Choosing a career in rehabilitative medicine is a noble and rewarding pursuit. Among the most popular and in-demand fields are occupational therapy (OT) and physical therapy (PT). While both professions focus on helping patients recover and improve their quality of life, they do so with different approaches. A common question for prospective students and professionals is how their earning potential compares.
Both occupational therapists and physical therapists are highly skilled, doctorate-level (or master's-level for OTs) professionals who command strong, competitive salaries. While there are differences, both fields offer financial stability and significant growth potential, with median salaries often approaching the six-figure mark. This guide breaks down the salary landscapes for both OT and PT, exploring the key factors that will influence your earnings in these dynamic healthcare careers.
What Do an Occupational Therapist and a Physical Therapist Do?
Before diving into the numbers, it's crucial to understand the distinct roles of OTs and PTs. While they often collaborate, their core functions differ.
An Occupational Therapist (OT) helps people of all ages participate in the things they want and need to do through the therapeutic use of everyday activities (occupations). Their focus is broad, centered on helping individuals regain the skills for the "jobs of living." This can include:
- Helping a senior citizen with dementia safely navigate their daily grooming and cooking routines.
- Assisting a child with autism to improve their social and play skills in a school setting.
- Modifying the workplace for an adult recovering from a hand injury to allow them to return to their job.
- Working with a stroke survivor to relearn tasks like dressing, eating, and bathing.
A Physical Therapist (PT), by contrast, helps patients recover from injury, illness, or disability by diagnosing and treating health conditions that limit their ability to move and function in their daily lives. Their focus is primarily on restoring mobility, reducing pain, and improving gross motor function. This can include:
- Guiding an athlete through exercises to recover from an ACL tear.
- Helping a patient learn to walk again after a hip replacement surgery.
- Creating a strength and flexibility plan for someone with chronic back pain.
- Improving balance and gait for an individual with Parkinson's disease.
Average OT vs. PT Salary
When comparing the average salaries of occupational and physical therapists, we see two strong professions with closely matched, yet distinct, earning potentials. Physical therapists tend to have a slightly higher median salary, a difference often attributed to the universal requirement of a doctoral degree.
Occupational Therapist (OT) Salary
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) May 2022 data, the median annual wage for occupational therapists was $93,180. This means half of all OTs earned more than this amount, and half earned less.
- The lowest 10 percent earned less than $63,320.
- The highest 10 percent earned more than $123,870.
Salary aggregators provide a similar picture. Salary.com reports the typical OT salary range in the U.S. falls between $85,390 and $102,090, reflecting the variances in experience, location, and specialization.
Physical Therapist (PT) Salary
The BLS reports that the median annual wage for physical therapists in May 2022 was $97,720.
- The lowest 10 percent earned less than $77,670.
- The highest 10 percent earned more than $128,840.
This data is reinforced by other sources. For instance, Payscale.com notes that the average PT salary is around $78,000, but with bonuses and profit-sharing, total pay can range from $65,000 to $98,000, with senior-level professionals earning significantly more.
In summary: While both are high-paying careers, physical therapists earn a slightly higher median salary on average than occupational therapists. However, the next section will show how individual choices can have a much larger impact on your final take-home pay than this initial difference.
Key Factors That Influence Salary
Your salary as an OT or PT is not a single number. It’s a dynamic figure influenced by several critical factors. Understanding these variables is key to maximizing your earning potential.
### Level of Education
For physical therapists, the path is standardized: you must earn a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree. For occupational therapists, there are two entry-level degree options: a Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) or a Doctorate of Occupational Therapy (OTD). While both degrees qualify you for licensure, the OTD may offer a slight edge in certain academic, research, or leadership roles, which can translate to higher long-term earnings. However, for most clinical entry-level positions, the salary difference between a new MOT and OTD graduate is often minimal. The primary salary difference here is between the DPT standard for PTs and the master's-level option for OTs.
### Years of Experience
Experience is one of the most significant drivers of salary growth in both fields. As you accumulate skills, build a professional reputation, and take on more complex cases, your value to an employer increases.
- Entry-Level (0-2 years): OTs and PTs just starting their careers will typically earn near the 10th-25th percentile. For an OT, this might be in the $65,000-$75,000 range, while a PT might start between $70,000-$80,000.
