Director of occupational therapy vs wellness director

The differences between directors of occupational therapy and wellness 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 wellness director. Additionally, a director of occupational therapy has an average salary of $88,320, which is higher than the $73,888 average annual salary of a wellness director.

The top three skills for a director of occupational therapy include occupational therapy, patients and rehabilitation. The most important skills for a wellness director are quality care, home health, and direct supervision.

Director of occupational therapy vs wellness director overview

	Director Of Occupational Therapy	Wellness Director
Yearly salary	$88,320	$73,888
Hourly rate	$42.46	$35.52
Growth rate	28%	28%
Number of jobs	46,434	31,522
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 73%	Bachelor's Degree, 57%
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 wellness director do?

Typically working at gyms and health centers, a wellness coordinator utilizes their health and fitness expertise by designing and developing health programs involving workout and diet plans. Among their responsibilities include performing research and analysis to identify the clients' needs, gathering and analyzing information to determine the strengths and weaknesses of current programs, and implementing solutions against problem areas. They must also liaise with internal and external parties, coordinate staff, and develop strategies to optimize program operations, ensuring efficiency and client satisfaction.

Director of occupational therapy vs wellness director salary

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

	Director Of Occupational Therapy	Wellness Director
Average salary	$88,320	$73,888
Salary range	Between $56,000 And $137,000	Between $42,000 And $127,000
Highest paying City	-	Hartford, CT
Highest paying state	-	Connecticut
Best paying company	-	Emma Willard School
Best paying industry	-	Health Care

Differences between director of occupational therapy and wellness director education

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

	Director Of Occupational Therapy	Wellness Director
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 73%	Bachelor's Degree, 57%
Most common major	Occupational Therapy	Nursing
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Director of occupational therapy vs wellness director demographics

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

	Director Of Occupational Therapy	Wellness Director
Average age	47	47
Gender ratio	Male, 25.5% Female, 74.5%	Male, 23.0% Female, 77.0%
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, 11.1% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 14.7% Asian, 7.5% White, 61.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage	12%	12%

Differences between director of occupational therapy and wellness 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.

Wellness director example responsibilities.

Manage resident and facility accounts, budgets, social security applications, and Medicare and Medicaid benefits.
Provide staff training and oversight on medication administration and direct patient care.
Provide oversight to ensure appropriate infection control procedures are follow by staff.
Assist in keeping key staff in compliance with CPR certification.
Implement disease management programs for hypertension, diabetes and back injuries.
Process payroll, hire, dismiss, and education to staff.

Director of occupational therapy vs wellness director skills

Common director of occupational therapy skills

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

Common wellness director skills

Quality Care, 15%
Home Health, 14%
Direct Supervision, 14%
CPR, 7%
State Regulations, 6%
Oversight, 6%

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Director Of Occupational Therapy
Director Of Occupational Therapy vs Wellness Director

Updated January 8, 2025

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