OT
Occupational Therapist
PT
Physical Therapist
Side by side
OT vs PT (2026)
These two pay almost the same: $100,330 a year for OT and $102,760 for PT (BLS OEWS, May 2025), a gap of $2,430. The real differences are in the training, the setting and the work itself, which is what the rest of this page compares.
Occupational and physical therapists often treat the same patient in the same week, especially after a stroke, surgery or injury, and their work overlaps more than the job titles suggest. The usual distinction is the goal. A physical therapist focuses on movement itself (strength, range of motion, walking, pain), while an occupational therapist focuses on the activities of daily life, from dressing and cooking to returning to work, including the cognitive and sensory side. The entry routes differ too: PTs now enter with a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree, while OTs enter with a master’s or a doctorate. Both need a national exam and a state licence.
- Median pay gap
- $2,430PT higher · BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Typical entry education
- Master's vs DoctorateOT vs PT · BLS EP, 2025–2035
- Projected change
- +14.8% vs +11.9%OT vs PT · BLS EP, 2025–2035
- Openings a year
- 10,000 vs 13,400OT vs PT · BLS EP, 2025–2035
The numbers
OT vs PT, side by side
- OT · Occupational Therapist
- PT · Physical Therapist
Median, with the band from the lowest-paid 10% to the top 10%
| Occupation | 10th percentile | Median | 90th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| OT | $71,690 | $100,330 | $131,950 |
| PT | $77,140 | $102,760 | $135,140 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Total US jobs
| Occupation | Value |
|---|---|
| OT | 162.5K |
| PT | 267.3K |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Over 2025–2035; all occupations 3.5%
| Occupation | Value |
|---|---|
| OT | +14.8% |
| PT | +11.9% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Projected average, growth plus replacement
| Occupation | Value |
|---|---|
| OT | 10K |
| PT | 13.4K |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
NueCareer analysis of O*NET work activities, 0 to 100
| Occupation | Value |
|---|---|
| OT | 52 |
| PT | 52 |
Source: NueCareer analysis of O*NET data
| Measure | Source | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| SOC occupation code | 29-1122 | 29-1123 | US Standard Occupational Classification, 2018 |
| Median annual wage | $100,330 | $102,760 | BLS OEWS, May 2025 |
| Median hourly wage | $48.24/hr | $49.40/hr | BLS OEWS, May 2025 |
| Lowest 10% earn under | $71,690 | $77,140 | BLS OEWS, May 2025 |
| Lowest 25% earn under | $82,510 | $86,160 | BLS OEWS, May 2025 |
| Top 25% earn over | $116,670 | $121,160 | BLS OEWS, May 2025 |
| Top 10% earn over | $131,950 | $135,140 | BLS OEWS, May 2025 |
| People employed in the US | 162,450 | 267,330 | BLS OEWS, May 2025 |
| Projected employment change | +14.8% | +11.9% | BLS EP, 2025–2035 |
| Openings a year | 10,000 | 13,400 | BLS EP, 2025–2035, including replacement demand |
| Typical entry education | Master's | Doctorate | BLS EP, 2025–2035 |
| Prior work experience typically needed | None | None | BLS EP, 2025–2035 |
| On-the-job training typically needed | None | None | BLS EP, 2025–2035 |
| Preparation level (O*NET job zone) | Extensive preparation | Extensive preparation | O*NET 31.0 Database, August 2026 |
| AI-resilience score (NueCareer analysis, 0–100) | 52 | 52 | NueCareer analysis of O*NET work activities and work context — not a BLS figure |
Wages are BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 release. Employment change, annual openings and entry requirements are BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035. Job zone is O*NET 31.0 Database (August 2026).
The AI-resilience score is a NueCareer analysis of O*NET work-activity and work-context composition. It is our number, not a BLS or O*NET one, and it describes task mix rather than forecasting adoption.
The work
What actually differs day to day
Pay is the easy comparison. These are the O*NET task statements and work-context ratings for each occupation — the part of the decision a salary table cannot show. Work context is rated on a 1–5 scale by people doing the job, and every measure O*NET rates for both occupations is printed below, ranked by how far apart the two sit. A gap of a full point is a real difference in the work; anything smaller is the two occupations being alike, and is shown as such rather than filtered out.
- Test and evaluate patients' physical and mental abilities and analyze medical data to determine realistic rehabilitation goals for patients.
- Complete and maintain necessary records.
- Plan, organize, and conduct occupational therapy programs in hospital, institutional, or community settings to help rehabilitate persons with disabilities because of illness, injury or psychological or developmental problems.
- Select activities that will help individuals learn work and life-management skills within limits of their mental or physical capabilities.
- Evaluate patients' progress and prepare reports that detail progress.
What people in the job actually hold: Master's Degree 86%, Bachelor's Degree 14% (O*NET incumbent survey).
