Occupational Therapy Salary Expected To Grow

The OT or occupational therapist can expect an average occupational therapy salary of $90,000 annually, as of 2011. This amount is based on the data collected from various human resources departments and different types of healthcare institutions and industries where an occupational therapist works. It covers various locations and types of institutions.

Job Description

The job of the occupational therapist involves developing programs and activities for helping the patients to get back their independent ability to perform different and usual tasks. They help the patients to rehabilitate and help them to obtain skills and techniques of using the various equipments that are designed to help them become more mobile and reduce their impairment. 

Salary dependent on qualifications

The occupational therapy salary will also depend on his qualifications and whether he has the necessary certifications as required by the particular state in which he is practicing. He should have a bachelor’s degree and should be licensed and registered as an occupational therapist. He should be aware of all the standard and regular practices involved in physical therapy and should have sufficient experience in the related field. The occupational therapy salary provided here is an average for all such professionals. However, there are many other factors of state, location and kinds of institutions in which he is working, which might have a bearing on the salary. The occupational therapy salary might also differ based on skills, job title and experience of the individual. He can also go in for a part-time job where he will be given an hourly pay. The city in which he is working, the state or province and the industry also play a major role in determining the salary.

Purpose of the job

The main purpose of the occupational therapy job is to evaluate the position of the physical and mental abilities of the patient and analyze the medical data provided by the medical practitioner. The occupational therapist will then determine the rehabilitation programs that are best suited for the patient. He will then recommend certain activities with the use of specific equipment and instruments in order to improve the mobility of the patient.  His goal is to make the patient function normally and make him independent in all his occupations, such as eating, dressing and also in personal work, such as bathing and cleaning.

Sometimes, a mental disease or a physical condition, such as an injury, arthritis, stroke and so can result in disability in the person. This will limit the patient in performing his daily duties. The occupational therapist will help him achieve his normal state and let him function at his optimum potential.

Future prospects

The future prospects for the occupational therapist job as well as the occupational therapy salary are very good. This is because of the baby boomers that are fast aging. People are also living longer, due to better medicines and improvement in technology.

An occupational therapist helps disabled patients in rehabilitation and gaining their mobility and skills back to the original level, before the injury or impairment. The occupational therapy salary is expected to increase, but it might vary according to the kind of institution, experience, certifications and also the state or location.