by UCD Score. A strong program plus solid outcomes is a good place to begin your search.
| # | College | UCD Score | Net Price | Salary 10yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Florida Gainesville, FL | 93 | $6,541 | $71,588 |
| 2 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC | 90 | $11,655 | $72,200 |
| 3 | California State University-Long Beach Long Beach, CA | 90 | $10,440 | $64,403 |
| 4 | University of Central Florida Orlando, FL | 90 | $10,411 | $58,308 |
| 5 | Florida State University Tallahassee, FL | 90 | $11,297 | $61,675 |
| 6 | Florida International University Miami, FL | 90 | $9,288 | $60,249 |
Plan Your Path
Once you've sized up Occupational Therapist, these tools turn the numbers into a plan. Estimate the real cost of a degree that leads here, weigh the long-term payoff, compare specific colleges side-by-side, and find programs that match your profile.
College ROI Calculator
See if the degree that leads to Occupational Therapist pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings graduates see.
College Cost Calculator
Enter a budget and see the colleges whose net price fits, with the out-of-pocket cost and likely loan load for each.
Compare Colleges
Put any 2–4 colleges side-by-side. Admissions, cost, outcomes, and earnings, all on one screen, no tab-hopping.
College Match Quiz
Answer six quick questions and see your best-fit colleges ranked by budget, field of study, and what matters most to you.
Occupational Therapist Pros & Cons
Strong earnings and growing demand make Occupational Therapist a compelling path. The 3 strengths and 1 trade-offs below are drawn from BLS wage data and employment projections.
PROS
- Very high median salary The national median of $100,330 places this career well above average for college graduates, with significant upside at the 75th percentile.
- Fast-growing field At +13.8% projected growth through 2034, this career grows faster than the national average of about +5%. A strong signal for long-term demand.
- High earning ceiling Top earners (75th percentile) reach $116,670 annually. Strong performers, specialists, and those in high-cost markets have significant upside beyond the median.
CONS
- High education requirement Most employers require a master's degree, typically 6 to 10+ years of higher education before earning full wages. Factor tuition costs into your ROI calculation.
Occupational Therapist Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Occupational Therapist professionals earn?
The national median annual wage for Occupational Therapist is $100,330, well into the top quartile of US wages. The middle 50% of earners fall between $82,510 and $116,670. Pay varies by employer size, industry sector, specialization, and geography. National figures are a starting point, not a guarantee.
Is Occupational Therapist a good career?
Yes, for the right person, but the commitment is significant. The $100,330 median wage reflects years of training most workers invest, and the path to a first career-level role typically spans 8 to 12 or more years. Job growth of +13.8% through 2034 means demand is real. The harder question is whether the education investment at your specific program will pay off. School selection matters enormously at this preparation level.
How long does it take to become a Occupational Therapist?
Plan on 8 to 12 or more years of combined education and supervised training before qualifying for career-level roles. A master's degree is the typical minimum credential. Degree programs like Rehabilitation are typical entry paths. Early-career pay during this ramp-up period will be meaningfully below the $100,330 national median. Factor that gap into any program ROI calculation.
Is a master's degree worth it to become a Occupational Therapist?
For in-state public programs, generally yes. The margin tightens significantly at private schools with heavy debt loads. A $100,330 median may take 15 to 20 years to recover at high-cost programs. School choice (specifically tuition cost and your expected local job market) matters as much as the credential itself.
What is the job outlook for Occupational Therapist?
The BLS projects +13.8% employment change for Occupational Therapist through 2034, faster than average compared to all occupations. About 10,200 job openings per year are projected, including new positions and replacements for workers who retire or change careers. 162K people currently work in this occupation nationwide (BLS May 2024).
What skills do Occupational Therapist professionals need?
O*NET data identifies the core skills employers consistently prioritize for Occupational Therapist roles: Monitoring, Active Listening, Service Orientation, Instructing, and Reading Comprehension. These develop through formal education and hands-on work. Programs with internship or co-op requirements give you a meaningful head start on the ones that take time to build.
Related Findings
-
10 Six-Figure Careers That Do Not Need a Bachelor's Degree
Air traffic controllers earn more than the typical bachelor's-degree career, with an associate degree. The occupations that pay six figures without four years of college.
- No bachelor degree
- High paying careers
- Associate degree
- Trades
- Median wage
-
Does a Master's Degree Pay Off? Barely, on Average
Group every career by the degree it requires and master's-level jobs pay a median of about $91,000, statistically tied with bachelor's-level work. The premium hides in a few fields.
- Master's degree
- Bachelor's degree
- Median wage
- Graduate school
- Career outcomes
-
Growing and Paying $80K Plus: The Careers That Do Both
Only 95 of 385 federal careers both pay a median above $80,000 and grow faster than the typical job. Here is the rare set that clears both bars.
- Career growth
- Median wage
- High-paying careers
- Job outlook
- Career change
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