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What is a pediatric occupational therapist and how to become one
A pediatric occupational therapist helps children develop the skills they need to participate in daily activities. This includes fine motor skills, sensory processing, and cognitive abilities. Pediatric occupational therapists work with children with a variety of conditions, including developmental delays, autism, and cerebral palsy. They may also work with children who have experienced trauma or injuries. Techniques used by pediatric occupational therapists include play therapy, sensory integration therapy, and exercises to improve strength and dexterity.
What general advice would you give to a pediatric occupational therapist?
Nicole Scheiman DrOT, MHS, OTR/L, CLT-LANA, CES, CKTP, CEES-Advanced, CSST, CDCS, CORE
Department Chair/Program Director/ Professor, Huntington University
Avg. Salary $82,293
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth rate 14%
Growth rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.30%
Asian 10.09%
Black or African American 4.75%
Hispanic or Latino 6.13%
Unknown 3.70%
White 75.04%
Genderfemale 89.00%
male 11.00%
Age - 38American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 38Stress level is very high
7.1 - high
Complexity level is advanced
7 - challenging
Work life balance is good
6.4 - fair
What are the pros and cons of being a pediatric occupational therapist?
Pros
Varied and engaging work
High demand for services
Flexible work schedule
Chance to develop strong relationships with families and colleagues
Opportunities to learn and grow professionally
Cons
Requires patience and strong communication skills
Requires significant documentation and paperwork
May work long or irregular hours
Can be difficult to see progress in some cases
Can face resistance from parents or other caregivers
Pediatric occupational therapist career paths
Key steps to become a pediatric occupational therapist
Explore pediatric occupational therapist education requirements
Start to develop specific pediatric occupational therapist skills
Skills Percentages Patients 20.93% Rehabilitation 8.49% Patient Care 8.40% Autism 8.36% Home Health 6.90% Complete relevant pediatric occupational therapist training and internships
Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New pediatric occupational therapists learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a pediatric occupational therapist based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real pediatric occupational therapist resumes.Research pediatric occupational therapist duties and responsibilities
- Participate in IEP planning and goal writing for students to help them achieve as much academic success as possible.
- Train PRN staff on Medicare / Medicaid reimbursement documentation and facility policies.
- Apply sensory integration approach with children to promote adaptive responses for improve interactions within environments.
- Create and implement skil occupational therapy services with pediatric patients to promote safety and independence with their occupational performance.
Prepare your pediatric occupational therapist resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your pediatric occupational therapist resume.
You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a pediatric occupational therapist resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
Choose from 10+ customizable pediatric occupational therapist resume templates
Build a professional pediatric occupational therapist resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your pediatric occupational therapist resume.
Apply for pediatric occupational therapist jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a pediatric occupational therapist job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How did you land your first pediatric occupational therapist job
Are you a pediatric occupational therapist?
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Average pediatric occupational therapist salary
The average pediatric occupational therapist salary in the United States is $82,293 per year or $40 per hour. Pediatric occupational therapist salaries range between $64,000 and $105,000 per year.
What am I worth?
How do pediatric occupational therapists rate their job?
Pediatric occupational therapist reviews
Geriatric population and working towards functional goal.
Clients don’t think they need to participate to get better.
Updated January 8, 2025
