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Andrea Richardson

Professor Hugetz

ENGL-1301-04

5 October 2020

Occupational Therapy in the Greater Houston Area

Occupational therapy (OT) is a medical profession that helps people of all ages

rehabilitate through the use of daily activities. To be able to practice occupational therapy in any

way, one must hold a current, unexpired Texas license in occupational therapy. Occupational

therapists work around 40+ hours per week and might occasionally work nights or weekends to

accommodate patient’s schedules, with most work hours being spent on their feet. Although the

profession is lesser known, the pay more than makes up for the physical demand of the career.

To succeed in the career, occupational therapists need a variety of skills, including but not

limited to problem sensitivity, oral comprehension, deductive reasoning, oral expression, speech

clarity, and inductive reasoning (CareerOneStop). Few people know the difference between

occupational therapy and other forms of physical rehabilitation but that will soon change with the

industry on the rise. The salary, demand, and the education make occupational therapy an

excellent career choice for the Houston and Galveston area(s).

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Occupational therapy is a highly rewarding career in the sense that it allows oneself to

help others live life to the fullest potential possible in one's current situation, but this is done

with high compensation. Occupational therapy is one of the highest payed medical professions

and is expected to grow even more in the next 10-15 years. Multiple factors determine how much

an occupational therapist makes, including but not limited to, the facility being worked in, the

location, and the amount of years spent working in the profession. In the greater Houston area,

“new workers generally start around $57,408. Normal pay for occupational therapists is $86,575

per year, while highly experienced workers can earn as much as $135,374” (Career Coach). On

average, an occupational therapist will make about $2,000 more in a rural area than an

urban/metropolitan area. Occupational therapists can work in a variety of different places, the top

five industries and the median annual wages of each as of May 2019 include: nursing care

facilities making $90,830, home healthcare services with $89,220, the offices of physical,

occupational and speech therapists, and audiologists with $97,190, hospitals with $85,510, and

elementary/secondary schools making the least on average with $74,670 (The Federal Bureau of

Labor Statistics). In Houston, the average occupational therapist made $85,930 as of 2019 which

is about $1,000 more than the national average and about $3,000 more than the rest of Texas

(CareerOneStop). Different parts of Texas will have different wages depending on the need in

the area, giving occupational therapists many different options when looking and applying for

jobs in Texas.

The demand for occupational therapists is on the rise in the greater Houston area, potentially

making it easier to find a job after graduating. In the Houston/Galveston area, as of “September

2017, 527 companies have posted 5,716 jobs for occupational therapists” (Career Coach). The

numbers add up considering Houston is the largest medical hub in the U.S. and the numbers are
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expected to rise by 16% from 2019 to 2029 which is much faster than the average for all other

occupations. Occupational therapy is a very important part of the treatment(s) used to help

patients with various illnesses and disabilities associated with old age, such as arthritis and

strokes, and “the need for occupational therapists is expected to increase as the large baby-boom

generation ages and people remain active later in life” (The Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics).

As occupational therapists work with people of all ages, the baby-boom generation getting up in

age is not the only factor raising the demand for occupational therapists. Children (and adults)

with autism are continuing to need occupational therapy in school and in everyday life to help

improve social skills and to help accomplish everyday tasks. “Occupational therapists also will

be needed in a variety of healthcare settings to treat patients with chronic conditions, such as

diabetes” (The Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics). The industry is fast growing, possibly the

fastest growing, and the demand for occupational therapists will continue to grow for years to

come.

Becoming an occupational therapist requires a master’s degree in occupational therapy,

though some therapists go on to get a doctoral degree in occupational therapy. Generally,

acquiring a master’s degree in occupational therapy requires a “bachelor’s degree and specific

coursework, including biology and physiology” (The Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics). On

average, master’s programs take two to three years to complete whereas a doctoral program

would take about three and a half years to complete. On average, around 5% of workers have a

doctoral or professional degree in occupational therapy, 48% have a master’s degree, 39% have a

bachelor’s degree, and 8% have an associate’s degree or less (CareerOneStop). Typically, both

master’s and doctoral programs require around 24 weeks of supervised fieldwork though not all

programs require fieldwork; doctoral programs also require a 16-week capstone experience.
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Fieldwork is encouraged for master’s and doctoral programs to help prospective occupational

therapists gain clinical work experience. All states, the District of Colombia, and Puerto Rico

require all occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants to be licensed. “Licensing

requirements vary by state, but all require candidates to pass the national examination

administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT)” (The

Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics). Occupational therapists are required to pass the NBCOT

exam in order to use the title “Occupational Therapist, Registered” (OTR), along with continuing

education classes in order to maintain certification. The training and certifications required to

become an occupational therapist makes them a terrific addition to the medical field.

The salary, demand, and the education make occupational therapy an excellent career

choice for the Houston and Galveston area(s). Occupational therapy is a fast growing yet

rewarding career choice for anyone that is willing to endure the school and certifications

required. The opportunities offered in the next 10 to 15 years will not only raise the awareness of

occupational therapists but raise the pay as well. Although the pay is high compared to most

medical professions, one must not choose occupational therapy for the pay, but for the chance to

make one's life easier to endure. If one can stay determined and openminded through the trials

and tribulations of occupational therapy school, then one has the possibility of becoming a great

occupational therapist.

Works Cited

"CareerOneStop." Occupation Profile for Occupational Therapists. 21 Mar. 2017. Web.

https://www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Careers/Occupations/occupation-profile.aspx?

keyword=Occupational+Therapists.
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"Occupational Therapists: Occupational Outlook Handbook." U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 01 Sept. 2020. Web.

https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/occupational-therapists.htm.

"Occupational Therapists." Alvincollege.emsicc.com. Web. 07 Oct. 2020.

https://alvincollege.emsicc.com/careers/occupational-therapist?region=Houston-

The+Woodlands-Sugar+Land%2C+TX.