Doctor of Occupational Therapy – Phoenix Metro
Career Information
What are career options in occupational therapy?
Occupational therapists (OTs) maximize health, well-being, and quality of life for all people, populations, and communities by facilitating participation in everyday living. Common occupational therapy interventions include helping children with disabilities to participate fully in school and social situations, helping people recovering from injury to regain skills, and providing supports for older adults experiencing physical and cognitive changes.
As an occupational therapist, you’ll have many career options available to you across a wide range of environments, from home health to hospitals to assistive living and outpatient clinics (e.g., hand therapy) as well as many emerging and traditional practice areas including community-based service organizations, corporations, prisons, physician offices, schools, and academia.
Does occupational therapy offer a flexible career path?
The diversity of the occupational therapy field allows OT professionals to explore many career options. OTs are found in diverse areas of practice such as teaching in academia, consulting for large and small corporations for lifestyle health and ergonomic assessments as well as in traditional medical practice settings. These include Orthopedics, OB/GYN, Pediatrics, Elite Sports, Tactical Sports, Family Medicine and in emerging practice areas inclusive of Community Mental Health Centers. OTs can also start their own business and fill state contracts for patients in need of occupational therapy services.
Your business can be as large or small as you like. You could be the only employee, or you could hire a team of interdisciplinary care providers (OTs, PTs, SLPs) and become an administrator overseeing clinical practice and office operations.
What can you earn as an occupational therapist?
Graduates of our Doctor of Occupational Therapy (Online) program are prepared to enter a fulfilling and growing field dedicated to helping individuals achieve independence and quality of life. According to O*NET, occupational therapists in the United States earn an average annual wage of $98,000, while those practicing in the Phoenix metro area can expect an average annual wage of $103,000. These figures reflect the strong and sustained demand for skilled occupational therapy practitioners across hospitals, rehabilitation centers, schools, and community health settings in Arizona and beyond.
Resources
View the links below for additional career and job information.
- American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA)
- Occupational Therapy Jobs OTAC Career Center (associationcareernetwork.com)
- Why Choose OT?
“What Can Occupational Therapy Do For You?”
If you are curious about what you can do with a degree in occupational therapy, watch What Can Occupational Therapy Do For You? This informative video was produced by the American Occupational Therapy Association.
Career and salary information provided is for informational purposes only and is based on data published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). BLS wage estimates are derived from employer survey data and statistical estimation methods and may vary by occupation and geographic area. Actual compensation and employment outcomes may differ based on factors including experience, licensure, certifications, geographic location, specialty, employer, and economic conditions. SCU does not guarantee employment or salary outcomes.