- Plan, prepare, or carry out individually designed programs of physical treatment to maintain, improve, or restore physical functioning, alleviate pain, or prevent physical dysfunction in patients.
- Perform and document an initial exam, evaluating data to identify problems and determine a diagnosis prior to intervention.
- Record prognosis, treatment, response, and progress in patient's chart or enter information into computer.
- Instruct patient and family in treatment procedures to be continued at home.
- Evaluate effects of treatment at various stages and adjust treatments to achieve maximum benefit.
What people in the job actually hold: Doctoral Degree 47%, Master's Degree 38%, Bachelor's Degree 8% (O*NET incumbent survey).
O*NET work-context ratings, 1 to 5, ranked by the gap between the two jobs
- OT
- PT
Deal With External Customers or the Public in General
People · OT 3.6, PT 4.6
Consequence of Error
Pressure · OT 2.9, PT 3.8
Spend Time Standing
Physical · OT 2.9, PT 3.8
Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions
Environment · OT 1.9, PT 1.3
Spend Time Sitting
Physical · OT 2.8, PT 2.3
Conflict Situations
Pressure · OT 2.8, PT 3.2
Spend Time Bending or Twisting Your Body
Physical · OT 2.7, PT 3.1
Freedom to Make Decisions
Autonomy · OT 4.4, PT 4.8
Time Pressure
Pressure · OT 4.0, PT 4.2
Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
Environment · OT 4.7, PT 4.9
Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
People · OT 4.9, PT 4.8
Contact With Others
People · OT 4.8, PT 4.9
| Work context | OT | PT |
|---|---|---|
| Deal With External Customers or the Public in General | 3.6 | 4.6 |
| Consequence of Error | 2.9 | 3.8 |
| Spend Time Standing | 2.9 | 3.8 |
| Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions | 1.9 | 1.3 |
| Spend Time Sitting | 2.8 | 2.3 |
| Conflict Situations | 2.8 | 3.2 |
| Spend Time Bending or Twisting Your Body | 2.7 | 3.1 |
| Freedom to Make Decisions | 4.4 | 4.8 |
| Time Pressure | 4.0 | 4.2 |
| Indoors, Environmentally Controlled | 4.7 | 4.9 |
| Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams | 4.9 | 4.8 |
| Contact With Others | 4.8 | 4.9 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
None of the 12 measures separates these two by a full point. O*NET cannot tell them apart on the conditions of the work, which is a real finding rather than missing data: whatever divides these two jobs, it is not what the day feels like.
Getting in
What it takes to get in, on each side
Entry requirements below are BLS Employment Projections for both occupations. Where an occupation carries a hand-verified credential record, the accrediting body, the named exam and the realistic program length are shown too, each traced to the issuing body's own page with the date it was checked. Where it does not, this page publishes the federal data and says so rather than filling the gap.
How you become an OT
Credential detail hand-verified against the issuing bodies, last checked August 23, 2026.
Occupational therapists enter the profession with either a master's or a doctoral degree from an ACOTE-accredited program, then pass the NBCOT certification exam to become an Occupational Therapist Registered (OTR), then obtain a license from their state. There is no mandate requiring the doctorate.
- Typical entry education (BLS)
- Master's degree
- Typical program length
- 2 to 3 years
- Realistic range
- Master's degree programs usually take 2 to 3 years after a bachelor's degree and include a specified number of hours of supervised fieldwork. Entry-level doctoral programs are the alternative route.
- Accreditation: ACOTE
- You must graduate from an ACOTE-accredited program to be eligible for the NBCOT certification exam. Students in a developing program that fails to gain accreditation are not eligible and must transfer to an accredited program to qualify.
- Exam: NBCOT OTR certification examination
- Taken after graduating with an entry-level occupational therapy degree from an ACOTE-accredited program. Passing it is what allows you to use the title Occupational Therapist Registered (OTR), and states require it as the qualifying exam for licensure.
- Governing body: NBCOT
- Administers the national certification exam and awards and maintains the OTR credential that states rely on for licensure.
- Licensed state by state
- All states require a license and, at minimum, a passing score on the qualifying exam, so the exam is constant. What differs is the state application process and the number of continuing-education hours each state sets for renewal. Degree level is not a state variable: ACOTE accredits both master's and doctoral entry-level programs and both are routes into practice.
- Keeping the credential
- Two separate clocks run. State license renewal requires a number of continuing-education hours set by that state. NBCOT certification renews on a three-year cycle and requires at least 36 units, earned as professional development units and/or competency assessment units.
Step by step
- Complete a bachelor's degree with the required science coursework4 years
The bachelor's does not need to be in a particular subject, but master's programs frequently require completed coursework in biology, psychology and other sciences, and some require prior volunteer or paid experience in an occupational therapy setting.
