Occupational therapist salary can be very attractive for those who are considering a career in the medical services. Most jobs in the medical industry are mentally and physically demanding, and the practice of occupational therapy is no exemption. While it is true that the job of an Occupational Therapist is quite difficult, there is no doubt that the high Occupational Therapist salary is a sweet incentive.
One of the main factors of Occupational Therapist salary is the level of education and qualification that a professional holds. Of course, it is only logical for someone with advanced degrees to earn more than the lowest average income. Pursuing further education—such as a master’s or a doctorate degree—will allow one to bring in more knowledge and skill into the job; therefore his or her services will be more valuable compared to the O.T. that only possesses minimum qualification.
The kind of establishment or institution a licensed professional is employed with is another factor that affects the amount of Occupational Therapist salary. On average, those who are employed with a hospital or a healthcare establishment earns around twenty to thirty percent more in salary compared to those who are employed with an educational institution, such as elementary or secondary schools. Also, it has been observed that more than half of all the Occupational Therapists in the country are employed with a hospital or a healthcare institution, with the others distributed in educational institutions, private companies, and other kinds of industries where the services of an O.T. will be useful.
The last factor that affects Occupational Therapist salary is the location of the workplace. California is probably the highest paying state—with Redwood City and San Mateo being the cities that pay the most.