Occupational Therapist

Occupational Therapist completes 20 real tasks so you can see typical responsibilities in action and assess fit. The tasks explain priorities, communication needs and expected results. Each one shows where we found it, and comes with an AI prompt you can copy and use straight away.

20evidenced tasks
20ready prompts
9tools of the trade
29-1122.00O*NET-SOC code
162,450hold this job (US, BLS 2025)
$100,330median pay/yr (US)
Open Occupational Therapist in the interactive atlas →

What it pays

Government survey numbers — not estimates, not ads.

Half of all Occupational Therapists in the U.S. earn more than $100,330 a year — the middle 80% land between $71,690 and $131,950. About 162,450 people in the U.S. do this work. Figures are for the U.S. occupation group “Occupational Therapists”. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics survey, published 2025.) In India, Professionals earn about ₹38,298 a month on average — around ₹4.6 lakh a year (government PLFS survey via ILOSTAT, occupation-family figure).
$100,330typical pay / year
162,450people in this work
$131,950+top 10% earn
₹4.6 lakha year in India (family avg)
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The work, task by task

These are the real jobs-to-be-done, not a wish list. Each task shows where we found it, and the prompt underneath is written for that exact task.

Learning5

Provide treatment and rehabilitation

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Develop and start a four-week rehabilitation plan for Paul Benson addressing shoulder ROM and ADL retraining,…
Develop and start a four-week rehabilitation plan for Paul Benson addressing shoulder ROM and ADL retraining, document baseline outcome measures, set weekly measurable goals, teach home exercises, and schedule progress review with the team in two weeks.
The tools that do the workeClinicalWorks EHRESCOjob descriptionsO*NETWikipedia

Help clients engage in work or vocational activities.

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Assess Sarah Kim's current work tasks, trial two simulated job activities with modified grips and seating,…
Assess Sarah Kim's current work tasks, trial two simulated job activities with modified grips and seating, grade the tasks for tolerance, recommend workplace adaptations and a phased return-to-work plan, then send the vocational summary to her employer and vocational counselor.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordMicrosoft OfficeESCOO*NETWikipedia

Teach patients to use adaptive equipment

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Teach Mr. O'Neal how to use his new reacher and sock aid: demonstrate, supervise five timed repetitions,…
Teach Mr. O'Neal how to use his new reacher and sock aid: demonstrate, supervise five timed repetitions, correct technique for joint protection, create a one-page step-by-step handout and schedule a home-visit to reassess safety in three days.
The tools that do the workComputer drawingMicrosoft Wordjob descriptionsO*NETWikipedia

Re-evaluate patients to ensure goals are met

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Re-evaluate Emily Torres three months after discharge: repeat COPM and functional mobility tests, compare…
Re-evaluate Emily Torres three months after discharge: repeat COPM and functional mobility tests, compare results to initial goals, adjust intervention plan where progress is limited, and update the discharge or continuation recommendations for the care team.
The tools that do the workCasamba Smartjob descriptionsO*NETWikipedia

Plan treatment programs for patients with disabilities

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Plan a four-week treatment program for Maria Gonzalez, post-stroke left hemiparesis, listing weekly…
Plan a four-week treatment program for Maria Gonzalez, post-stroke left hemiparesis, listing weekly therapeutic activities, adaptive equipment training sessions, family education points, measurable functional milestones, and criteria for discharge by June 12.
The tools that do the workCasamba Smartjob descriptionsO*NET
Keeping the record1
N

Create treatment plans with measurable goals

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Create a personalized treatment plan for Daniel Lee with measurable goals: improve right hand grasp to hold a…
Create a personalized treatment plan for Daniel Lee with measurable goals: improve right hand grasp to hold a cup independently within six weeks, increase tolerance for standing transfers to two repetitions with standby assistance by three weeks, include progress measures.
The tools that do the workeClinicalWorks EHRjob descriptionsWikipedia
The daily work14

Instruct on the use of special equipment for daily activities

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Teach Mrs. Lopez how to use the adaptive dressing kit and reacher during morning routines, show one safe…
Teach Mrs. Lopez how to use the adaptive dressing kit and reacher during morning routines, show one safe technique for the button hook, have her practice three times, correct form, and write a short home program she can follow each day.
The tools that do the workCasamba SmartESCOsee the evidence ↗

Facilitate healthcare user's engagement in occupations

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Run a graded engagement plan with Jamal to rebuild his kitchen tasks: break breakfast into four steps, coach…
Run a graded engagement plan with Jamal to rebuild his kitchen tasks: break breakfast into four steps, coach energy conservation and compensatory strategies, record his independence level for each step, and set two weekly goals for next session.
The tools that do the workeClinicalWorks EHRESCOsee the evidence ↗

Promote social participation among clients.

