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Andrea Richardson

Prof. Hugetz

ENGL-1301-04

28 Sept. 2020

Completed Career Essay Rough Draft

Occupational Therapy is a medical profession that helps people of every age rehabilitate
through the use of daily activities. As an Occupational Therapist, you can work in a wide variety
of settings like, “schools, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, skilled nursing and assisted living
facilities, and medical clinics.” Occupational Therapists work around 40+ hours per week with
most of it being spent on their feet. Few people know the difference between Physical and
Occupational Therapy, but that will soon change with the industry on the rise. The annual salary,
location of the city, and the availability of schools make Occupational Therapy an excellent
career choice for the Houston/Galveston area.
Commitment is a huge part of becoming an Occupational Therapist, especially when it
comes to school. Becoming an Occupational Therapist requires a bachelor’s degree and a
master’s degree in Occupational Therapy. But “as an undergraduate, you can major in anything
that interests you so long as you make sure to take the necessary prerequisites for the
Occupational Therapy programs you apply to.” In total, becoming an Occupational Therapist
requires at least six to eight years of higher education. Occupational Therapists also need to be
committed to their patients. When working in a school environment, Occupational Therapists
will often stay after school to better prepare themselves for the next day of work, or to give a
student/patient more in-depth treatment(s). Overall, being able to help people live a better life
outweighs all the demanding work and school endured to get to where they are.
Compared to other Cities in Texas, on average, Houston has one of the highest salaries
for Occupational Therapists. As of August 27, 2020, Occupational Therapists in Houston, TX
make $91,310, the 25th percentile makes $83,641, the 75th percentile makes $99,480, and the 90th
percentile makes $106,919. Whereas in Dallas, TX, the average salary for an Occupational
Therapist is $78,888. But salary varies on many factors, including education, certifications,
additional skills, and the number of years you have spent in the profession. But overall, Houston
is one of the best places to work as an Occupational Therapist.
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When it comes to the medical field, school is everything. Houston has the biggest
medical center in the United States, so the schools in the area must be outstanding too. For
Occupational Therapy, Texas Womens University and Baylor Health are amazing choices. Texas
Womens University has one of the best Occupational Therapy programs in Houston and it also
happens to be a women's university. Baylor on the other hand, has an amazing doctorate program
for Occupational Therapy but it is also one of the most expensive colleges in the greater Houston
area. There are also great Occupational Therapy programs in other colleges surrounding the
Houston area like, Texas A&M, University of Texas. Both colleges have amazing medical
programs, but University of Texas only offers Pre-Occupational Therapy programs whereas
Texas A&M has multiple options and has a true Occupational Therapy program. There are more
colleges that offer Occupational Therapy programs in the greater Houston area, but these are
some for the best.
Salary, location, and the schools available are what makes the greater Houston area the
best place to become an Occupational Therapist. Although Occupational Therapy is a lesser
known medical profession, it is still greatly needed. There are many aspects to Occupational
Therapy but being a caring and compassionate person are qualities majorly needed for the career.
OT’s have long hours and where they work varies, but at the end of the day, helping people live
up to their full potential makes it all worth it, which is why Houston is the best place to study
Occupational Therapy.