- Graduate from an ACOTE-accredited entry-level program2 to 3 years for a master's
Entry is at either master's or doctoral level. There is no ACOTE mandate to move to the doctorate: institutions may run a master's program, a doctoral program, or both, and graduates of either are eligible for the NBCOT exam.
- Complete the supervised fieldwork built into the program
Accredited programs require a specified number of hours of supervised fieldwork. Having completed fieldwork inside an accredited program is part of what makes you eligible to sit the exam.
- Pass the NBCOT certification exam to earn the OTR credential
Passing confers the Occupational Therapist Registered title. Candidates educated outside the US must first be approved through NBCOT's Occupational Therapist Eligibility Determination (OTED) process.
- Apply for a state license, then maintain both credentials
Licensure requirements vary by state but a passing exam score is the minimum everywhere. After that, keep the state license current with state-set continuing education and renew NBCOT certification every three years with 36 units.
Sources checked for OT
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, Occupational Therapists (How to Become One) — checked August 23, 2026
- ACOTE, Student Resources (Student FAQ: Program Accreditation Status) — checked August 23, 2026
- NBCOT, Eligibility — checked August 23, 2026
- NBCOT, Renew — checked August 23, 2026
How you become a PT
Credential detail hand-verified against the issuing bodies, last checked August 23, 2026.
Practicing as a physical therapist in the US requires a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree from a CAPTE-accredited program, a passing score on the National Physical Therapy Examination, and a license from the state you work in. More than half of states add a jurisprudence exam on that state's own practice act.
- Typical entry education (BLS)
- Doctoral or professional degree
- Typical program length
- 3 years
- Realistic range
- DPT programs typically last 3 years, entered after a bachelor's degree and prerequisite coursework in subjects such as anatomy, chemistry and physics.
- Accreditation: CAPTE
- CAPTE is the only agency recognized by the US Department of Education and CHEA to accredit entry-level physical therapist education programs. State licensing authorities require, at minimum, that a candidate has graduated from a program meeting CAPTE's accreditation standards (or an education judged substantially equivalent) before they may sit the NPTE.
- Exam: NPTE
- Assesses basic entry-level competence after graduation from an accredited physical therapist program. Taken once you have graduated (or are graduating) and have been made eligible by the jurisdiction where you are seeking licensure. The NPTE is only one part of the evaluation a licensing authority carries out.
- Exam: Jurisprudence exam
- A test of the laws and rules of the state you want to practice in, rather than of clinical knowledge. FSBPT states that more than 50 percent of states require a jurisprudence exam for initial licensure.
- Governing body: FSBPT
- Develops, maintains and administers the National Physical Therapy Examination on behalf of the state licensing authorities, and administers jurisprudence exams for some jurisdictions.
- Licensed state by state
- Every state requires a license and a passing NPTE score, so the exam itself does not vary. What varies is everything around it: more than half of states also require a jurisprudence exam on their own practice act, some require a criminal background check, and continuing-education requirements for renewal are set state by state rather than nationally.
- Keeping the credential
- Continuing education is typically required to keep a physical therapist license, but the number of hours and which activities count are set by each state board, not by a single national standard.
Step by step
- Complete a bachelor's degree with PT prerequisites4 years
Physical therapy programs typically require a bachelor's degree plus prerequisite courses such as anatomy, chemistry and physics. The degree subject is often in a healthcare-related or recreation and fitness field, but it is the prerequisites that gate admission.
- Earn a Doctor of Physical Therapy from a CAPTE-accredited program3 years
Coursework covers biomechanics, neuroscience and pharmacology, alongside supervised clinical work in areas such as acute care and orthopaedic care. Graduating from a CAPTE-accredited program is what makes you eligible for the NPTE.
- Pass the National Physical Therapy Examination
Registered and administered through FSBPT once your jurisdiction has approved your eligibility. The NPTE measures entry-level competence and gives licensing boards a standard that is comparable across jurisdictions.
- Pass your state's jurisprudence exam if it requires one
More than half of states require a jurisprudence exam for initial licensure. It tests the practice act and rules of that specific state, so it does not transfer if you later move.
- Apply to the state board for licensure
The board sets the remaining requirements, which in some states include a criminal background check. License renewal then carries state-set continuing-education requirements.
Sources checked for PT
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, Physical Therapists (How to Become One) — checked August 23, 2026
- CAPTE, About CAPTE — checked August 23, 2026
- FSBPT, National Exam (NPTE) — checked August 23, 2026
- FSBPT, Jurisprudence Exam — checked August 23, 2026
Choosing
Which should you choose?
There is no answer to this that is true for everybody, and any page that gives you one is usually selling a program. What we can do is state the trade in the terms the federal data actually supports, and leave the decision where it belongs.
