Department of Occupational Therapy
Careers in Occupational Therapy
OT is a “Best Career”
U.S. News and World Report listed occupational therapy as one of 30 best careers in 2008. Their criteria include job outlook (availability of work) and high job satisfaction, among others. Read more here.
Increased Demand for OTs
The U.S. Department of Labor reports that OT employment is expected to increase 23 percent between 2006 and 2016 due to a growing aging population, early diagnosis of developmental needs in young children, and technological advances that improve survival in individuals with disability. This means that many graduates are receiving multiple job offers, able to choose the one that fits them best.
Salary
Salary depends on the state and the field in which OTs work, but the U.S. Department of Labor says that occupational therapist salaries ranged from $45,340 to more than $100,000 in May 2009. Find more info on their website. Visit AOTA to flip through the latest issue of OT Practice magazine for Regional Employment Outlook information.
Career Development Center
Jefferson’s Career Development Center offers students comprehensive career development services for all aspects of the job search from developing resumes and cover letters, interviewing skills, designing effective job search strategies to negotiating job offers. Students supplement their independent job search by attending two annual job fairs and searching for employment on the active online job board.
Employment Options
Occupational therapists work with patients of all ages who are dealing with all kinds of challenges in a variety of settings. This table gives a basic overview.
