The American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) continually monitors and researches the occupational therapy profession to maintain updated data for its members. Compensation and benefits data have been tracked over the past several years to ascertain trends in salary levels and determine basic operational information. This report presents the results from the 2000 AOTA Compensation Survey.
The 2000 study was closely modeled after the 1997 study to ensure results could be accurately compared over time. A survey was mailed in September 2000 to a random sample of 4,500 AOTA members nationwide. AOTA members responded extremely well, with 2,417 responses received (53.7% response rate). This is well beyond the 1,812 responses received in 1997 and significantly higher than typical association compensation survey return rates. Responses were received from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.
The data collected are segmented several ways, such as by work setting, years of experience, educational background, etc. to explore compensation patterns between and among specific AOTA membership segments. Major findings are summarized below.
- The great majority of respondents (81.6%) are employed only in the occupational therapy field. Just over 8 % are employed in OT and another field, and the remaining 10.1% are not employed in OT. There has been a noticeable increase in the number employed outside the field since 1997. Most respondents (88.8%) were occupational therapists (OTs), a small increase from the 84.7% OTs in 1997.
- No significant changes are seen in the ratio of women to men in OT positions since 1990, with the ratio remaining stable at about 94% women and 6% men. There is, however, a consistent trend among OTAs, with the number of men decreasing from 8.2% in the 1990 study to 6.6% in 1997 and further down to 4.1% in 2000.
- The respondents span a wide age range, from a low of 21 years to a high of 78. The median age has increased slowly over time, rising from 36 to 39 in the past decade for OTs, and from 33 to 40 for OTAs. On average, respondents overall report having practiced OT for 11.9 years, about the same as reported in 1997.
- There is a clear pattern toward attaining advanced degrees, especially among OTs. The percentage of OTs holding a Master's degree has increased from 17% in 1990 to nearly 34% in 2000. About 15% hold some type of advanced practice certification/recognition. These programs are most popular among OTs and those with 11+ years of experience. The Sensory Integration Praxis Test (SIPT) and the Neurodevelopmental Therapy (NDT) designations are the most popular held.
- About three of every 10 respondents have changed jobs at least once in the past two years. Job mobility is higher among OTAs than OTs by a small amount. Respondents to the 2000 survey were more likely to be at least considering the idea of leaving the OT profession than the 1997 respondents. In the 2000 survey, 18.2% were at least considering leaving the profession versus only 9.5% in 1997. Most of those (42.8%) who are leaving or considering leaving OT say they have a desire to work in a different field. Only 15.2% say they plan to stop working temporarily and 11% say they plan to stop working permanently or retire.
- About two of every 10 respondents (19.7%) are self-employed in the OT field. About 11% say they are self-employed on a full-time basis, 8.7% on a part-time basis. Self-employment is far more prevalent among OTs than OTAs. The percentage of OTs who are self-employed has remained constant since 1997, ending the declines seen since 1990. The percentage of self-employed OTAs, however, has dropped noticeably since the 1997 survey, down to 7.4% from a peak of over 11%. The typical practice was formed five years ago. Nearly one-half were formed in the 1990s, 9.4% were formed this year. Most of the self-employed individuals (68.1%) classify their practice as an independent contractor or solo practitioner. A multi-specialty group practice (consisting of OT and non-OT practitioners) is the next most common situation, indicated by 17.7%.
- As in 1997, working for a single employer is the most common employment situation, cited by 65.9% of the OTs and 73.1% of the OTAs. Although 19.7% of the respondents overall classify themselves as self-employed, only 13.2% derive all their income from self-employment in OT, with the remaining 6.5% both self-employed and working in a conventional employment setting. There are no major differences from the patterns seen in 1997.
- Most respondents provide OT services at a single work setting (defined as a specific location where respondents regularly and customarily provide OT services). About one quarter cite two settings. School systems (including private schools) is the most popular primary setting for OTs by a wide margin, representing nearly 25% of the respondents. Freestanding skilled nursing facilities, the most popular primary setting for OTs in 1997, dropped to a distant second place. Freestanding skilled nursing facilities and school systems remain the most popular OTA primary setting, collectively accounting for nearly 50% of the OTAs.
- The percentage of respondents involved in direct patient treatment has decreased a small amount since 1997, dropping to 91.3% from 93.0%. OTs average 5.3 hours in direct patient treatment per day; OTAs average 5.7 hours. In a typical day, respondents see a median of five patients for group treatment and six patients for individual treatment at their primary setting. There has been a small decrease since 1997 in the average number of patients seen in group treatment and a small increase in the average number seen for individual treatment.
- The typical OT practitioner works 35 hours per week at their primary OT setting, a small decline from the 38 hours reported in 1997. Declines are seen in hours worked for both OTs and OTAs. Those who have a secondary setting typically work seven hours per week, the same reported in 1997. Over two-thirds of the respondents overall (68.8%) are employed full-time (30 or more hours per week) at their primary setting, down from the 73.6% reporting full-time employment in 1997. None report working full-time at their secondary setting, with most (74.7%) working 10 or fewer hours per week.
