Becoming an Occupational Therapist via Online Education?
At the very least, online education can help you lay a foundation and/or open up alternate career paths.
Penn Foster Career School
is a US school (accredited) offering occupational therapy courses to train individuals
to become top-notch
occupational therapists,
therapists,
occupational therapy assistants,
counseling psychologists,
occupational therapists, etc.
Currently, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics there are 97,840 people employed as
occupational therapists alone in America, and their average annual salary is
$70,680.
Therapists make on average $54,400
per year and there are about 13,440
of them employed today.
Colleges and universities like Penn Foster Career School that provide online education are successfully launching workers into
this
field.
Typical Work Locations for an Occupational Therapist
- university
- speech therapy clincs
- hospitals
- psychology clinics
- social service office
- social therapy clinics
- respiratory therapy clinics
- occupational therapy clinics
- high school teachers lounge
- in an office
Potential Advantages and Benefits of Working as an Occupational Therapist
- the occupational therapy profession is a promising one with excellent career advancement prospects and attractive remuneration
- occupational therapists have the satisfaction of helping individuals regain their functional ability and overall health thereby enabling them to lead more independent lives
- you can apply for permanent temporary travel long term short term or contract job vacancies to fit any desired work schedule parttime or fulltime
- occupational therapist jobs are highly paid ones offering excellent salary and benefits including health and life insurance
- full time occupational therapists can expect to make an average yearly salary around $56 000 in the current job market which is expected to expand significantly within the decade
- some expect the median salary to reach $58 000 within the year due to the rapidly increasing demand
- with advanced training and experience some occupational therapists can make an annual projected salary around $63 000
- med travelers offers thousands of temporary occupational therapist jobs at a salary rate comparable to standard earnings with the added advantage of travel free housing full benefits and bonus opportunities
- work area of occupational therapists include evaluating home and work environments customized treatment programs for particular disabilities giving recommendations for necessary adaptation recommendation for adaptive equipments
- occupational therapists are in high demand all over the country and world
Potential Drawbacks
- have to work overtime
- have to work alone often
- have to take care of a number of patients at a time
- non co-operation from other therapists
- have to work on weekends
- have to rush to hospital late hours
- low wages
- problems with hospital management
- problems in family life due to time management problems
- long boring days
Related Professions to Consider
- Occupational Therapist
- Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant
- Physical Therapist
- Hospice Director
- Endocrinology Practice
- Licensed Occupational Therapist
- Professor
- Director
- OT Therapist
- Occupational Therapist Traveler
Possible Interview Questions When Applying to be an Occupational Therapist
- Can you work under management pressure?
- Do you have any driving prohibitions or restrictions that will interfere with your duties?
- How you manage your time to achieve a task and what was the key to your success?
- Tell about a time when you identified a problem before anyone else?
- Tell me about a time when you had to deal with an uncooperative and maybe even combative patient?
- List 5 traits required to be a successful occupational therapist?
- Does the banana have any long term or short term health benefits?
- What questions do you have for us?
- How have your experiences and education prepared you to be successful as a occupational therapist?
- How do you feel about meeting many people in one day?
