Physical Therapist vs Occupational Therapist: pay, jobs and what each takes

Physical therapists, by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025): a median of $49.40 an hour ($102,760 a year), against $48.24 ($100,330 a year) for occupational therapists, $1.16 an hour more. The open jobs on this board today post medians of $52.50 an hour for physical therapists and $52.50 for occupational therapists.

On this board today: 9,583 open physical therapist jobs and 5,081 occupational therapist jobs, read from each employer's own job board. BLS expects about 13,400 openings a year for physical therapists and 10,000 for occupational therapists, with employment changing +11.9% and +14.8% over 2025-2035.

Physical therapists help people move again after surgery, injury or illness, with exercise, hands-on treatment and training, in outpatient clinics, hospitals, rehab centers, home health and schools. Occupational therapists help people do the everyday tasks of life (dressing, cooking, working, playing) after injury, illness or with a disability, in hospitals, rehab, schools and home health.

A Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree, then the NPTE exam. (BLS: Doctoral or professional degree.) A master's or doctoral degree in occupational therapy, then the NBCOT exam. (BLS: Master's degree.) Each occupation's page lists its credentials and who grants them: Physical therapists, Occupational therapists.