How much money do occupational therapists make?
Many occupational therapists have found that occupational therapy provides a unique educational background for launching a career in many directions, with varying salary ranges. CAOT’s member survey in 2000 indicated that career mobility was limited only by member time and personal commitments. Salary limitations are more prevalent in publicly-funded hospitals but occupational therapists in private practice can enjoy higher incomes depending on their workloads and market conditions. Salaries can also vary from one province to another but a new qualified occupational therapist can earn from $40,000 to $45,000. Occupational therapy services provided through a hospital or affiliated clinic are covered under provincial medical plans. In private practice, services may be covered through the group insurance plan offered by an employer (extended health care benefits, disability insurance), under Workers Compensation, auto insurance plans or Veterans Affairs.