Common Collaborating Professions
- Therapist
- counselor
- Occupational Counselor
- Psychologist
- School Counselor
- Rehab Professional
- Professor
Job Counselor
- Laborer
- Assistant
- Administrative Assistant
Occupational Therapist Training books
Occupational Therapist (More) Popular books
Potential Companies to Work For
Common College Majors
- Counseling
- Dental Hygiene
- EMT Paramedic
- Geronotology
- Nursing
- Psychology
- Pharmacy
- Forensic Medicine
- Clinical Psycology
- Clinical Laboratory
Occupational Therapist Salary Information
Category: Occupational therapists
| Total # Employed in the US |
97,840 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$33.98/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $21.8 |
$27.51 |
$33.48 |
$40.46 |
$48.28 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$70,680 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $45,340 |
$57,230 |
$69,630 |
$84,150 |
$100,430 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 0.2% |
0.5% |
0.9% |
8.6% |
55.5% |
31.1% |
3.2% |
|
Occupational therapists — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Colorado |
$39.72/hr
|
$82,610
|
| New York |
$39.09/hr
|
$81,310
|
| North Dakota |
$38.48/hr
|
$80,030
|
| Mississippi |
$37.98/hr
|
$78,990
|
| Wyoming |
$37.72/hr
|
$78,470
|
| Florida |
$37.41/hr
|
$77,810
|
| California |
$36.66/hr
|
$76,260
|
| Delaware |
$36.41/hr
|
$75,740
|
| Alaska |
$36.13/hr
|
$75,160
|
| South Carolina |
$35.85/hr
|
$74,570
|
| Kansas |
$35.47/hr
|
$73,770
|
| Hawaii |
$35.14/hr
|
$73,090
|
| Missouri |
$34.68/hr
|
$72,140
|
| Massachusetts |
$33.94/hr
|
$70,590
|
| Maryland |
$33.93/hr
|
$70,580
|
| Virginia |
$33.9/hr
|
$70,510
|
| Oregon |
$33.8/hr
|
$70,300
|
| Connecticut |
$33.5/hr
|
$69,690
|
| Maine |
$33.48/hr
|
$69,640
|
| Idaho |
$33.29/hr
|
$69,250
|
| Tennessee |
$33.18/hr
|
$69,020
|
| Wisconsin |
$33.16/hr
|
$68,960
|
| Ohio |
$32.98/hr
|
$68,590
|
| District of Columbia |
$32.94/hr
|
$68,510
|
| Kentucky |
$32.68/hr
|
$67,980
|
| Oklahoma |
$32.62/hr
|
$67,840
|
| Nevada |
$32.4/hr
|
$67,380
|
| Indiana |
$32.11/hr
|
$66,790
|
| Puerto Rico |
$32.06/hr
|
$66,680
|
| Utah |
$31.97/hr
|
$66,500
|
| Alabama |
$31.85/hr
|
$66,240
|
| Arkansas |
$31.23/hr
|
$64,950
|
| Guam |
$31.21/hr
|
$64,910
|
| Montana |
$30.91/hr
|
$64,290
|
| Louisiana |
$30.57/hr
|
$63,590
|
| New Hampshire |
$30.33/hr
|
$63,090
|
| Nebraska |
$30.3/hr
|
$63,020
|
| New Mexico |
$30.12/hr
|
$62,650
|
| North Carolina |
$29.61/hr
|
$61,590
|
| Washington |
$29.15/hr
|
$60,640
|
| New Jersey |
$29.11/hr
|
$60,550
|
| West Virginia |
$28.6/hr
|
$59,480
|
| Iowa |
$27.58/hr
|
$57,370
|
| Michigan |
$27.56/hr
|
$57,330
|
| Pennsylvania |
$26.6/hr
|
$55,330
|
| South Dakota |
$21.52/hr
|
$44,760
|
Category: Therapists, all other
| Total # Employed in the US |
13,440 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$26.16/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $13.66 |
$18.23 |
$24.7 |
$31.96 |
