Low Vision Therapist, Orientation and Mobility Specialist, and Vision Rehabilitation Therapist Salary (2026), outlook and how to become one

Low Vision Therapists, Orientation and Mobility Specialists, and Vision Rehabilitation Therapists earn a median of $100,330 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). That is 97% above the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $48.24/hr. The middle half earn between $82,510 and $116,670. The top 10% earn $131,950 or more.

The median hourly wage for low vision therapists, orientation and mobility specialists, and vision rehabilitation therapists is $48.24 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). On a full-year basis the $100,330 annual median works out to about $8,360 a month before tax.

BLS does not publish a starting salary. The nearest measure is the low end of the pay range: the lowest-paid 10% of low vision therapists, orientation and mobility specialists, and vision rehabilitation therapists earn less than $71,690 a year and the bottom quarter less than $82,510 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). New workers often start near that end, but where a particular job starts depends on the employer, the state and the credentials you bring, so read these as the bottom of the range rather than a guaranteed entry wage.

Yes, more often than not. The median is $100,330, so more than half of low vision therapists, orientation and mobility specialists, and vision rehabilitation therapists earn over $100,000 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). In 21 states the median itself is above $100,000: California ($124,510), Oregon ($112,310), Nevada ($110,520), District of Columbia ($109,170), and 17 more.

The highest state medians for Low Vision Therapists, Orientation and Mobility Specialists, and Vision Rehabilitation Therapists are California ($124,510), Oregon ($112,310), Nevada ($110,520) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Adjusted for local prices using BEA Regional Price Parities, Arkansas moves to the top at $122,341.

BLS does not split low vision therapists, orientation and mobility specialists, and vision rehabilitation therapists' pay by specialty or employer, but its range shows how far the top end runs: the highest-paid 10% earn more than $131,950, against a median of $100,330 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Location moves pay the most in the published data: the best-paying states are California ($124,510), Oregon ($112,310), Nevada ($110,520).

Yes. BLS reports a master's degree as the typical entry-level education for Low Vision Therapists, Orientation and Mobility Specialists, and Vision Rehabilitation Therapists, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as extensive preparation. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 56.5% hold master's degree.

BLS does not publish a fixed length; it depends on the route. What it does publish: the typical way in for low vision therapists is a master's degree. O*NET classes the work as needing extensive preparation.

Yes, strongly. Employment is projected to grow 14.8% over 2025–2035, more than double the 3.5% projected for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 10,000 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.

Occupational therapists evaluate and treat people who have injuries, illnesses, or disabilities. A core O*NET task: write reports or complete forms to document assessments, training, progress, or follow-up outcomes. Employers most often ask for Data base user interface and query software, Development environment software, Electronic mail software.

Yes, for most. In O*NET's survey of people in the job, 18% of low vision therapists, orientation and mobility specialists, and vision rehabilitation therapists usually work more than 40 hours a week, 59% work exactly 40 and 23% work fewer. 74% say their schedule is regular and 26% irregular. Source: O*NET 31.0 Database, Work Context.

O*NET scores Low Vision Therapists, Orientation and Mobility Specialists, and Vision Rehabilitation Therapists highest on the Social, Realistic and Investigative interest areas, so the work mixes teaching, helping and working directly with other people with hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are ISFP, ESFP, INFJ. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.

Women make up 92.4% of low vision therapists, orientation and mobility specialists, and vision rehabilitation therapists, against 47.1% of all employed people: a female-dominated occupation. 19.6% are 55 or older, close to the 23.2% across all jobs. The median worker is 41.9 years old (all workers: 42.1). Source: BLS Current Population Survey, 2025 annual averages.