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Job outlook for occupational therapy professors in the United States
Are occupational therapy professor jobs in demand?
Occupational therapy professor job and salary trends over time
Occupational therapy professor jobs over time
Occupational therapy professor job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 46 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 48 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 49 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 48 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 47 | 0.00% |
Average occupational therapy professor salary over time
Occupational therapy professor salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $121,135 | $58.24 | +1.8% |
| 2025 | $118,971 | $57.20 | --0.1% |
| 2024 | $119,033 | $57.23 | --0.5% |
| 2023 | $119,644 | $57.52 | --1.5% |
| 2022 | $121,465 | $58.40 | +9.4% |
Occupational therapy professor jobs by state
Most common states for occupational therapy professors
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 199 | 29% |
| 2 | Vermont | 623,657 | 141 | 23% |
| 3 | Alaska | 739,795 | 135 | 18% |
| 4 | West Virginia | 1,815,857 | 252 | 14% |
| 5 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 126 | 14% |
| 6 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 705 | 13% |
| 7 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 370 | 12% |
| 8 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 130 | 12% |
| 9 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 955 | 11% |
| 10 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 448 | 11% |
| 11 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 213 | 11% |
| 12 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 149 | 11% |
| 13 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 294 | 10% |
| 14 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 203 | 10% |
| 15 | Kentucky | 4,454,189 | 414 | 9% |
| 16 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 71 | 9% |
| 17 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 53 | 9% |
| 18 | New York | 19,849,399 | 1,499 | 8% |
| 19 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 544 | 8% |
| 20 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 87 | 8% |
Occupational Therapy Professor job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of occupational therapy professor experts
Tiffin University
College of Charleston
NCOPE
Minnesota State University - Mankato
Orange Coast College
Dr. Stephanie Opfer
Associate Professor of English, Assistant Dean of the School of Creative and Media ArtsTiffin University
Visual And Performing Arts
What will help Occupational Therapy Professors increase their earning potential?
Dr. Stephanie Opfer: Unfortunately, teaching as an adjunct does not pay well. Students should keep their full-time jobs and teach part-time until they find a full-time job at a college or university. That part-time teaching provides them valuable experience and connections that make them more competitive candidates for full-time positions because they'd also be competing with candidates who have PhDs. So adjunct work is more of a long-term investment rather than an immediate return. Also, even full-time teaching jobs don't pay particularly well, so they'll really need to love teaching if they want to do it full-time. If they don't like teaching as an adjunct, they won't like doing it full-time.
What experience really stands out on Occupational Therapy Professor resumes?
Dr. Phyllis G. Jestice: The experience that most stands out on resumés, to my mind, is definitely internships or anything where the applicant has had to show initiative and exercise independent thought.
Will there be an increase or decrease in demand for Occupational Therapy Professors in the next 5 years?
Chris Robinson: While I do not have a crystal ball, the value that orthotic & prosthetic professionals bring to an interdisciplinary health care team cannot be ignored. The same way a pharmacist guides treatment to the most appropriate prescription for a clinical problem, the O&P professional has the knowledge and training to develop treatment plans for conditions such as pain, congenital deformities, or difficulty with walking. I feel any healthcare provider that can empower patients to participate in their day-to-day activities, return to work, or even enjoy recreational activities will have a strong future. The most recent workforce demand study, funded by NCOPE and AOPA in 2015, identified a likely increase in demand for O&P professionals at all levels of education, from associate to master's degree trained practitioners.
Will there be an increase or decrease in demand for Occupational Therapy Professors in the next 5 years?
Brigette Cooper: There will be an increase in demand for dental hygiene graduates in the next five years. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports employment of dental hygienists is projected to grow 6 percent from 2019 to 2029, faster than average for all occupations. The demand for dental services will increase as the population ages and as research continues to link oral health to overall health.
Rodney Foster
Instructor - Aviation Maintenance Technology Instructor - Airframe & Powerplant TechnologyOrange Coast College
Engineering
What general advice would you give to an Occupational Therapy Professor?
Rodney Foster: Orange Coast College (OCC) teaches Aircraft Maintenance Technology (AMT) and Avionics. Although the Government has dampened air travel by putting up restrictions to prevent a Covid-19 spread, there is still a certified mechanic/skilled labor shortage. I believe all our students will have permanent jobs within a six-month search. OCC AMT is listed as an essential workforce by the state of California and is back in classes full-time, Face-to-face labs, and online lectures. Our next semester registration maximum filled in two days and still has over 35 additional students per class on the waiting list.