Occupational Therapists
SOC Code: 29-1122 Job Zone 5: Extensive Preparation Needed
Assess, plan, and organize rehabilitative programs that help build or restore vocational, homemaking, and daily living skills, as well as general independence, to persons with disabilities or developmental delays. Use therapeutic techniques, adapt the individual's environment, teach skills, and modify specific tasks that present barriers to the individual.
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Prevailing Wage Levels (National)
DOL/OFLC prevailing wage thresholds for Occupational Therapists. Hourly rates x 2,080 = annual.
FY2027 Weighted Lottery Impact
| Level | Lottery Entries | Est. Selection Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Level I (Entry) | 1 entry | ~16% |
| Level II (Qualified) | 2 entries | ~31% |
| Level III (Experienced) | 3 entries | ~45% |
| Level IV (Expert) | 4 entries | ~61% |
Prevailing Wages by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Level I | Level II | Level III | Level IV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $100,027 | $118,893 | $137,779 | $156,645 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $101,858 | $115,918 | $129,979 | $144,040 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $97,573 | $112,632 | $127,670 | $142,730 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $101,629 | $114,296 | $126,984 | $139,651 |
| Napa, CA | $76,960 | $97,427 | $117,894 | $138,362 |
| Vallejo, CA | $102,149 | $113,880 | $125,611 | $137,342 |
| North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $96,075 | $109,096 | $122,117 | $135,138 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $93,558 | $107,266 | $120,994 | $134,701 |
| Yuba City, CA | $93,038 | $106,746 | $120,432 | $134,139 |
| Chico, CA | $99,611 | $110,989 | $122,387 | $133,765 |
H-1B Filing Data
Top H-1B Employers
| Employer | Filings | Avg Wage |
|---|---|---|
| McCarton Foundation for Developmental Disabilities, Inc. | 1 | $83,200 |
| Yuma Regional Medical Center dba Onvida Health Yuma Medical Center | 1 | $92,872 |
Filing Trend
| Year | Filings | Avg Wage |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 1 | $83,200 |
| 2025 | 1 | $92,872 |
Key Skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Monitoring | 4.1 | |
| Active Listening | 4.1 | |
| Service Orientation | 4.1 | |
| Speaking | 4.0 | |
| Reading Comprehension | 4.0 | |
| Critical Thinking | 4.0 | |
| Instructing | 4.0 | |
| Social Perceptiveness | 4.0 | |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 4.0 | |
| Writing | 4.0 |
Knowledge Areas
| Knowledge | Importance |
|---|---|
| Therapy and Counseling | 4.7 |
| Psychology | 4.5 |
| Customer and Personal Service | 4.3 |
| Medicine and Dentistry | 4.2 |
| English Language | 4.1 |
| Education and Training | 3.9 |
| Biology | 3.5 |
| Sociology and Anthropology | 3.2 |
Education Requirements
| Education Level | % of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 86.4% |
| Bachelor's degree | 13.6% |
Typical Tasks
- Complete and maintain necessary records.
- Evaluate patients' progress and prepare reports that detail progress.
- Test and evaluate patients' physical and mental abilities and analyze medical data to determine realistic rehabilitation goals for patients.
- Select activities that will help individuals learn work and life-management skills within limits of their mental or physical capabilities.
- Plan, organize, and conduct occupational therapy programs in hospital, institutional, or community settings to help rehabilitate persons with disabilities because of illness, injury or psychological or developmental problems.
- Recommend changes in patients' work or living environments, consistent with their needs and capabilities.
- Consult with rehabilitation team to select activity programs or coordinate occupational therapy with other therapeutic activities.
- Help clients improve decision making, abstract reasoning, memory, sequencing, coordination, and perceptual skills, using computer programs.
Technology Skills
Green = Hot Technology in demand
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