Director of occupational therapy vs clinical director

The differences between directors of occupational therapy and clinical directors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a director of occupational therapy and a clinical director. Additionally, a clinical director has an average salary of $96,497, which is higher than the $88,320 average annual salary of a director of occupational therapy.

The top three skills for a director of occupational therapy include occupational therapy, patients and rehabilitation. The most important skills for a clinical director are patients, patient care, and physical therapy.

Director of occupational therapy vs clinical director overview

	Director Of Occupational Therapy	Clinical Director
Yearly salary	$88,320	$96,497
Hourly rate	$42.46	$46.39
Growth rate	28%	28%
Number of jobs	46,434	83,232
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 73%	Bachelor's Degree, 43%
Average age	47	47
Years of experience	6	6

What does a director of occupational therapy do?

A director of occupational therapy oversees the occupational therapy programs and projects in a medical or health facility. They have the authority to direct operations from planning to execution, establish budgets and schedules, set goals and protocols, and develop strategies to deliver quality care to clients. Their duties also entail performing extensive research and assessments, developing treatment plans for clients, reviewing reports, and coordinating with fellow experts. Additionally, as a director, it is essential to lead employees and implement policies and standards to ensure efficient services.

What does a clinical director do?

A clinical director is a managing professional who manages the work of healthcare providers to ensure quality patient care is achieved. Clinical directors are responsible for organizational tasks such as adjusting staff schedules, explaining insurance benefits to the patients, and managing financial reports. They can work either in small clinics with a smaller workforce or larger hospitals with multiple departments. Clinical directors may also assist in the hiring process of healthcare providers and should establish a positive work environment.

Director of occupational therapy vs clinical director salary

Directors of occupational therapy and clinical directors have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Director Of Occupational Therapy	Clinical Director
Average salary	$88,320	$96,497
Salary range	Between $56,000 And $137,000	Between $63,000 And $145,000
Highest paying City	-	New York, NY
Highest paying state	-	Rhode Island
Best paying company	-	Sutro Biopharma
Best paying industry	-	Health Care

Differences between director of occupational therapy and clinical director education

There are a few differences between a director of occupational therapy and a clinical director in terms of educational background:

	Director Of Occupational Therapy	Clinical Director
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 73%	Bachelor's Degree, 43%
Most common major	Occupational Therapy	Nursing
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Director of occupational therapy vs clinical director demographics

Here are the differences between directors of occupational therapy' and clinical directors' demographics:

	Director Of Occupational Therapy	Clinical Director
Average age	47	47
Gender ratio	Male, 25.5% Female, 74.5%	Male, 35.2% Female, 64.8%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 11.5% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 14.1% Asian, 7.9% White, 61.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%	Black or African American, 11.6% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 14.6% Asian, 8.1% White, 60.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage	12%	12%

Differences between director of occupational therapy and clinical director duties and responsibilities

Director of occupational therapy example responsibilities.

Manage PPS details efficiently to ensure high quality clinical care while maximizing reimbursement for the facility.
Develop independent living program for adult rehabilitation patients in preparation for discharge.
Addressed Medicare denials for all customers.
Prepare for JCAHO and CARF surveys.
Full procedure manual written base on CARF guidelines.
Recruit, train and supervise a cohesive staff of COTA's.

Clinical director example responsibilities.

Develop distinctive ambulatory strategies to achieve and sustain competitive healthcare advantage.
Manage and assist with data collection and input for MDS.
Manage quality of documentation through education and electronic review of clinical processes utilizing HCHB EMR.
Manage front office, marketing, and communication -demonstrated/supervise exercises for patients -Developed instructional packets for home exercise programs
Manage projects and ambulatory system initiatives, and collaborate with system leadership teams to ensure EMR alignment with all regulatory requirements.
Experience in GCP, FDA audits, and regulatory guidance review and implementation.

Director of occupational therapy vs clinical director skills

Common director of occupational therapy skills

Occupational Therapy, 17%
Patients, 13%
Rehabilitation, 9%
Home Health, 8%
COTA, 8%
Program Development, 7%

Common clinical director skills

Patients, 18%
Patient Care, 11%
Physical Therapy, 5%
Social Work, 4%
Rehabilitation, 4%
Clinical Services, 3%

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Director Of Occupational Therapy
Director Of Occupational Therapy vs Clinical Director

Updated January 8, 2025

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