Occupational Therapists: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical · SOC 29-1122 · O*NET 29-1122.00
Occupational Therapists fall under the Healthcare Practitioners and Technical category in the U.S. occupational classification. Occupational Therapists earn a median salary of $100,330 per year, ranking in the top 16% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects +14.8% job growth through 2035, projected to grow faster than the US average. Entry into this field typically requires a bachelor's degree followed by a master's or doctoral degree, with specific licensing or certification depending on the state and employer. For parents whose teenager is exploring this path, the most actionable step is mapping the education requirements to specific colleges and majors before junior year — not waiting until application season.
What parents should know about occupational therapists right now
If your teen loves the idea of helping people regain independence after an injury, stroke, or developmental challenge, occupational therapy blends hands-on healthcare with real problem-solving and it pays well. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, occupational therapists earned a median wage of $98,340 in May 2024, with the lowest tenth earning about $67,090 and the top tenth earning around $129,830. Just as important, the field is growing fast: the Bureau projects 13.8 percent employment growth from 2024 to 2034, much faster than the average for all occupations, driven by an aging population and expanding rehabilitation needs. Be clear-eyed with your teen that this is a graduate profession, not a bachelor's-and-done job. It takes roughly six to seven years after high school: a four-year bachelor's degree with prerequisites in anatomy, physiology, psychology, statistics, and human development, then a two-to-three-year ACOTE-accredited master's or doctoral program that includes at least 960 hours of supervised fieldwork, followed by passing the national NBCOT exam to earn the OTR credential and obtaining a state license. On the 2025 trend front, artificial intelligence is augmenting occupational therapists rather than replacing them, concentrated in assessment, motor rehabilitation, and telerehabilitation. More than 30 percent of U.S. occupational therapy facilities are projected to have integrated AI into clinical workflows by 2025, and the American Occupational Therapy Association has formally elevated AI to an educational and practice priority, meaning tomorrow's OTs will need comfort with digital and AI-driven tools. For high school preparation, steer your teen toward strong biology, anatomy, chemistry, and psychology courses, plus statistics if offered. Encourage volunteering or job shadowing in clinics, hospitals, nursing homes, or with school-based therapists, since graduate programs require documented observation hours. Communication, patience, and hands-on creativity matter as much as grades here, so activities that build empathy and teamwork are genuine assets on this path.
What do occupational therapists earn?
The median annual wage for occupational therapists is $100,330. That puts occupational therapists at #136 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. Pay at this level is well above the U.S. median household income, signaling sustained demand and meaningful credential requirements. Actual pay varies meaningfully by state, employer type, and years of experience — entry-level salaries are typically 30–40% below the median, while top-decile earners often exceed it by 50% or more.
Is occupational therapists a growing career?
The 10-year outlook for occupational therapists is +14.8%, projected to grow faster than the US average. Employment is projected to move from approximately 169K positions in 2024 to 194K in 2034, a net change of 25K. Faster-than-average growth means hiring is consistently outpacing the labor market overall. New entrants generally find their first roles faster than peers in stable fields.
What education does my child need to become occupational therapist?
Becoming a occupational therapist typically requires a bachelor's degree followed by a master's, doctoral, or professional degree, plus state licensure or board certification depending on specialty. For parents helping a teen prepare, the highest-leverage step before junior year is identifying colleges and programs that feed reliably into this occupation — Solyo's college search lets parents filter by major and admissions data side by side.
How to become occupational therapist: step by step
The typical education and licensing pathway from high school into this profession. Total time to entry is about 6-7 years. Steps marked optional are common for advancement but not required to start.
- 1
Bachelor's degree + prerequisites
~4 yearsComplete a bachelor's degree in any field while taking the science and social-science prerequisites individual ACOTE-accredited graduate programs require, and log clinical observation hours for admission.
- •Any bachelor's degree acceptable for graduate admission
- •Prerequisite coursework: anatomy, physiology, psychology, statistics, human development
- •Documented clinical observation/shadowing hours before applying
- 2
Entry-level graduate degree (ACOTE-accredited)
~2.5 yearsEarn either a master's (MOT/MSOT) or a doctoral (OTD) degree from an ACOTE-accredited program. The master's remains a fully valid entry credential; an OTD is not required to practice in any U.S. state as of 2025.
- •Master's (MOT/MSOT), approximately 2 to 2.5 years, is the typical BLS entry credential
- •Doctorate (OTD), approximately 3 years including a 14-week capstone, is an accepted alternative
- •Program must be accredited by ACOTE (Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education)
- 3
Supervised fieldwork (integrated into the degree)
~0.5 yearsComplete ACOTE-required supervised fieldwork embedded in the degree, including roughly six months of full-time Level II placements, before becoming eligible for the national exam.
- •Minimum 960 hours of fieldwork through the degree-granting institution
- •Level I fieldwork: introductory observation integrated into coursework
- •Level II fieldwork: typically two full-time placements of about 12 weeks each
- •OTD adds a separate 14-week individual capstone within 12 months of finishing didactic coursework
- 4
National certification exam (NBCOT)
~0.25 yearsAfter graduating from an ACOTE-accredited program, pass the NBCOT exam to earn the Occupational Therapist Registered (OTR) credential, which is the basis for state licensure.
- •Administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) via Pearson VUE
- •Passing earns the Occupational Therapist Registered (OTR) credential
- •Minimum passing score 450; application fee $515
- •Must sit within three years of completing coursework and fieldwork; retakes allowed after a 45-day wait, up to three times per year
NBCOT OTR examination - 5
State licensure
~0.25 yearsObtain a license from the state occupational therapy board before practicing independently. Licensure typically rests on the NBCOT exam, with some states adding a state law exam.
- •Required in all 50 states plus DC, Puerto Rico, and Guam
- •Generally granted based on passing the NBCOT OTR exam
- •Some states add a jurisprudence/law exam on state OT statutes and rules
State jurisprudence/law exam (varies by state) - 6
License renewal + continuing competence
~1 yearMaintain the license through periodic renewal and continuing competence requirements, which vary by state board and may include keeping the NBCOT certification current.
- •Periodic renewal requiring continuing education/continuing competence units (varies by state)
- •Some states require ongoing NBCOT certification for renewal; others do not
Related careers your child might also consider
How parents help teens explore careers like this
Solyo helps parents map a teen's interests to specific careers, then back to the colleges and majors that lead there. Salary, outlook, and education data come from BLS and O*NET — the same sources high school counselors use — but presented for the parent's planning lens, not the student's exploration view.
Common questions parents ask about occupational therapists
What is the median salary for occupational therapists?
The median annual salary for occupational therapists is $100,330 according to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Is occupational therapists a growing career?
BLS projects +14.8% growth for occupational therapists from 2025 through 2035, which is fast growth projected to grow faster than the US average.
What education does my child need to become occupational therapist?
The typical entry path requires a bachelor's degree followed by a master's or doctoral degree, plus any state licensure or certification specific to the role. Programs that align well with this career can be filtered inside Solyo's college search.
What careers are similar to occupational therapists?
Related occupations within the Healthcare Practitioners and Technical category share education paths and skill profiles, so they're a useful starting set when a teen is uncertain. The "Related careers" section below lists nearby options.
Salary data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics program. Skills, tasks, and education distribution from the O*NET database. Job outlook from the BLS Employment Projections 2025–2035 release.