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APTRecruiting

Occupational therapist recruiting

Occupational therapist recruiters for hospitals, SNFs, home health, outpatient and schools

Occupational therapists are scarcer than PTs in most markets and harder to replace when they leave, especially in skilled nursing, home health and pediatrics. APT Recruiting recruits OTs and certified occupational therapy assistants for positions, and screens each one for the population they want to treat, the documentation load they can carry and the schedule that will keep them past the first year.
Hire a OTSee your state's numbers →

National workforce

Occupational therapists in the United States

Individual providers with an active practice address, summed across 51 states and DC, and the federal wage estimate for the profession.

136,276

Occupational therapists enrolled

42,506

Occupational therapy assistants enrolled

7,007

New OTs, last 12 months

$101,280

OT mean annual wage

median $100,330

Occupational therapy assistants average $70,710 a year nationally across 51,290 employed.

Sources: NPPES monthly file, October 2026 (CMS, public domain); NPPES provider enumeration dates, October 2026 file; BLS OEWS, May 2025 estimates.

Where they are

The ten largest OT markets by state

Occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants combined. Pick a state for pay, employers and licensure-compact status.
#StateOTs + OTAsOT mean wage
1New York16,236$97,650
2Texas12,205$107,630
3Florida11,931$95,620
4California11,449$121,920
5Pennsylvania9,459$98,460
6Illinois7,430$99,570
7Ohio7,046$97,390
8Michigan6,273$89,150
9North Carolina6,090$91,360
10New Jersey5,618$110,150

All 50 states and DC →

Settings

OT roles we fill, by setting

The same license means a different job in each. Pick the setting for how we screen for it.
Hospitals and acute rehabSkilled nursing and long-term careHome healthOutpatient rehab and private practiceSchools and pediatrics

For employers

Hiring? Physical therapy, OT and SLP recruiting, run by a clinician.

Employers find us under a lot of names: physical therapy staffing agency, SLP recruiter, OT headhunter, rehab staffing, therapy recruiting firm. What we do is the same under any of them. We work the whole market for PTs, OTs, SLPs and audiologists, screen each one with a licensed speech-language pathologist's eye for the setting and the caseload, and bring you clinicians who have already said yes to a conversation about your organization.

Engagement model

Contingency recruiting. There is no fee unless a successful placement is made.

Speed to first candidates

Clients typically receive the first vetted candidates within one to two weeks of providing the recruiting brief and search requirements.

Guarantee

Every direct-hire placement carries a 90-day replacement guarantee. If the candidate resigns or is terminated for cause during the first ninety calendar days of employment, APT Recruiting immediately begins a one-time search for a replacement in the same position, at no additional charge.

Questions hiring managers and directors of rehab ask us

How does a therapy search with APT Recruiting work?+

It starts with a short call to take the brief: the discipline, the setting, the caseload and productivity expectations, the schedule and the pay range. Because APT is run by a licensed speech-language pathologist, the screen covers clinical fit, not just a license check. We then work your market for PTs, OTs, SLPs or audiologists who match, confirm interest, and send you candidates who have already said yes to a conversation about your organization. Clients typically receive the first vetted candidates within one to two weeks of providing the recruiting brief and search requirements.

Do you work on contingency or retained?+

Contingency recruiting. There is no fee unless a successful placement is made.

What does it cost to hire through a therapy recruiter?+

Agreed in writing before you see a candidate's details. Every direct-hire placement carries a 90-day replacement guarantee. If the candidate resigns or is terminated for cause during the first ninety calendar days of employment, APT Recruiting immediately begins a one-time search for a replacement in the same position, at no additional charge.

Which roles and settings do you cover?+

Physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists and audiologists, including PTAs, COTAs and SLPAs, plus directors of rehab and other therapy leadership. Settings include hospitals and acute rehab, skilled nursing, home health, outpatient clinics, schools and pediatrics, and telehealth. We also recruit nurse practitioners and physician assistants.

Tell us about the role

Or email molly@aptrecruiting.com. Molly reads every brief herself.

Molly Salinas

Reviewed by a licensed SLP

Molly Salinas, M.S., CCC-SLP

The national figures on this page are drawn from public federal sources and reviewed by Molly, a licensed speech-language pathologist who has worked across healthcare settings and founded APT Recruiting. She has recruited therapists for 3 years and works from Austin, Texas. Last reviewed October 15, 2026.

About Molly and APT Recruiting →

Need an occupational therapist?

Tell us the setting, the caseload and the market. A licensed clinician reads every brief.

Tell us about the role