You teach occupational therapy students — covering theory, intervention practice, and the clinical reasoning that OT requires. Half academic instructor, half practicing or recently practicing OT.
Most days tend to involve a blend of classroom instruction, lab supervision, and fieldwork coordination — walking students through intervention practice, supervising hands-on lab work, and partnering with fieldwork sites that host placements. You'll often spend part of the time on the curriculum and accreditation fabric of OT programs.
The harder part is often balancing the breadth of OT practice settings — pediatric, adult rehab, mental health, hand therapy, and others — with the depth students need for entry-level practice. You'll typically work with students at varied clinical readiness, while maintaining standards consistent with what employers and credentialing bodies expect.
People who tend to thrive here are clinically grounded, patient teachers, and comfortable with the academic rhythm of accreditation work. The trade-off is the salary differential between academic and clinical OT and the cumulative work of program responsibilities. If you find satisfaction in shaping practitioners who help clients regain function, the work can carry quiet, durable impact.
Where this role sits in the broader career landscape — and where it can take you.
Roles like this one sit within a broader occupational category. The numbers below reflect that full landscape — helpful for context, but your specific experience will depend on level, specialty, and where you work.
You teach occupational therapy students — covering theory, intervention practice, and the clinical reasoning that OT requires. Half academic instructor, half practicing or recently practicing OT.
Median pay for an Occupational Therapy Teacher is about $106K nationally, with the field ranging roughly from $52K to $208K depending on experience, employer, and metro (BLS).
Core skills for this role include Speaking, Reading Comprehension, Instructing, Active Learning, and Active Listening.
Most people in this role hold a master's degree.
Employment in this field is projected to grow about 17.3% through 2034, with roughly 229,720 people working in it today (BLS).
Closely related roles include Health Teacher, First Aid Teacher, and Clinical Instructor.
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