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Job outlook for therapeutic specialists in the United States
Are therapeutic specialist jobs in demand?
Therapeutic specialist job and salary trends over time
Therapeutic specialist jobs over time
Therapeutic specialist job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,170 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 3,432 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 3,657 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 3,728 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 3,898 | 0.00% |
Average therapeutic specialist salary over time
Therapeutic specialist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $35,912 | $17.27 | +6.9% |
| 2025 | $33,579 | $16.14 | +1.7% |
| 2024 | $33,023 | $15.88 | +1.1% |
| 2023 | $32,671 | $15.71 | --0.2% |
| 2022 | $32,733 | $15.74 | +3.7% |
Therapeutic specialist jobs by state
Most common states for therapeutic specialists
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 84 | 12% |
| 2 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 224 | 7% |
| 3 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 127 | 7% |
| 4 | Delaware | 961,939 | 64 | 7% |
| 5 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 42 | 7% |
| 6 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 394 | 6% |
| 7 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 50 | 6% |
| 8 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 49 | 6% |
| 9 | Alaska | 739,795 | 42 | 6% |
| 10 | Vermont | 623,657 | 40 | 6% |
| 11 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 478 | 5% |
| 12 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 278 | 5% |
| 13 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 71 | 5% |
| 14 | Hawaii | 1,427,538 | 67 | 5% |
| 15 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 54 | 5% |
| 16 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 269 | 4% |
| 17 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 181 | 4% |
| 18 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 128 | 4% |
| 19 | Nevada | 2,998,039 | 105 | 4% |
| 20 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 46 | 4% |
Most common cities for therapeutic specialists
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Chicago | 1 | 3% | $35,340 |
| 2 | Lakewood | 1 | 1% | $32,399 |
| 3 | Los Angeles | 1 | 0% | $41,136 |
| 4 | Minneapolis | 1 | 0% | $28,854 |
| 5 | Philadelphia | 1 | 0% | $29,707 |
| 6 | Portland | 1 | 0% | $33,733 |
| 7 | Tucson | 1 | 0% | $32,214 |
Therapeutic Specialist job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of therapeutic specialist experts
Long Island University
University of Washington
Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation
American Therapeutic Recreation Association
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Therapeutic Specialist job market given the pandemic?
Robin Akselrud: The COVID-19 pandemic was definitely not anticipated, and this situation continues to evolve over time. The biggest trend in the Occupational Therapy(OT) job market is the need for more OT practitioners, due to the needs of those suffering from and/or recovering from the virus. Many survivors are presenting with substantial deficits or loss of their functional abilities, such as decreased strength, decreased endurance, and decreased independence in their activities of daily living skills - all areas that occupational therapists are best trained to address in treatment. I believe that this increased need will lead to a variety of job opportunities in acute care, outpatient rehabilitation, short term/long term care, and in-home health settings.
What Therapeutic Specialist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Robin Akselrud: First – don’t stress. Even though I typically would not recommend taking a gap year, these times are definitely not “typical”. If you do decide to take a gap year I would highly recommend that you engage in volunteer opportunities (virtual or in-person) in a variety of OT practice settings to broaden your understanding of the OT field. I would also suggest educating yourself in regards to various cultures and identities so that you may enter your schooling (and ultimately into the field) as a professional that practices both cultural humility and competence.
What general advice would you give to a Therapeutic Specialist?
Robin Akselrud: Occupational Therapy is a wonderful profession, with so many different opportunities for graduates. My best advice as you start your own OT career path: Enjoy The Journey! Each practitioner ultimately has a different OT career journey. Try your best, invest your time and effort into learning and understanding the concepts and treatment approaches. Seek out a mentor that can guide you and that can answer any questions that you may have as you enter the field. At times you may feel stressed and you may be challenged, you may even fail at some points - but just "get back up" and learn from your mistakes. After all, a journey wouldn't be one without its "ups" and its "downs"! Good Luck!
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Therapeutic Specialist job market given the pandemic?
