Occupational therapists help people regain independence and improve their quality of life after injury, illness, or disability. You work one-on-one with clients, design treatment plans, and document progress. It requires a master's degree and is deeply rewarding.
Pathly builds you a free, personalized roadmap and helps your counselor champion you along the way.
Occupational therapists work with individuals across all ages to help them develop, recover, or maintain the skills they need for daily living and work. You assess clients' physical and mental abilities, create personalized treatment plans, and guide them through therapeutic activities. Your days involve documenting patient progress, listening carefully to understand each person's goals, and making decisions about the best interventions. You communicate regularly with supervisors, other healthcare professionals, and family members. The work draws on knowledge of therapy techniques, psychology, medicine, and education to help people participate fully in the activities that matter most to them.
Core work activities
Career video courtesy of CareerOneStop.
Occupational Therapists earn a median of $100,330 a year, based on 2025 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and location.
The outlook is strong. Employment is projected to grow 14 percent from 2024 to 2034, much faster than average for all occupations, with about 10,200 openings a year.
Top skills
Knowledge areas
You will need a master's degree in occupational therapy from an accredited program. This is extensive preparation that includes classroom study in therapy, psychology, anatomy, and human development, plus supervised clinical practice. During your education, you will develop skills in active listening, critical thinking, and therapeutic communication. After completing your degree, you must pass a certification exam and meet state licensure requirements, which vary by location. Many programs also require volunteer or work experience in healthcare settings before or during your studies, so starting to explore the field early helps.
The path to becoming an occupational therapist is a master's degree program with clinical training. Since this is a significant commitment, Pathly can map the occupational therapist path that fits you to map out the timeline, prerequisites, and next steps with your counselor.
Many occupational therapists must be licensed, and professional certifications can strengthen your resume.
Common certifications
Licensing is handled at the state level and the requirements vary, so check the licensing board in your state. Pathly shows your state's specific steps inside your roadmap.
You are drawn to helping others and building meaningful relationships. You enjoy problem-solving, listening deeply, and supporting people through change. This career suits people who find purpose in direct service work.
Reading about a career is the easy part. Turning it into a plan is where most students get stuck. Pathly takes you from curious to a clear next step, and gives your counselor the insight to champion you along the way.
Start with a quick quiz and assessments that surface your personality, your EQ, and what really motivates you, so your next steps are built around who you actually are.
Your free AI guide weighs this career against your strengths and goals, and surfaces the colleges, trades, and scholarships that match, so you know if it truly fits before you commit.
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Last updated July 1, 2026.
Data sources. Career details from the O*NET 30.3 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under CC BY 4.0. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Salary and outlook figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025 wages; 2024–2034 projections), delivered via the CareerOneStop API. Certification, licensing, wage, and outlook data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by USDOL/ETA and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).