- There are strong differences between OTs and OTAs regarding compensation methods. In a continuation of the pattern seen in 1997, a majority of OTs are on salary; a majority of OTAs are paid hourly. Less than 10% of the respondents overall are compensated on a fee for service basis. There has been a decline, especially among OTs, in the prevalence of payment by salary. Corresponding increases are seen for hourly and fee for service methods.
- Full-time employed OTs report a median annual salary of $45,000 at their primary setting; full-time OTAs report a median of $30,000. Part-time OTs report a median salary of $26,875; part-time OTAs report a median of $18,928. Average income for full-time and part-time OTs has remained flat since 1997; average income for full-time OTAs has dropped a small amount since 1997. Only part-time OTAs post a noticeable income increase since 1997. Full-time OTs report a median hourly wage of $23.71 for their primary employment setting, about the same reported in 1997. Declines are seen in average hourly wages for part-time OTs and full-time OTAs. The strongest long-term increases are seen for part-time OTAs. OT average salary increases from a low of $37,243 for those with one year or less of experience to a high of $53,568 for those with 15 or more years of experience. Average income peaks at $63,254 for those OTs who have a Doctorate.
- OTs that are just entering the profession (one year or less of experience) or those with 15 or more years of experience are realizing an average salary that is slightly higher than seen in 1997. In contrast, those with 1-2 or 5-6 years of experience have seen a decline in average salary. Salary levels remain flat for most other segments.
- On average, respondents' OT work accounts for the majority of their total household income. The overall percentage, however, has dropped compared to 1997. Those working full-time at their primary setting say their OT wages account for an average of 69.3% of their total household income, down from 74% reported in 1997. A smaller decline is seen among part-time employees.
- Most respondents (76.7% overall) receive benefits, either fully or partially paid, at their primary OT setting. This is down from the 87.5% reporting benefits in 1997. There are no meaningful differences between OTs and OTAs on this issue. There are, as expected, significant differences based on hours worked. Less than 50% of part-time workers receive any benefits versus about 90% of the full-time workers. Health insurance is the most prevalent benefit offered, indicated by 65.5% of the respondents overall. Paid vacation and sick leave are also popular. An annual bonus/profit sharing is the least popular benefit, offered to only 8.7% of the respondents overall. Those employed in home health settings are least likely to receive benefits, with more than 50% saying they do not receive benefits from their employer. In contrast, only 8.3% of those in academic settings lack benefits.
|
Overall Annual Salary |
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|
|
Average |
Median |
Low |
High |
No Response |
|
|
OTs |
Full-time |
$47,398 |
$45,000 |
$12,000 |
$175,000 |
1214 |
|
Part-time |
$28,370 |
$26,875 |
$600 |
$75,000 |
507 |
|
|
OTAs |
Full-time |
$30,132 |
$30,000 |
$11,635 |
$65,000 |
142 |
|
Part-time |
$19,599 |
$18,928 |
$3,000 |
$47,000 |
55 |
|
Note: Data are for primary OT setting.
|
Annual Salary Trends 1990-2000 |
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|
|
2000 |
1997 |
1993 |
1990 |
%Change 1997-2000 |
% Change 1990-2000 |
|||||||
|
OTs |
Full-time |
$47,398 |
$47,095 |
$42,245 |
$35,470 |
0.6% |
33.6% |
||||||
|
Part-time |
$28,370 |
$28,284 |
N/A |
$20,728 |
0.3% |
36.9% |
|||||||
|
OTAs |
Full-time |
$30,132 |
$31,126 |
$25,348 |
$21,282 |
-3.2% |
41.6% |
||||||
|
Part-time |
$19,599 |
$16,533 |
N/A |
$14,346 |
18.5% |
36.6% |
|||||||
Note: All values are averages and are based on data for the respondent's primary setting. Data for 1993 are estimates from prorated data as published by AOTA.
|
Hourly Wage Trends 1990-2000 |
|||||||||||
|
|
2000 |
1997 |
1990 |
% Change 1997-2000 |
% Change 1990-2000 |
||||||
|
OTs |
Full-time |
$23.71 |
$23.38 |
$19.64 |
1.4% |
20.7% |
|||||
|
Part-time |
$29.11 |
$29.90 |
$25.05 |
-2.6% |
16.2% |
||||||
|
OTAs |
Full-time |
$15.56 |
$15.95 |
$12.98 |
-2.4% |
19.9% |
|||||
|
Part-time |
$21.12 |
$20.43 |
$12.39 |
3.4% |
70.4% |
||||||
Note: All values are averages and are based on data for the respondent's primary setting.
