Career comparison
Occupational Therapist vs. Physical Therapist
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Physical therapists earn more at the median ($102,760 vs. $100,330), while occupational therapists usually get to work faster (6–7 years of training). Occupational therapists help people do everyday activities after injury, illness or disability. Physical therapists help people recover movement and manage pain after injury or illness.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Occupational Therapist | Physical Therapist | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $100,330 ($48.24/hr) | $102,760 ($49.40/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $71,690 – $131,950 | $77,140 – $135,140 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +14.8% (much faster than average) | +11.9% (much faster than average) |
| Openings per year | 10,000 | 13,400 |
| Typical entry education | Master's degree | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Training time | 6–7 years | 7 years after high school |
| Key credential | NBCOT certification (OTR) | NPTE |
| Work setting | OTs work in hospitals, rehab centers, schools, nursing facilities, clinics and patients’ homes.. | PTs work in outpatient clinics, hospitals, nursing facilities, homes, schools and sports settings.. |
What each job does
Occupational Therapist
- Evaluate patients’ abilities and needs
- Set therapy goals
- Teach daily living skills
- Recommend adaptive equipment
- Suggest home and workplace changes
Physical Therapist
- Examine and evaluate patients
- Diagnose movement problems
- Design treatment plans
- Guide therapeutic exercise
- Provide manual therapy
How they’re similar
Both careers involve helping others, hands-on work, working with people, and in-demand. Both are part of the healthcare field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose occupational therapist if…
- I want to help people live independently
- I’m creative with solutions
- I’m patient
Choose physical therapist if…
- I love anatomy and exercise
- I enjoy motivating people
- I like hands-on work
Still torn? Take the Occupational Therapist fit quiz and the Physical Therapist fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, occupational therapist or physical therapist?
Physical Therapists earn more at the median: $102,760 versus $100,330 for occupational therapists, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Occupational Therapists typically train faster (6–7 years) than physical therapists (7 years after high school).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects occupational therapists to grow +14.8% from 2025–35, compared with +11.9% for physical therapists.