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The differences between occupational therapists and student physical therapists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an occupational therapist has an average salary of $75,707, which is higher than the $73,003 average annual salary of a student physical therapist.
The top three skills for an occupational therapist include patients, rehabilitation and home health. The most important skills for a student physical therapist are patients, occupational therapy, and rehabilitation.
| Occupational Therapist | Student Physical Therapist | |
| Yearly salary | $75,707 | $73,003 |
| Hourly rate | $36.40 | $35.10 |
| Growth rate | 14% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 78,315 | 92,101 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 55% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| Average age | 40 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 12 | - |
An occupational therapist specializes in treating patients who are recovering from illnesses or disabilities to help them adapt and overcome the physical and mental difficulties they face in their daily lives. The responsibilities of an occupational therapist revolve around examining a patient's medical history and conducting different kinds of assessments to determine what type of treatment a patient should receive. Furthermore, an occupational therapist must build rapport with a patient to make them feel at ease and coordinate with their guardian or family to discuss the recommended ways to help the patient adjust and recuperate.
A student physical therapist assists physicians in handling patients in a medical facility or a similar setting. As students, they typically follow directives and work under the supervision of a physical therapist. Besides assisting in treating patients, a student may also perform various clerical tasks such as filing paperwork, producing reports, running errands, managing schedules, responding to inquiries, and answering calls and correspondence. They may also coordinate with other hospital personnel and attend meetings, all while adhering to the medical facility's policies and standards.
Occupational therapists and student physical therapists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Occupational Therapist | Student Physical Therapist | |
| Average salary | $75,707 | $73,003 |
| Salary range | Between $58,000 And $97,000 | Between $54,000 And $97,000 |
| Highest paying City | Salinas, CA | - |
| Highest paying state | California | - |
| Best paying company | Waters | - |
| Best paying industry | Professional | - |
There are a few differences between an occupational therapist and a student physical therapist in terms of educational background:
| Occupational Therapist | Student Physical Therapist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 55% | Bachelor's Degree, 76% |
| Most common major | Occupational Therapy | Kinesiology |
| Most common college | Duke University | Duke University |
Here are the differences between occupational therapists' and student physical therapists' demographics:
| Occupational Therapist | Student Physical Therapist | |
| Average age | 40 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 16.8% Female, 83.2% | Male, 37.4% Female, 62.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.8% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 6.2% Asian, 9.6% White, 75.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 3.9% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% Asian, 12.0% White, 72.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 14% | 12% |