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Promote weekly community meetup involvement for Sarah, arranging transport options, drafting three graded…
Promote weekly community meetup involvement for Sarah, arranging transport options, drafting three graded social tasks for her to try this month, briefing her family on support strategies, and schedule a progress review in two weeks.
The tools that do the workCasamba SmartO*NETWikipedia

Collaborate with interdisciplinary healthcare team

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Meet with Dr. Patel, the physiotherapist, and discharge planner on Tuesday to review Miguel's home goals,…
Meet with Dr. Patel, the physiotherapist, and discharge planner on Tuesday to review Miguel's home goals, agree on adaptive equipment recommendations, assign who will communicate with his employer, and record agreed tasks and deadlines.
The tools that do the workeClinicalWorks EHRjob descriptionsWikipedia

Complete and maintain necessary records.

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Finish and sign Margaret's occupational therapy note for last week's sessions, update her functional goals…
Finish and sign Margaret's occupational therapy note for last week's sessions, update her functional goals and equipment list, attach outcome measures, and file the chart entry before end of day Friday so billing and continuity are not delayed.
The tools that do the workBizmatics PrognoCIS EMRO*NET

Conduct research in occupational therapy.

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Literature search and summary: compile recent randomized trials and systematic reviews on stroke-related…
Literature search and summary: compile recent randomized trials and systematic reviews on stroke-related upper‑limb rehab, extract methods and outcome measures into a one‑page table, and email the summary to our department by next Monday.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordMicrosoft ExcelO*NET

Help clients improve decision making, abstract reasoning, memory, sequencing, coordination, and perceptual skills, using computer programs.

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Assess Mark's workplace and retirement goals, identify three modifiable job tasks and two ergonomic…
Assess Mark's workplace and retirement goals, identify three modifiable job tasks and two ergonomic adjustments, quantify his cardiovascular and musculoskeletal risks, and prepare a one‑page recommendation for his employer and the vocational counselor.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft OfficeO*NET

Advise on health risks in the workplace or on health-related transition to retirement.

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Set up a six‑week cognitive retraining plan for Joyce using graded computer exercises targeting memory,…
Set up a six‑week cognitive retraining plan for Joyce using graded computer exercises targeting memory, sequencing, and visual perception, record baseline scores, and book twice‑weekly 45‑minute sessions starting Monday.
The tools that do the workCrick Software Clicker 4O*NET

Document patient progress and treatment outcomes

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Write today's progress note for Maria Gonzalez, summarising functional gains after eight therapy sessions,…
Write today's progress note for Maria Gonzalez, summarising functional gains after eight therapy sessions, changes in ADL independence, objective outcome scores, any safety concerns, and the plan for next two weeks — finalise and file it before close of business Friday.
The tools that do the workCasamba Smartjob descriptions

Use scientific bases and a holistic perspective to promote daily routines.

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Create a care plan that uses evidence-based approaches and a whole-person view to rebuild John Lee's morning…
Create a care plan that uses evidence-based approaches and a whole-person view to rebuild John Lee's morning routine, listing specific therapeutic activities, adaptive equipment, family training steps, and measurable weekly goals for six weeks.
The tools that do the workeClinicalWorks EHRWikipedia

Assess physical, psychological, and social aspects of human functioning.

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Complete a multidisciplinary assessment for Aisha Khan addressing her strength, cognition, mood, social…
Complete a multidisciplinary assessment for Aisha Khan addressing her strength, cognition, mood, social supports, and home barriers, include standardised test scores, clinical observations, and recommended interventions for the rehab team.
The tools that do the workBizmatics PrognoCIS EMRWikipedia

Facilitate participation in play, education, leisure, rest, and sleep.

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Document the session notes and education given to Robert Mills today about energy conservation, step-by-step…
Document the session notes and education given to Robert Mills today about energy conservation, step-by-step dressing strategies, and proper wheelchair positioning, attach the handout and set a follow-up teaching session in two clinic visits.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordeClinicalWorks EHRWikipedia

Provide health education

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Draft a two-page brief for the public health director describing local barriers to daily function seen in our…
Draft a two-page brief for the public health director describing local barriers to daily function seen in our caseload, include prevalence examples, cost implications, and three policy recommendations to improve access to adaptive equipment.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft OfficeESCOsee the evidence ↗

Inform policy makers on health-related challenges

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Compile intervention outcomes and service gaps from the past quarter for the community disability board,…
Compile intervention outcomes and service gaps from the past quarter for the community disability board, include anonymised case examples, utilisation metrics, and recommended priority actions for the upcoming budget meeting.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelFileMaker ProESCOsee the evidence ↗

Says who?

These are the pages we read to build this. Open any of them and check us.

The logs, files & records this job keeps

Shared with other careers — the same record means something different in each.

Related careers

Same family of work — each with its own tasks and prompts.

The LLOS Work Atlas is the world's largest evidenced task library — a map of human work, with a ready prompt behind every task. 1,774 careers · every task named by the sources that witnessed it — O*NET, ESCO, real job descriptions, Wikipedia — and the deepest tasks by several at once. And it is honest about limits: where AI cannot help, the map says so.

The rest of the map

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Built on public evidence: O*NET®, ESCO, Wikipedia, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ILOSTAT. All sources & licenses