Occupational therapy (OT) is a health profession that helps people of all ages do the everyday activities they need and want to do, which OTs call “occupations,” when an injury, illness, disability, developmental difference or life change gets in the way. Those activities range from getting dressed and eating to going to school, working, playing and caring for others.
Official definitions
- American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA): “Occupational therapy enables people of all ages to participate in daily living.” AOTA adds that OT uses everyday life activities (occupations) to promote health, well-being and the ability to take part in the important activities in a person’s life.
- World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT): “Occupational therapy promotes health and wellbeing by supporting participation in meaningful occupations.”
In both definitions the key idea is participation: OT is judged by whether a person can do the things that matter to them, not only by improvements in strength or range of motion.
What “occupation” means
In everyday English an occupation is a job. In OT it means any meaningful activity that fills a person’s day. OTs usually group occupations into:
- Activities of daily living (ADLs): bathing, dressing, eating, toileting and moving around the home.
- Instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs): cooking, shopping, managing money and medication, driving or using transport, caring for others.
- Work and education: doing a job, studying, classroom participation, volunteering.
- Play and leisure: how children learn and how people of all ages relax and enjoy life.
- Rest and sleep, social participation and health management.
Who occupational therapy helps
| Age group | Examples of what OT works on |
|---|---|
| Babies and young children | Feeding, play, fine motor and sensory development, early intervention for developmental delays |
| School-age children | Handwriting, attention and self-regulation, sensory processing, dressing and self-care; OT is a related service schools can provide under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) |
| Adults | Returning to self-care, home and work after a stroke, brain injury, hand injury or surgery; managing chronic conditions; mental health recovery and daily routines |
| Older adults | Fall prevention, home modifications, memory and dementia support, driving and community mobility, staying independent at home |
What an occupational therapist does
- Evaluation: finds out what the person wants and needs to do, and what gets in the way (strength, coordination, sensation, memory, mood, the environment).
- Goal setting: agrees practical goals with the person and family, such as “dress independently” or “return to work part-time”.
- Intervention: practising real tasks, teaching new ways to do them, recommending adaptive equipment, changing the home, school or workplace, and coaching families and caregivers.
- Review: measures progress against the goals and adjusts the plan.
Occupational therapy assistants (OTAs) deliver treatment under the supervision of an OT. Read more about the OT career and OTA pay.
Where occupational therapists work
About 169,600 occupational therapists held jobs in the U.S. in 2025. The largest employers were:
| Setting | Share of OT jobs | Median pay |
|---|---|---|
| Offices of physical, occupational and speech therapists, and audiologists | 28% | $97,940 |
| Hospitals (state, local, and private) | 26% | $102,820 |
| Educational services (state, local, and private) | 13% | $87,300 |
| Home healthcare services | 8% | $106,300 |
| Nursing care facilities (skilled nursing facilities) | 7% | $105,850 |
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, employment 2025 and wages May 2025.
Occupational therapy vs. physical therapy
| Occupational therapy (OT) | Physical therapy (PT) | |
|---|---|---|
| Main focus | Doing everyday activities: self-care, work, school, play | Movement, strength, balance, mobility and pain |
| Typical question | “Can you get dressed, cook and get back to work?” | “Can you walk, climb stairs and move without pain?” |
| Looks at | Physical, cognitive, sensory, emotional and environmental factors | Mainly the musculoskeletal, neurological and cardiopulmonary systems |
| Common tools | Task practice, adaptive equipment, home and school changes, sensory and cognitive strategies | Exercise, gait and balance training, manual therapy |
| Entry-level degree (U.S.) | Master’s or doctorate (MOT, MSOT or OTD) | Doctorate (DPT) |
After a hip replacement, for example, a PT helps the person walk safely again while an OT helps them get in and out of the shower, put on socks and shoes, and manage the kitchen. For a deeper comparison, see our sister site’s guide to OT vs. PT.
Areas of practice
- Pediatrics: early intervention, schools, outpatient clinics.
- Physical rehabilitation: stroke, brain and spinal cord injury, orthopedics, hand therapy.
- Mental health: inpatient and community programs that build routines, coping and life skills.
- Older adults: home health, skilled nursing, dementia care, low vision, driving.
- Work and community: ergonomics, return-to-work programs, community-based services.
A short history
The profession formally began in the United States in 1917, when the National Society for the Promotion of Occupational Therapy was founded; it later became the American Occupational Therapy Association. Early OTs worked with people with mental illness and with soldiers returning from World War I, using purposeful activity to support recovery. Today the profession is regulated in every U.S. state.
How to become an occupational therapist
OTs complete an ACOTE-accredited master’s or doctorate with supervised fieldwork, pass the NBCOT exam and get a state license. The median OT earns $100,330 a year (BLS, May 2025), and employment is projected to grow 15% from 2025 to 2035.
- How to become an occupational therapist
- Accredited OT schools by state · best OT programs by NBCOT results
- OT salary by state · is OT right for you?
For clinical topics (pediatrics, sensory integration, mental health, frames of reference), see our sister site Occupational Therapy OT.