What Does an Occupational Therapist Do? Duties, Pay, and More

An occupational therapist (OT) supports people with injuries, disabilities, illnesses, or pain in performing everyday tasks such as going to work, completing education, looking after themselves, or simply moving around. As an occupational therapist, you'll help patients adapt their environments to their own needs and work with them to develop new skills or find new, easier ways of doing things. 

If you're interested in a hands-on medical career that allows you to work directly with patients, then you might consider pursuing a career as an occupational therapist. Read on to discover more about what an occupational therapist is, how it differs from other similar roles, and the typical work duties involved. Explore the salaries of occupational therapists, their job prospects, and the necessary steps to start a career in this field.

What is an occupational therapist?

An occupational therapist is a specially trained professional who helps people recover, develop, or improve everyday living skills. As an OT, you'll work directly with patients in various settings, from hospitals to universities and home health services. You'll support them as they make changes in their everyday lives to function better without pain or discomfort as they perform tasks previously hampered by their health condition. 

The term ‘occupational’ can be misleading because it's easy to assume an occupational therapist supports people primarily in the workplace. This isn’t the case, as an OT can help people of all ages in various settings. This is how occupational therapists compare to other similar professions:

Occupational therapist vs physical therapist

Occupational therapists often work closely with physical therapists, but the two are actually distinct roles. Physical therapists help people manage physical pain and improve movement, whereas an occupational therapist looks to improve functions associated with the pain or physical impairment. This could be through adapting equipment or teaching patients new methods of doing things. 

Occupational therapist vs recreational therapist

Another role commonly confused with an occupational therapist is a recreational therapist, which also supports patients through the use of treatment programmes and helps them to adapt to their illness or disability, much like an OT. Unlike OT programmes, though, recreational therapy treatments are based on recreational activities, such as arts and crafts, dance, and sports. It’s possible that a patient may be seeing an occupational therapist and a recreational therapist simultaneously. 

Occupational therapist vs occupational therapy assistant

Occupational therapy assistants support occupational therapists. Assistants help OTs by supporting therapy, setting up equipment, and working directly with patients by teaching them how to use equipment, directing exercises, and recording patient progress. 

What does an occupational therapist do?

An occupational therapist’s scope is vast. You can work with adults in an employment setting, supporting them by adapting their work environment to continue to perform their role following an illness or accident. You might also work with patients who have been impacted by a mental illness or severe physical conditions, such as a stroke, and need to adapt their movements, processes, and homes to accommodate their needs. 

As an OT, you can also work with young people in schools and care settings to support children who need help managing tasks like handwriting or certain behaviours. 

Typical duties and roles

Day-to-day duties vary according to the patient, but generally, as an occupational therapist, you will perform the following duties:

• Review a patient's medical history and assess their need for support.

• Evaluate a patient's home, workplace, and community to make necessary adaptations.

• Define the patient's need for assistive devices, such as adaptable seating, ramps, and wheelchairs, and train in their use.

• Support patients to find ways to undertake everyday tasks that have become difficult or are no longer possible, such as dressing, driving, and cooking.

• Teach patients to use equipment selected for their support.

• Demonstrate exercises and techniques to patients to support their movement and independence.

• Work closely with health professionals such as nurses, physical therapists, and other professionals, including teachers, caregivers, and social workers to decide on the best care and process.

• Develop a treatment plan with defined goals and clear stages.

• Offer education for a patient’s family, key workers, employer, and school, college, or university.

• Assess the progress of a patient to determine future interventions and update other health professionals. 

Occupational therapist salary and job outlook

The average annual base salary for occupational therapists is £37,270, according to Glassdoor [1]. The exact salary you'll earn, though, will likely vary based on your location, work experience, employer, and job responsibilities. Glassdoor reports an annual salary range of £31,000 to £44,000 for occupational therapists [1].

According to the Royal College of Occupational Therapists Workforce Survey 2023, OT services are in high demand and 86 per cent of OT practitioners have experienced an increased demand in the previous twelve months alone, potentially leaving teams with a shortfall in staff [2]. 

The need for occupational therapists is unlikely to cease, given that people require OT services as they age and the current trend to stay active in later life. More and more people are searching for treatment to make their lives easier to manage, whether due to disabilities, chronic illness, or conditions such as a stroke. Occupational therapists will also have a place in colleges and universities for students with disabilities and autism spectrum disorder to improve everyday functioning. 

Work environment

An occupational therapist's work environment varies considerably. People receiving occupational therapy can be from all walks of life. Most OTs juggle their time between the office and working directly with patients. As a result, their work environment may include hospitals, health services, workplaces, schools, nursing homes, rehabilitation centres, home care, prisons, or anywhere a patient needs support. 

Travel is common as you move between seeing patients. Occupational therapists need a certain level of fitness because they spend a lot of time on their feet, must physically move patients, and often adjust heavy equipment. 

How to become an occupational therapist

To become an occupational therapist, you'll need to gain the right education, certification, and licensure. If you're interested in joining the field, here's what you'll likely have to do:

1. Get your degree.

To qualify as an occupational therapist, you must have a degree in occupational therapy. You may also pursue a master’s degree following this. You can choose whether to study full-time or part-time, which may take anywhere from three to six years. You may also consider an apprenticeship degree. 

2. Complete registration.

Upon completing your degree, you must register with the Health and Care Professions Council, so that you can begin practising. You must engage in annual continuing professional development (CPD) and have the opportunity to join the Royal College of Occupational Therapists, and to specialise in an area. 

3. Hone your skills.

Occupational therapists possess a wide range of job-specific and transferable skills that make them suitable for the role. Some of the essential skills you'll need to cultivate include:

• Communication

• Empathy 

• Patience

• Time management

• Critical thinking

• Adaptability

Whilst you can likely learn most skills, it takes a certain type of person to build trust with patients and show compassion in all circumstances, making patients feel valued and supported. 

Gain occupational therapist skills

Occupational therapists use their knowledge of the human body to help people suffering from debilitating conditions recover so they can lead the happiest possible lives. If you'd like to join this impactful profession, consider taking a cost-effective online course on Coursera to gain job-relevant skills today. 

In the University of Michigan’s Anatomy Specialisation, for example, you'll explore the foundations of human anatomy, including the major organ systems and their functions within the body. In the University of Minnesota's Preventing Chronic Pain: A Human Systems Approach, meanwhile, you'll pair evidence-based science with creative and experiential learning to better understand chronic pain conditions and how they can be prevented through self-management in our cognitive, behavioural, physical, emotional, spiritual, social, and environmental realms.