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The future for occupational therapy shows a silver lining created mostly by rehabilitation needs of aging baby boomers, which will boost OT jobs an estimated 23% by 2016. This is expected to go hand in hand with a steady trend of higher wages.

Despite the sharp downturn in the economy, the sector least affected is healthcare, and job opportunities are available for OTs and OTAs in all settings, particularly acute hospital, rehabilitation, and orthopedic, according to federal workforce analysts. Mike Meyers, director of permanent placement staffing for allied health at Dallas-based Protouch Staffing, notes: “Good rehab candidates are definitely a hot commodity, and most facilities are willing to utilize whatever resources it takes to find them. I would say the only areas where the market seems to be a little saturated with candidates is Austin, Texas, and Denver, Colorado.”

The latest government survey shows the annual mean salary of some 91,920 occupational therapists is about $65,540 nationally, while 8,360 OTAs average $45,180 and expect a 25% increase in jobs by 2016. Wages should increase an average of 2% annually during the next decade, with higher increases in some specialty areas.

Dollars and Cents

Wages for OTs are steadily improving, with California having the highest annual mean salary at $77,450, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The Golden state also has the highest number of OTs at 7,430. New Jersey is second highest in wages with 2,690 OTs earning an annual mean salary of $74,820. The lowest OT salaries are in Puerto Rico, with 200 OTs earning an average of $37,160; Idaho, with 480 OTs earning $43,670; and Maine, where 630 OTs earn $49,540.

Mean annual earnings in the industries employing the largest numbers of OTs are:

• Home healthcare services: $76,530
• Nursing care facilities: $70,040
• Offices of other health professionals: $68,720
• General medical and surgical hospitals: $66,350
• Elementary and secondary schools: $59,590

Mean annual earnings of OTAs in the largest employment areas are $47,970 in the offices of other health professionals, $42,970 in general medical and surgical hospitals, and $46,290 at nursing care facilities.

Job Prospects

According to the BLS report, the growing elderly population is particularly vulnerable to chronic and debilitating conditions that require therapeutic services. “These patients often need additional assistance in their treatment, making the roles of assistants and aides vital,” the report notes. “Also, the large baby-boom generation is entering the prime age for heart attacks and strokes, further increasing the demand for cardiac and physical rehabilitation.”

The outlook is positive for OT assistants and aides trained to assist in certain approved patient procedures that help reduce the overall cost of therapy services.

Medical advances now enable more patients with critical problems to survive, many of whom require extensive therapy. The most OT jobs, 23,650, are in hospitals, to provide services to acutely ill inpatients, as well as to staff outpatient surgery and rehabilitation programs.

Other OT positions are needed in home healthcare, outpatient clinics, offices of physicians and other health professionals, individual and family services, community care facilities for the elderly, and government agencies.

A small number of OTs are self-employed in private practice and usually treat clients referred by other health professionals. They also provide contract or consulting services to nursing care facilities, schools, adult day care programs, and home health agencies.

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See attached "By the Numbers" chart for OT/OTA salary data by state.

John Leighty is a medical writer for the Gannett Healthcare Group.To comment, e-mail oteditor@gannetthg.com.

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