What Do School Based Occupational Therapists Do?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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An occupational therapist will

assess not just the child's motor skills

, but assesses other domains such as sensory, visual and cognitive ability, and assess the classroom (and home) environment to find ways to improve the handwriting through play, writing aids and equipment and physical exercises.

How much do school based occupational therapists make?

Salary Ranges for School Based Occupational Therapists

The salaries of School Based Occupational Therapists in the US range from

$19,114 to $507,871

, with a median salary of $91,630 . The middle 57% of School Based Occupational Therapists makes between $91,637 and $229,970, with the top 86% making $507,871.

What does a school based occupational therapist do?

An occupational therapist will

assess not just the child's motor skills

, but assesses other domains such as sensory, visual and cognitive ability, and assess the classroom (and home) environment to find ways to improve the handwriting through play, writing aids and equipment and physical exercises.

What do school based occupational therapists wear?

Common ways for school-based OTs to dress. At most schools, you'll find that most staff dress

business casual to casual

. … This district was very casual and I often saw other staff wearing sleeveless shirts, hats, shorts, etc.

Do OTs or PTS make more money?

In 2017, occupational therapists earned

slightly less than physical therapists

at a mean $40.69 per hour, or $84,640 per year. Their pay could fall below $26.23 per hour, or $54,560 per year, or reach above $57.91 per hour, or $120,440 per year.

Is occupational therapy a dying field?

Is Ota a dying field? OTA is a dying field.

There are NO jobs

. If you love OT and have some flexibility about getting a job maybe go ahead.

What is the highest paying field in occupational therapy?

  • Nursing care facilities: $92,260 per year.
  • Home healthcare services: $91,830 per year.
  • Hospitals: $86,910 per year.
  • Offices: $86,830 per year.
  • Elementary and secondary schools: $76,560 per year.

Is being an OT stressful?


Being an occupational therapist can be stressful

.

Almost every setting has productivity requirements, with some settings less strict than others. So while you do get to provide meaningful treatments and help people achieve their goals, you do have to deal with the struggle of meeting your productivity on a daily basis.

Do school occupational therapists get summers off?

Before you start applying for school-based jobs, consider what kind of work schedule you prefer.

Some schools are on a traditional schedule with summers off

. Other programs are year-round with time off scheduled throughout the year.

Which pays more OTA or PTA?

The median salary for

established OTAs is more than $60,000

. The median salary for established PTAs is $58,040. … First-year OTA salaries are in the $45,000 range. Typical responsibilities of OTAs tend to have a wider scope than a physical therapy assistant.

Why do you want to be a school-based therapist?

As the American Occupational Therapy Association notes, a school-based therapist focuses on

improving “the student's ability to fully access and be successful in the learning environment

.” As school-based therapists work with students, they can see them develop stronger feelings of comfort and confidence at school, …

What do you wear to an occupational therapy appointment?


Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing and a pair of rubber-soled sneakers

. Every treatment course begins with a comprehensive evaluation.

Is it harder to get into PT or OT school?

Historically,

PT programs have been more difficult to get into than OT

, but in the past few years the number of applicants to OT programs have literally grown exponentially.

Who is the highest paid physical therapist?

Best-Paying States for Physical Therapists

The states and districts that pay Physical Therapists the highest mean salary are

Nevada ($108,550)

, Alaska ($102,650), California ($99,920), New Jersey ($99,060), and Connecticut ($98,780).

How much do starting pts make?

The average starting or entry-level pay for physical therapists in 2018 was

$66,685

. Experienced therapists averaged $81,301. Late in their careers PT salaries averaged $84,726. Bureau of Labor Statistics figures show the median annual physical therapist income in 2017 was $86,850.

Is OT school worth the debt?

The financial answer is

yes

but there is a significant price to pay. For most occupational therapists, they'll have to deal with student loans for 10 to 20 years. They won't necessarily be able to celebrate and enjoy that higher income until their loans are dealt with.

Ahmed Ali
Author
Ahmed Ali
Ahmed Ali is a financial analyst with over 15 years of experience in the finance industry. He has worked for major banks and investment firms, and has a wealth of knowledge on investing, real estate, and tax planning. Ahmed is also an advocate for financial literacy and education.