Pay should not decide this one
The two medians are $2,430 apart — $100,330 for OT and $102,760 for PT (BLS OEWS, May 2025). That is smaller than the spread between two neighbouring states for either occupation, so where you live will move your pay more than which of these two you pick. Decide on the work.
Look at the openings and the growth instead
BLS projects +14.8% employment change and 10,000 openings a year for OT, against +11.9% and 13,400 for PT (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Openings matter more than growth rate for someone entering now: a large occupation growing slowly still hires far more people each year than a small one growing fast.
Choose neither if the day-to-day work does not fit
The task lists and the O*NET work-context readings above differ more between these two than the wage figures do, and work context is what you experience every shift: how much time pressure, how much contact with the public, how much of the day on your feet, how bad a mistake is. OT and PT are not the only two options — they are just the two you searched for. If neither task list reads like a description of a day you want, that is useful information, not a failed comparison.
We are not going to name a winner, and on this pair we could not defend one if we tried: the pay is level and the two jobs are genuinely different work. Both figures above are BLS OEWS May 2025 and both projections are BLS EP 2025–2035; nothing on this page is an estimate of ours.
Questions
OT vs PT: FAQ
What is the difference between an OT and a PT?
Occupational and physical therapists often treat the same patient in the same week, especially after a stroke, surgery or injury, and their work overlaps more than the job titles suggest. The usual distinction is the goal. A physical therapist focuses on movement itself (strength, range of motion, walking, pain), while an occupational therapist focuses on the activities of daily life, from dressing and cooking to returning to work, including the cognitive and sensory side. The entry routes differ too: PTs now enter with a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree, while OTs enter with a master’s or a doctorate. Both need a national exam and a state licence. In federal terms they are two separate occupations: Occupational Therapist is SOC 29-1122 and Physical Therapist is SOC 29-1123, which is why they carry separate wage and projection figures rather than a shared one.
Who makes more money, an OT or a PT?
Neither, to any degree that should decide it. The BLS OEWS May 2025 median is $100,330 for occupational therapists and $102,760 for physical therapists — $2,430 apart. The bottom 10% of OTs earn under $71,690 and the top 10% over $131,950; for PTs those figures are $77,140 and $135,140. Where you work will move your pay more than which of the two you choose.
Which is harder, OT or PT?
It depends which kind of hard you mean, and the data separates the two. Getting in: BLS records a master's degree as the typical entry requirement for OT and a doctoral or professional degree for PT (BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035), which in practice means 2 to 3 years after a bachelor's degree against 3 years after a bachelor's degree, and O*NET rates the preparation as extensive preparation needed (O*NET job zone five) for both. On that measure the route into PT is the longer one. The work itself, on O*NET's 1–5 ratings from people in each job (OT first): time pressure 4.0 against 4.2, consequence of error 2.9 against 3.8 and conflict situations 2.8 against 3.2. None of these differs by a full point, though PT rates higher on all three, so the lean is towards PT being the more pressured job rather than a clear difference. A longer route in and a more pressured shift are different costs, so weigh the one you mind more. The licensing bodies, accreditation requirements and named exams for both are set out further down this page, each checked against the issuing body’s own site.
Can an OT become a PT?
Yes, but not on experience alone. BLS records a doctoral or professional degree as the typical entry requirement for PT, against a master's degree for OT (BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035), so the move means going back to school: the PT route is 3 years after a bachelor's degree on its own terms. On skills, 9 of the 10 skills O*NET rates most important for PT are also among the 10 most important for OT, and both draw on customer and personal service, therapy and counseling, medicine and dentistry and psychology knowledge (O*NET 31.0 Database). The ones PT leans on noticeably more: time management. Whether earlier coursework or an OT's credential shortens the PT route is decided by each program and, for licensed roles, each state board, so check with the program directly; this page does not assume it does.
Which has better job security, OT or PT?
BLS projects +14.8% employment change for occupational therapists and +11.9% for physical therapists over 2025–2035, with 10,000 and 13,400 openings a year respectively (BLS Employment Projections). For anyone entering now the openings figure matters more than the growth rate, because it includes people leaving the occupation as well as new posts. Our own AI-resilience score — a NueCareer analysis of O*NET task composition, not a federal statistic — puts OT at 52 and PT at 52 out of 100.
Should I become an OT or a PT?
We will not tell you, and you should be wary of a page that does — most of the sites ranking for this question are schools that teach one of the two. We are not going to name a winner, and on this pair we could not defend one if we tried: the pay is level and the two jobs are genuinely different work. Both figures above are BLS OEWS May 2025 and both projections are BLS EP 2025–2035; nothing on this page is an estimate of ours.
Full profiles, wage percentiles and state-by-state pay: Occupational Therapist and Physical Therapist. Wage data is BLS OEWS May 2025.