$39.9 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$54,400 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $28,400 |
$37,920 |
$51,370 |
$66,470 |
$82,980 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 0.8% |
4.5% |
5.7% |
6.9% |
23.6% |
51.9% |
6.4% |
|
Therapists, all other — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| New York |
$34.84/hr
|
$72,470
|
| Maryland |
$34.48/hr
|
$71,720
|
| Oklahoma |
$32.9/hr
|
$68,440
|
| Delaware |
$32.01/hr
|
$66,570
|
| Indiana |
$31.17/hr
|
$64,830
|
| Hawaii |
$30.97/hr
|
$64,430
|
| Virginia |
$29.3/hr
|
$60,950
|
| Massachusetts |
$28.9/hr
|
$60,120
|
| North Dakota |
$28.64/hr
|
$59,580
|
| Connecticut |
$27.93/hr
|
$58,090
|
| Iowa |
$27.88/hr
|
$57,990
|
| Nebraska |
$27.76/hr
|
$57,740
|
| Missouri |
$27.11/hr
|
$56,400
|
| Montana |
$26.78/hr
|
$55,700
|
| South Carolina |
$25.79/hr
|
$53,650
|
| Utah |
$25.26/hr
|
$52,530
|
| Wyoming |
$25.2/hr
|
$52,420
|
| Tennessee |
$25.15/hr
|
$52,300
|
| California |
$25/hr
|
$51,990
|
| Wisconsin |
$24.58/hr
|
$51,130
|
| District of Columbia |
$24.48/hr
|
$50,930
|
| North Carolina |
$24.39/hr
|
$50,730
|
| New Hampshire |
$24.1/hr
|
$50,140
|
| Louisiana |
$23.98/hr
|
$49,880
|
| Maine |
$23.6/hr
|
$49,080
|
| Colorado |
$23.55/hr
|
$48,980
|
| Alabama |
$22.76/hr
|
$47,340
|
| Mississippi |
$22.22/hr
|
$46,220
|
| Oregon |
$22.01/hr
|
$45,790
|
| Arkansas |
$21.94/hr
|
$45,640
|
| Idaho |
$21.81/hr
|
$45,360
|
| Kansas |
$21.68/hr
|
$45,090
|
| Michigan |
$20.14/hr
|
$41,880
|
| Kentucky |
$18.98/hr
|
$39,480
|
| South Dakota |
$18.59/hr
|
$38,660
|
| Florida |
$16.99/hr
|
$35,330
|
| New Mexico |
$16.11/hr
|
$33,520
|
Category: Occupational therapist assistants
| Total # Employed in the US |
26,680 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$24.44/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $16.03 |
$19.81 |
$24.16 |
$28.8 |
$32.91 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$50,830 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $33,350 |
$41,200 |
$50,250 |
$59,890 |
$68,450 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 1.3% |
1.3% |
10.1% |
74.1% |
11.5% |
1.0% |
0.7% |
|
Occupational therapist assistants — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Wyoming |
$31.68/hr
|
$65,900
|
| Iowa |
$30.5/hr
|
$63,430
|
| North Dakota |
$28.82/hr
|
$59,940
|
| Hawaii |
$27.76/hr
|
$57,750
|
| Colorado |
$27.51/hr
|
$57,230
|
| Mississippi |
$26.96/hr
|
$56,080
|
| District of Columbia |
$26.65/hr
|
$55,440
|
| New York |
$26.56/hr
|
$55,230
|
| Delaware |
$26.36/hr
|
$54,830
|
| Oregon |
$25.3/hr
|
$52,620
|
| Virginia |
$24.91/hr
|
$51,820
|
| Idaho |
$24.87/hr
|
$51,740
|
| Massachusetts |
$24.8/hr
|
$51,580
|
| South Carolina |
$24.66/hr
|
$51,290
|
| Ohio |
$24.55/hr
|
$51,050
|
| Maryland |
$24.46/hr
|
$50,890
|
| Kansas |
$24.3/hr
|
$50,550
|
| Maine |
$24.29/hr
|
$50,520
|
| Tennessee |
$24.03/hr
|
$49,990
|
| California |
$23.97/hr
|
$49,850
|
| Kentucky |
$23.77/hr
|
$49,430
|
| Puerto Rico |
$23.71/hr
|
$49,320
|
| Arkansas |
$23.58/hr
|
$49,040
|
| South Dakota |
$23.4/hr
