Occupational Therapists
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
Evaluates a person's physical and mental abilities, then sets realistic goals for getting back everyday skills—dressing, cooking, schoolwork, or a job. Therapy happens in hospitals, institutions, and community settings: choosing activities that fit what the person can do, adapting the space or the task, and teaching caregivers how to help during and after sessions. Progress is written up regularly; materials such as puzzles, scissors, and eating utensils are laid out, then cleaned or repaired afterward. Suits people who like teaching practical skills one-on-one, keeping careful records, and adjusting plans as someone improves.
Typical education: Master’s Degree
Annual Median Wage in Field (2025)
$100'330
Median Wage Market Position
$100'330
What you might do
- Test patients' abilities and set rehab goals
- Plan therapy programs in hospitals and communities
- Choose activities that rebuild daily living skills
- Evaluate progress and write detailed patient reports
- Train caregivers to help patients after therapy
- Lay out and clean puzzles, scissors, and utensils
Skills that matter
- Testing physical and mental abilities
- Setting realistic rehabilitation goals
- Programs for work, home, and daily living
- Progress reports and therapy records
- Training caregivers in home support
- Choosing activities within a patient's limits
AI & the future of this role
Rehabilitation depends on tailored coaching, adaptive techniques, and in-person trust that software alone tends not to deliver. AI might help with planning or progress notes, but hands-on therapy and functional judgment still anchor the role.
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Includes O*NET® 30.3 Database information by USDOL/ETA under CC BY 4.0; modified by LostInCareer. Wage/outlook from BLS. Attribution details