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Occupational Therapy Outcomes & Career Options
Outcomes & Career Options
Occupational therapists work with individuals who struggle with physical or psychological dysfunction. They help patients improve basic motor functions, enhance cognitive abilities, and adapt to permanent functional loss. Common conditions treated include stroke, paralysis, brain injuries, hand and arm trauma, arthritis, developmental disabilities, and mental health disorders. Occupational therapists assist patients with various activities, from using a computer to managing daily tasks such as dressing, cooking, and eating. They practice in diverse settings, including hospitals, rehabilitation centers, geriatric homes, outpatient clinics, home-care programs, and private practice.
Educational Qualifications
After completing all prerequisites at La Sierra University, students should apply to an accredited physical therapy program, most programs offer doctor of occupational therapy (OTD) and only a few offer master’s degree programs. After completion, students are required to pass a licensure exam.
Job Outlook
12% Job Market Growth
$96,370 Median Salary
The median annual wage for occupational therapists was $96,370 in May 2023. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $65,210, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $129,620.
In May 2023, the median annual wages for occupational therapists in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:
- Home healthcare services $104,790
- Nursing care facilities (skilled nursing facilities) $101,520
- Hospitals; state, local, and private $99,570
- Offices of physical, occupational and speech therapists, and audiologists $94,930
- Elementary and secondary schools; state, local, and private $80,910
Partial information in this page was retrieved from Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Occupational Therapists, at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/occupational-therapists.htm (visited April 17, 2024).
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prehealth@lasierra.edu
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