by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Occupational Therapy covers Occupational Therapy/therapist. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Assist Patients Limited By Physical, Cognitive, Psychosocial, Mental, Developmental, And Learning Disabilities, As Well As Adverse Environmental Conditions, To Maximize Their Independence And Maintain Optimum Health Through A Planned Mix Of Acquired Skills, Performance Motivation, Environmental Adaptations, Assistive Technologies, And Physical Agents. Includes Instruction In The Basic Medical Sciences, Psychology, Sociology, Patient Assessment And Evaluation, Standardized And Non-Standardized Tests And Measurements, Assistive And Rehabilitative Technologies, Ergonomics, Environmental Health, Special Education, Vocational Counseling, Health Education And Promotion, And Professional Standards And Ethics. Continue reading for the essential details every occupational therapy major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering occupational therapy programs.
In the U.S., occupational therapy is a popular field of study, with 10,460 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Occupational Therapy Schools ranking analyzes these 235 schools to determine the best overall colleges for occupational therapy students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of occupational therapy programs later in this article.
Coursework for Occupational Therapy emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations occupational therapy graduates commonly enter.
The skill set emphasized by a occupational therapy program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a occupational therapy major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several occupational therapy degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 38 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 505 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 5,855 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 4,062 |
People currently working in careers related to occupational therapy tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 63.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 15.2% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 10.2% |
| Doctoral degree | 4.4% |
| Post-doctoral training | 3.4% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 2.0% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 0.8% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 0.5% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in occupational therapy careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying occupational therapy can lead to many career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to occupational therapy.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to occupational therapy.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Low Vision Therapists, Orientation and Mobility Specialists, and Vision Rehabilitation Therapists | 3,154,112 | -1.5% |
| Occupational Therapists | 2,344,296 | -4.2% |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,335,407 | 10.7% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of occupational therapy graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $67,332 |
| 4 years | $70,102 |
| 5 years | $75,167 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for occupational therapy graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers occupational therapy grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Low Vision Therapists, Orientation and Mobility Specialists, and Vision Rehabilitation Therapists | $124,839 |
| Occupational Therapists | $82,501 |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,663 |
With 235 different occupational therapy programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased occupational therapy school rankings to help you.
Those considering occupational therapy, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