Julie Dalessio: Employers will likely be seeking students with telepractice or telehealth service delivery experience and knowledge due to the pandemic. In our program, our clinical faculty are educating students on telepractice foundations, Zoom skills, logistics, and etiquette, as well as HIPAA procedures and considerations for telepractice.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Therapeutic Specialists in the next 3-5 years?
Julie Dalessio: Telepractice is becoming more important and prevalent, given the pandemic, and is expected to become more critical as a service delivery mechanism. Zoom has a HIPAA compliant platform used by many in our field to provide services, and we are seeing assessment and treatment materials being adapted for remote delivery via Zoom.
Will there be an increase or decrease in demand for Therapeutic Specialists in the next 5 years?
Julie Dalessio: The Bureau of Labor Statistics continues to project national job growth in speech-language pathology (SLP) and audiology. SLP jobs are expected to increase by 25% from 2019 through 2029. Audiology jobs are expected to increase by 13% from 2019 through 2029.
In WA specifically, there are currently shortages of SLPs in the public schools, with more openings than qualified clinical professionals. U.S. Census indicates the number of special education services is disproportionate to the number of SLPs currently available.
Demand for speech and hearing professionals is rising across the U.S. for several reasons:
-Due to medical technology and early intervention efforts, we are identifying and treating children with communication disorders earlier and more accurately. More children are entering schools with communication assessment and treatment services.
-Due to advances in medicine, we see adults living longer and experiencing health conditions that result in communication disorders.
-Lastly, SLPs are retiring faster than they can be replaced, given the client/patient growth and a limited number of students graduating each year from accredited program
What general advice would you give to a Therapeutic Specialist?
Dawn Hogue: Massage therapists entering the job market, at this time, will have a unique experience for many reasons. For example, safety and hygiene protocols include the same good hand-washing and use of clean/sanitized linens as always, but now, therapists and clients need to wear face masks or face shields, take temperatures, and consider "tracing" of client contacts. Some massage therapists may not have the ability to perform massage sessions in client's homes and some may need to limit the number of clients allowed in their establishments at one time. Aside from some of these "logistical" changes, overall there is still a great demand for massage therapists. Because people have been isolated and under tremendous stress this year, there remains a large base of potential clients who need the touch, care, and connection that can come from receiving a massage, as well as the reduction of stress and anxiety.
What type of skills will young Therapeutic Specialists need?
Dawn Hogue: The skills needed of a massage therapist entering the field are a combination of technical, relational, and business skills. They will need a well-grounded technical training and mastery of various types of massage techniques, but equally important are the relational/people skills needed to work closely with another person. The interpersonal skills to understand boundaries and ethical behavior and how to communicate effectively with a wide range of clients. A massage therapist will also need good business skills and an understanding of marketing, promotion, and business plan strategies.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Therapeutic Specialists to find work opportunities?
Dawn Hogue: With regard to the massage therapy profession, there is no location that is without clients who can use the services of a massage therapist. Large cities, rural counties, and everything in between provide opportunities for massage therapists to be employed. Anywhere there are people who are stressed out and in pain, is an opportunity to build a business!
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Therapeutic Specialist job market given the pandemic?
Brent Wolfe Ph.D.: In my opinion, here are some of the biggest trends we are likely to see:
-Increased need for RTs because people are realizing their value and importance
-More opportunities in long-term care and behavioral health - COVID is making life difficult for many people and behavioral health opportunities are going to increase as a result
-Opportunities for telehealth
-Increased opportunities for jobs within the VA
-Increased community based programs for older adults
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Therapeutic Specialists in the next 3-5 years?
Brent Wolfe Ph.D.: In regard to technology that will become more prevalent in the next 3-5 years:
-Web-based services via Zoom, Web-Ex, Google Meet
-Videos: both identifying existing videos to share with clients and the development of specific videos to provide treatment, either synchronously or asynchronously.
-Related to technology in general: treatment is going to change. We learned that we can reach more people now than ever before. RTs can reach clients and patients we hadn't previously considered so having technology to do that will be important.
-Portable and wearable technology and using it for treatment purposes. The recreational therapists of the next generation will not only have smart phones, smart watches, tablets, etc., but they will know how to use them for therapy purposes.