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Occupational Therapy: Careers
Career Information and Further Study
Occupational therapy is the use of purposeful activity and interventions to achieve functional outcomes. "Achieving functional outcomes" means to maximize the independence and the maintenance of health of any individual who is limited by physical injury or illness, cognitive impairment, pyschosocial dysfunction, mental illness, developmental or learning disabilities, or an adverse environmental condition.
Employment of occupational therapists is expected to increase much faster than average for all occupations through 2016.
Work settings include:
Occupational therapists work in all types of private, nonprofit and public settings including schools, job training services, hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, home health agencies, and community health agencies.
Degree Level Required
**Beginning January 1, 2007, occupational therapy programs will only be accredited at the post-baccalaureate degree level.
Salary Information
Median annual earnings of occupational therapists were $60,470 in May, 2006. The middle 50 percent earned between $50,450 and $73,710. Median annual earnings in the industries employing the largest number of occupational therapists in May, 2006, were as follows:
Home health care services
$67,600
Offices of other health care practitioners
$62,290
Nursing care facilities
$64,750
General medical and surgical hospitals
$61,610
Elementary and secondary schools
$54,260
Additional Resources
American Occupational Therapy Association
Employment of occupational therapists is expected to increase much faster than average for all occupations through 2016.
Work settings include:
Occupational therapists work in all types of private, nonprofit and public settings including schools, job training services, hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, home health agencies, and community health agencies.
Degree Level Required
**Beginning January 1, 2007, occupational therapy programs will only be accredited at the post-baccalaureate degree level.
Salary Information
Median annual earnings of occupational therapists were $60,470 in May, 2006. The middle 50 percent earned between $50,450 and $73,710. Median annual earnings in the industries employing the largest number of occupational therapists in May, 2006, were as follows:
Home health care services
$67,600
Offices of other health care practitioners
$62,290
Nursing care facilities
$64,750
General medical and surgical hospitals
$61,610
Elementary and secondary schools
$54,260
Additional Resources
American Occupational Therapy Association
Last updated: Wednesday, 23-Apr-2008 15:43:06 EDT