- Mid-Career (5-10 years): With solid experience, therapists move closer to and beyond the median salary. It is common for mid-career OTs and PTs to earn between $90,000 and $110,000.
- Senior/Experienced (15+ years): Therapists with extensive experience, particularly those in leadership, specialized, or private practice roles, can reach the top 10% of earners, commanding salaries well over $120,000.
### Geographic Location
Where you practice has a massive impact on your paycheck. High cost-of-living areas and states with high demand for healthcare professionals tend to offer higher salaries to remain competitive.
According to BLS data, the top-paying states for Occupational Therapists are:
1. California ($113,150)
2. Nevada ($104,870)
3. New Jersey ($104,270)
The top-paying states for Physical Therapists are:
1. California ($114,230)
2. Nevada ($106,690)
3. New Jersey ($105,450)
It's important to balance these higher salaries against the higher cost of living in these regions. Conversely, working in a rural or underserved area may come with a lower base salary but could offer other financial incentives like student loan repayment programs.
### Company Type / Work Setting
The setting where you work is a major determinant of your salary. Both OTs and PTs can work in diverse environments, each with its own pay scale. Based on BLS reports, here is a general hierarchy from highest to lowest paying for both professions:
1. Home Health Care Services: This setting often pays the most due to the autonomy required and the one-on-one nature of care.
2. Nursing and Residential Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities): These facilities manage complex, often geriatric, cases and tend to offer very competitive salaries to attract skilled therapists.
3. Hospitals (State, Local, and Private): Hospitals are a major employer and offer stable, competitive salaries and often excellent benefits.
4. Offices of Physical, Occupational, and Speech Therapists: Private practice clinics can vary widely but are generally competitive.
5. Educational Services (Schools): Working in a school system is incredibly rewarding but typically falls on the lower end of the pay scale for both OTs and PTs.
### Area of Specialization
Obtaining a specialty certification demonstrates advanced knowledge and can unlock higher-paying, in-demand positions.
For OTs, lucrative specializations include:
- Certified Hand Therapist (CHT): This is a highly respected and often top-earning specialization.
- Neurorehabilitation: Working with patients with brain injuries, strokes, or neurological disorders.
- Assistive Technology: Specializing in adaptive tools and technology to improve client function.
For PTs, high-value specializations include:
- Orthopedic Clinical Specialist (OCS): A very common and valuable certification for treating musculoskeletal injuries.
- Sports Certified Specialist (SCS): Working with athletes often comes with higher earning potential.
- Geriatric Certified Specialist (GCS): With an aging population, this specialization is in extremely high demand.
Job Outlook
The future is incredibly bright for both professions. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects robust growth for both fields between 2022 and 2032, driven primarily by the aging baby-boomer population and the growing prevalence of chronic conditions like diabetes and obesity.
- Occupational Therapists: Employment is projected to grow 12 percent, much faster than the average for all occupations. This will result in about 9,600 openings for OTs each year, on average, over the decade.
- Physical Therapists: Employment is projected to grow 15 percent, also much faster than the average. This will result in about 13,900 openings for PTs each year, on average.
This high demand ensures strong job security and continued salary competitiveness for years to come.
Conclusion
When deciding between a career in occupational therapy versus physical therapy, salary should be just one consideration among many. The data shows that both fields offer excellent financial prospects and a secure future.
Here are the key takeaways:
- Similar High Earning Potential: Both PTs and OTs are high-earning professionals with median salaries exceeding $90,000.
- PTs Have a Slight Edge: On average, physical therapists have a slightly higher median salary, likely tied to the DPT being the educational standard.
- You Control Your Earnings: The most significant factors determining your salary are not the letters after your name (OT or PT) but your choices regarding experience, location, work setting, and specialization. A highly specialized OT in a high-paying setting and location can easily out-earn an entry-level PT in a lower-paying region.
Ultimately, the best choice is the one that aligns with your passion. Do you find more fulfillment in restoring fundamental movement or in enabling participation in the meaningful activities of daily life? Both paths lead to a rewarding career that makes a profound difference in people's lives—and both will provide a comfortable and stable living while you do it.