Occupational Therapist Salary
Occupational therapist salary range is quite good now. An occupational therapy salary ranges from mid $50k to lower $80k. Much of the amount one gets paid is determined by the geographical location, level of skill, and type of professional setting the position resides.
For those that are looking for a great career in the medical field, you are in luck. The occupational therapy field is growing more than most. In fact there should be a high demand for this position in the coming years for a number of reasons. The average age of Americans is increasing. With increasing age comes increasing need for therapy. Also, the average weight of Americans is moving up as well. Fat people suffer from more physiological issues than their less robust neighbors.
Thanks to the American diet which is rich in empty calories and low nutrients, you will have a wonderful career as an occupational therapist. People that eat more nutrient dense foods are less likely to develop the kind of illnesses and diseases that may lead them to need therapy.
Many patients that require occupational therapy services need them due to aging or a genetic disorder. These patients are usually going to be needing therapy for the rest of their lives. This just helps to illustrate how the demand for occupational therapy is high. Therefore, the occupational therapist salary will be inflated due to that demand.
Occupational therapy salary ranges for specific work environments.
You can expect that the occupational therapy salary will be higher in a home health care service company than in an elementary school. The occupational therapy salary range can be from the low $60k to the mid or upper $70k. And this salary range is expected to go up on average for the next decade.
Estimated salaries for occupational therapist jobs are on the rise:
It is estimated that the highest demand for an occupational therapist is in hospital settings. But there is also going to be an ever increasing need for occupational therapists in all work environments.
It is interesting to note that some licensed occupational therapists are in such demand that they are not even concerned with how they treat their coworkers. Recently, I was speaking with a physical therapist aide that works with an OT. This occupational therapist had the worst behavior. She would yell at coworkers and was mean to patients. When the physical therapist that owned the office found out about her behavior she just had to deal with it. There were too many patients and not enough caregivers and she had to make a decision. She had to decide whether to fire the therapist or just put up with it. She decided to just put up with the bad behavior. This true story illustrates the demand and lack of supply of a therapist. With that kind of job security you can be assured that you will be able to obtain a high occupational therapist salary.
It is no secret that the need for good therapists is high. This need drives up job security for occupational therapists. It also drives up the need for high occupational therapy salary ranges. But what should be most important is not the salary, but the patient. Our country is growing older, sicker and feebler. Our young ones are growing dumber with every passing year. We need a refocus on education and someone out there promoting the health professions. Please consider occupational therapy for your future. The future needs you. And you need that occupational therapist salary.