|
$48,670
|
| Alabama |
$23.25/hr
|
$48,350
|
| Wisconsin |
$23.22/hr
|
$48,290
|
| Missouri |
$23.2/hr
|
$48,260
|
| Washington |
$23.19/hr
|
$48,230
|
| New Hampshire |
$22.71/hr
|
$47,230
|
| North Carolina |
$22.6/hr
|
$47,000
|
| Utah |
$22.01/hr
|
$45,770
|
| Oklahoma |
$21.75/hr
|
$45,240
|
| Nevada |
$21.48/hr
|
$44,680
|
| Indiana |
$21.15/hr
|
$44,000
|
| Montana |
$21.11/hr
|
$43,910
|
| Louisiana |
$20.74/hr
|
$43,140
|
| Guam |
$20.54/hr
|
$42,720
|
| Connecticut |
$20.32/hr
|
$42,270
|
| New Mexico |
$20.26/hr
|
$42,140
|
| Pennsylvania |
$19.43/hr
|
$40,420
|
| Nebraska |
$19.28/hr
|
$40,100
|
| New Jersey |
$18.24/hr
|
$37,950
|
| West Virginia |
$16.42/hr
|
$34,160
|
| Michigan |
$15.97/hr
|
$33,220
|
Category: Occupational therapist aides
| Total # Employed in the US |
8,040 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$13.89/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $7.83 |
$9.38 |
$12.37 |
$15.98 |
$22.88 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$28,890 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $16,280 |
$19,520 |
$25,730 |
$33,230 |
$47,590 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 1.3% |
1.3% |
10.1% |
74.1% |
11.5% |
1.0% |
0.7% |
|
Occupational therapist aides — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Virginia |
$23.14/hr
|
$48,140
|
| Missouri |
$19.09/hr
|
$39,710
|
| Delaware |
$18.35/hr
|
$38,170
|
| Oregon |
$18.1/hr
|
$37,650
|
| Connecticut |
$17.83/hr
|
$37,100
|
| Wisconsin |
$15.95/hr
|
$33,180
|
| Maine |
$15.87/hr
|
$33,010
|
| Colorado |
$15.76/hr
|
$32,780
|
| Kansas |
$15.47/hr
|
$32,180
|
| Ohio |
$15.39/hr
|
$32,020
|
| Oklahoma |
$15.27/hr
|
$31,760
|
| Utah |
$15.2/hr
|
$31,620
|
| Montana |
$15.1/hr
|
$31,420
|
| South Dakota |
$14.84/hr
|
$30,870
|
| Mississippi |
$14.72/hr
|
$30,620
|
| Maryland |
$14.42/hr
|
$30,000
|
| Kentucky |
$14.37/hr
|
$29,890
|
| North Carolina |
$13.78/hr
|
$28,670
|
| Massachusetts |
$13.77/hr
|
$28,630
|
| Nebraska |
$13.74/hr
|
$28,580
|
| Alabama |
$13.68/hr
|
$28,440
|
| North Dakota |
$13.59/hr
|
$28,260
|
| Arkansas |
$13.56/hr
|
$28,210
|
| New Hampshire |
$13.51/hr
|
$28,100
|
| South Carolina |
$13.23/hr
|
$27,510
|
| Louisiana |
$13.21/hr
|
$27,480
|
| Hawaii |
$13.2/hr
|
$27,450
|
| Nevada |
$12.68/hr
|
$26,370
|
| Indiana |
$12.21/hr
|
$25,390
|
| Idaho |
$12.13/hr
|
$25,230
|
| Washington |
$10.83/hr
|
$22,530
|
| New Mexico |
$10.61/hr
|
$22,060
|
| California |
$10.56/hr
|
$21,970
|
| Wyoming |
$9.55/hr
|
$19,870
|
| Iowa |
$8.15/hr
|
$16,960
|
Category: Counseling Psychologists
| Total # Employed in the US |
98,330 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$34.77/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $18.88 |
$24.14 |
$31.75 |
$41.0 |
$52.63 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$72,310 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $39,270 |
$50,210 |
$66,040 |
$85,270 |
$109,470 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 0.2% |
0.2% |
0.4% |
0.3% |
4.2% |
43.2% |
51.5% |
|
