Career comparison
Physical therapist vs. Occupational therapist
Physical therapists and occupational therapists earn about the same: medians of $102,760 and $100,330.
Occupational therapists have the stronger outlook: +15% projected growth through 2035, vs. +12%.
Getting in is slower for physical therapists: about 4.2 years vs. 3.2 years for someone with a bachelor's in another field.
At a glance
| Physical therapist | Occupational therapist | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $102,760 | $100,330 |
| Top 10% earn over | $135,140 | $131,950 |
| Growth to 2035 | +12% | +15% |
| Openings per year | 13,400 | 10,000 |
| Jobs today | 283,700 | 169,600 |
| Typical entry education | Doctoral or professional degree | Master's degree |
| Time to qualify* | 4.2 years | 3.2 years |
| Training cost* | $94K–$214K | $63K–$139K |
* Starting from a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025. Outlook: BLS Employment Projections 2025–35.
Pay
Physical therapist
Occupational therapist
Switching from one to the other
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Physical therapistOccupational therapist
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Getting in
Physical therapist
- Entry education
- Doctoral or professional degree
- On-the-job training
- None
- Prior experience
- None
Required: NPTE licensing exam · State PT license
Occupational therapist
- Entry education
- Master's degree
- On-the-job training
- None
- Prior experience
- None
Required: NBCOT certification exam · State OT license
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Outdoors in all weather
Exposure to disease
Physical therapist: 11% usually work over 40 hours a weekOccupational therapist: 41% usually work over 40 hours a week
Physical therapist: core tasks
- Plan, prepare, or carry out individually designed programs of physical treatment to maintain, improve, or restore physical functioning, alleviate pain, or prevent physical dysfunction in patients.
- Perform and document an initial exam, evaluating data to identify problems and determine a diagnosis prior to intervention.
- Record prognosis, treatment, response, and progress in patient's chart or enter information into computer.
- Instruct patient and family in treatment procedures to be continued at home.
- Evaluate effects of treatment at various stages and adjust treatments to achieve maximum benefit.
Occupational therapist: core tasks
- Test and evaluate patients' physical and mental abilities and analyze medical data to determine realistic rehabilitation goals for patients.
- Complete and maintain necessary records.
- 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.
- Plan and implement programs and social activities to help patients learn work or school skills and adjust to handicaps.
- Select activities that will help individuals learn work and life-management skills within limits of their mental or physical capabilities.
Skills: what carries over
Both rely on: Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Speaking, Critical Thinking, Social Perceptiveness, Service Orientation.
New for a physical therapist moving to occupational therapist: Instructing.
New for an occupational therapist moving to physical therapist: Time Management.
Interests (Holland codes): Physical therapist: Social, Investigative, Realistic. Occupational therapist: Social, Investigative, Realistic.
Outlook to 2035, and AI
Physical therapist
+12%
faster than average · 13,400 openings a year
BLS lists no specific factors, including AI, changing demand for this job.
Occupational therapist
+15%
faster than average · 10,000 openings a year
BLS lists no specific factors, including AI, changing demand for this job.
Quoted notes: BLS Employment Projections, factors affecting occupational utilization (Table 1.12). Average growth across all jobs: +3.5%.
Questions people ask
Who makes more, a physical therapist or an occupational therapist?
Physical therapists and occupational therapists earn about the same: medians of $102,760 and $100,330.
Which has the better job outlook?
Occupational therapists have the stronger outlook: +15% projected growth through 2035, vs. +12%.
How long does it take to become an occupational therapist?
For someone with a bachelor's degree in another field, about 3.2 years, with tuition of roughly $62,500 to $139,200. Required: NBCOT certification exam, State OT license.
How long does it take to become a physical therapist?
For someone with a bachelor's degree in another field, about 4.2 years, with tuition of roughly $93,500 to $213,500. Required: NPTE licensing exam, State PT license.