Whether it be opening a jar of pickles or reaching for an object, an occupational therapist can be of help when it comes to many daily activities. Occupational therapists are in the business of helping people with these tasks, among other things. They not only provide physical support but emotional support as well.
Occupational therapists working in the US have a median salary of around $64,046, according to Salary.com. The pay and the working conditions for occupational therapists seem to put occupational therapy jobs in a good light currently.
According to the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), a career as an occupational therapist was labeled as one of the best careers on U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Careers 2008” list. A career in the occupational therapy industry was also featured on the 2007 version of the list, so the field is no stranger to the magazine’s praise. There were around 31 jobs featured, and an occupational therapist consultant job made the prominent list. The magazine labeled the occupational therapy job as a “smart specialty,” AOTA reports.
U.S. News used “job satisfaction, training difficulty, prestige, and job market outlook” information to create its list. AOTA says that there are no specific reasons other than those listed above that determined whether positions made the list. However, the list labels a career in occupational therapy as a “promising career.”
Although the career isn’t one that is as well known, it offers a sense of accomplishment that some people can find satisfying. AOTA reports that the famed news magazine calls a career in occupational therapy a “challenging career that’s best for creative, practical people who find satisfaction in small successes.”
It looks like the future will be bright for the occupational therapist. The field looks like it is destined to stay strong as time goes by due to individuals in need of occupational therapy assistance.
