Occupational Therapist
Occupational Therapists help people of all ages participate in the activities they want and need to do through therapeutic use of everyday tasks.
Loading programs...
Getting Started
How to Become a Occupational Therapist
At 6 years to get started, this is faster than the 6.5 years average for Master's Degree-level careers.
Complete Education
Earn your Master's Degree (typically 6 years) at an estimated cost of $133k–$251k.
Get Licensed or Certified
Complete any state-required licensing or certification exams for occupational therapist practice.
Begin Working
Occupational Therapist earn a median salary of $97k/yr, with entry-level positions starting somewhat lower.
Education costs from College Scorecard. Training timelines from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Pathway quick answers
- How do you become a Occupational Therapist?Complete required education, licensing, and supervised training for Occupational Therapist.
- How long does it take?Typical path to first paid role: 6 years.
- How much does it cost?Estimated education and training cost range: $133k-$251k (living expenses excluded).
Estimates use College Scorecard tuition data plus cited pathway and licensing requirements.
Overview
What Does a Occupational Therapist Do?
Occupational Therapists help people of all ages participate in the activities they want and need to do through therapeutic use of everyday tasks. Whether working with a child with developmental delays, an adult recovering from a stroke, or an older adult managing arthritis, OTs focus on helping clients achieve independence in self-care, work, and leisure activities. The profession offers diverse career paths across healthcare settings, schools, mental health facilities, and private practice.
On the Job
Compensation
How Much Does a Occupational Therapist Make?
At $97k/yr, occupational therapist earn about the same as the average for Master's Degree-level careers ($98k/yr).
$97k/yr
median annual salary
How It Compares
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Occupational Therapist | $97k/yr |
| Physician Assistant | $130k/yr |
| Internal Medicine Physician | $239k/yr |
| Family Medicine Physician | $239k/yr |
| Nurse Practitioner | $129k/yr |
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2024
After investing roughly $192k in education, occupational therapist typically begin earning within 6 years. Based on entry-level salaries of $73k/yr growing toward a $97k/yr median. The average education cost for Master's Degree-level careers is $172k.
Occupational Therapist ROI
Net earnings over 20 years
$1.2M
Pre-tax 20-year estimate after required education and training costs; taxes and living expenses excluded.
How the 20-year estimate is calculated
Occupational Therapist Career ROI (20-year net earnings)
Track how education costs and earnings typically accumulate from enrollment through year 20.
Cumulative net earnings (USD)
The full chart keeps 20-year context. The detail chart below zooms in on early pathway years.
Sources: BLS, Accreditor, AccreditorSee Sources and methods.
Early-years detail
Years 0-8
Years 0-8. Scaled to early-year values. Black markers show key checkpoints.
Quick answers
- Is becoming a Occupational Therapist financially worth it?Typical 20-year net estimate: $1.2M (pre-tax, living expenses excluded).
- How much does training cost for a Occupational Therapist?Estimated required education and licensing cost to become a Occupational Therapist: $192k (range used: $133k-$251k). Breakdown: Bachelor's Degree (Prerequisite): $127k; Master's in Occupational Therapy (MOT): $64k; NBCOT OTR Examination: $750; State Licensure: $350.
- How long does it take to become a Occupational Therapist?Typical time to first paycheck is about 6 years. Typical time to enter the target Occupational Therapist role is about 6 years.
- How do you become a Occupational Therapist?See How to Become for pathway steps, timing, and credential requirements.
Detailed math
How 20-year net is built from each training and career phase.
| Phase | Time window | Gross earnings | Education/training cost | Net contribution | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bachelor's Degree (Prerequisite) Education | Years 0-3 (m0-m47) | $0 | -$127,424 | -$127,424 | |
Master's in Occupational Therapy (MOT) Education | Years 4-5 (m48-m71) | $0 | -$63,712 | -$63,712 | |
NBCOT OTR Examination Training/Licensing | Year 6 (m72-m72) | $0 | -$750 | -$750 | |
State Licensure Training/Licensing | Year 6 (m72-m72) | $0 | -$350 | -$350 | |
Occupational Therapist Career | Years 6-19 (m72-m234) | $1,316,714 | $0 | $1,316,714 | |
Model reconciliation Reconciliation | Years 0-20 (m0-m239) | $40,306 | $0 | $40,306 | None |
| 20-year totals | $1,357,020 | -$192,236 | $1,164,784 | Matches 20-year ROI formula | |
Sources and methods
Sources
Assumptions
- Pathway sequence and timing follow the cited training and licensing pathway for this role.BLS
- Earnings benchmarks come from cited occupation wage references.BLS
- Education and training cost uses College Scorecard tuition and cited pathway fees when needed.College Scorecard
- Cost allocation follows a model rule: short completed steps post in completion year; longer tuition steps are spread across phase years.Model ruleBLSCollege Scorecard
- Taxes and living expenses are excluded from this estimate.Model rule
Future-Proofing
Occupational Therapist Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Employment Growth
The BLS projects 10.5% growth over the next decade — slower than the 17.3% average for Master's Degree-level careers.
10-Year Growth
10.5%
Much faster than average
Current Employment
137,700
jobs nationwide
AI Impact
High AI Impact
Occupational Therapist roles face significant AI impact — higher AI exposure than most Master's Degree-level careers. AI independently handles one or more major task components in this field. Core responsibilities like state licensing requirements require human presence and judgment that AI cannot replicate.
Why It's Safe
- +Assisting and caring for others
- +Establishing and maintaining interpersonal relationships
- +Coaching and developing others
- +Performing general physical activities
- +Handling and moving objects
What Could Be Automated
- −Documenting/recording information
- −Getting information
- −Making decisions and solving problems
- −Thinking creatively
- −Monitoring processes, materials, or surroundings
Based on evidence-based AI impact methodology and Bureau of Labor Statistics projections
Explore More
Similar Careers to Compare
Physician Assistant
Internal Medicine Physician
Family Medicine Physician
Nurse Practitioner
Emergency Medicine Physician
Learn More
Related Guides
Occupational Therapist Salary
Occupational therapy offers competitive salaries and growth opportunities in health care. Learn more about how much you can make as an occupation therapist.
Physical TherapistPhysical Therapist Salary
Physical therapists in the United States earn an average annual salary of $100,440.
Recreational TherapistRecreational Therapist Salary
Recreational therapists earn an average of $60,910 annually.
Sources
These references are used to build salary, training-path, and job-outlook estimates shown on this page.
Advanced Methodology
Education cost source id: college_scorecard_2025
Source update dates: BLS OEWS: 2024-05 · BLS Projections: 2024-09 · O*NET: 2024-12