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Therapy & rehab

Occupational Therapist - 0.6FTE Flex - Brainerd Area

Essentia Health logoEssentia Health$34.96–$52.44/hrBrainerd, MNPart timePosted 1w agoStill open, checked every night
  • $4,500 sign-on bonus

How this pay compares

This posting states $34.96–$52.44 an hour. Open occupational therapist jobs in Minnesota post a median of $44.63 an hour, the middle half $41.83–$50, across 68 jobs that state their pay, so this one is within the middle half of what they post. Occupational therapists employed in Minnesota earn a median of $44.74 an hour (source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics), according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025) (source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics).

Occupational therapists in Minnesota: pay by town and employer

The Physical, Occupational, Speech & Respiratory Therapy job market: pay, applicant demand and hiring, researched nightly

Union record

By the bargaining notices filed with the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, unions bargain for workers at Essentia Health here: Minnesota Nurses Association at Brainerd, MN (301 workers, contract up for renewal 31 Oct 2025); American Federation Of State City & Municipal Employees 0115-0105 at Brainerd, MN (20 workers, contract up for renewal 31 Aug 2024). Each union represents its own unit: ask the recruiter whether this position is in one. Healthcare union contracts.

Workplace injuries

St Josephs Medical Center in Brainerd reported 26 work injuries and illnesses to OSHA for 2025 over 1,387,150 hours worked: 3.7 per 100 full-time workers, against 5.1 per 100 full-time workers at general hospitalsnationwide. With its hours, the best estimate leaning on similar sites is 3.8 per 100 full-time workers. 5 of them describe violence by a patient, resident or client in the case's own words. This is the employer's own report. Workplace injuries by employer.

Medicare rating of Essentia Health St Joseph's Medical Center

Medicare gives Essentia Health St Joseph's Medical Center 3 of 5 stars (Jul 2026; Minnesota's hospitals average 3.8). 80% of its patients said their nurses always communicated well (the middle US hospital: 79%). Patients' ratings of their care, not employees' of the job. Its other hospitals · Minnesota hospitals by rating.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness

Medicare lists Essentia Health St Joseph's Medical Center as a non-profit hospital: the kind of employer PSLF counts (a government organization or a 501(c)(3) non-profit) for its own full-time staff, toward forgiveness of federal Direct Loans after 120 qualifying payments. The federal PSLF Help Tool confirms an employer by the EIN on your W-2. Every PSLF-eligible hospital hiring.

Licensed in another state?

Minnesota issues and accepts OT Compact privileges: an occupational therapist or OT assistant whose home state is a member can take this job on a compact privilege instead of a Minnesota license. (Occupational Therapy Compact Commission, 9 Nov 2026.) Every state's OT Compact status.

Physical, occupational, speech and respiratory therapy jobs in our research

  • How long these jobs stay listed: Still listed at 7 days 87.4%
  • Applicant demand per open job on this site (1.00x is the average job): Index 0.22x · Clicks 25
  • How often these jobs state their pay: Jobs stating any pay 52.7% · Stating an hourly rate 32.4%

From every open job we read and every apply click on this site, as of 9 Nov 2026. Every figure for Physical, occupational, speech and respiratory therapy jobs

About the job

Building Location

St Josephs Medical Center

Department

4003810 OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY - SJMC

Job Description

Evaluates, plans, treats and implements care for patients in accordance with professional standards of the American Occupational Therapy Association and policies and procedures of Essentia Health.

This Flex FTE Occupational Therapist position primarily provides coverage in the hospital at 0.6 FTE (24 hours per week), with the opportunity to increase FTE through additional hospital hours or outpatient clinic coverage.

Education Qualifications

Educational Requirements

  • Bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree in Occupational Therapy from an accredited program

We’re excited to offer a $4,500 sign-on bonus for this opportunity.

Key Responsibilities

  • Provide therapy evaluation, develop individualized treatment plans, implement evidence-based interventions, provide patient/caregiver education, and discharge planning for a full patient caseload.
  • Provide all ancillary/administrative requirements for a full caseload of patients, including documentation, billing, scheduling management, and other administrative duties
  • Demonstrate appropriate communication, professionalism and supervision of support staff (licensed assistants, aides, volunteers)
  • Collaborate with a multidisciplinary care team to ensure optimal clinical and financial outcomes.
  • Work closely with Essentia Health leadership and coordinate with referring physicians to ensure cohesive patient care.
  • Comply with organizational policies and procedures and the code of conduct
  • Meet professional organization core values, code of ethics, &/or scope of practice
  • Work where the patient need is highest (including flexing to other departments) when home department schedule allows
  • May serve as a clinical instructor, participate in department or therapy discipline committees, and complete credential/certification that would benefit patient care

Inpatient Acute Care

  • Coordinate and deliver durable medical equipment to patients.
  • Collaborate with a multidisciplinary team to support smooth transitions of care.
  • Ideal candidates will demonstrate flexibility, adaptability, and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment.

This role requires a minimum commitment of 0.6 FTE, or 24 scheduled hours per week. Additional hours may be available in the hospital or at outpatient clinics based on department needs and candidate availability. The position also includes a weekend rotation at the hospital, working both Saturday and Sunday approximately once every 6–8 weeks.

Licensure/Certification Qualifications

Licensure/Certification Qualifications

  • Current Occupational Therapist license in the state where services are performed

Organizational Highlights

  • Our mission and values are patient-centered, emphasizing the delivery of quality care
  • An annual continuing education budget is provided to support therapists in advancing their education and clinical skills*
  • Reimbursement for licensure expenses*
  • A rehabilitation career ladder is in place to reward high-performing therapists*
  • Leadership opportunities including staff education, committee participation, and staff onboarding and mentorship.
  • Employment at Essentia Health qualifies you for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF). Please refer to the U.S. Department of Education’s website for the most current information regarding PSLF
  • Must meet minimum FTE requirements

FTE

0.6

Possible Remote/Hybrid Option

Shift Rotation

FTE Flex Days (United States of America)

Shift Start Time

Shift End Time

Weekends

Hospital rotation every 6-8 weeks

Holidays

No

Call Obligation

No

Union

Union Posting Deadline

Compensation Range

$34.96 - $52.44

Employee Benefits at Essentia Health: At Essentia Health, we’re committed to supporting your well-being, growth, and work-life balance. Our comprehensive benefits include medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance, along with supplemental options to fit your needs. We offer a 401(k) plan with employer contributions to help you plan for the future, and we invest in your professional development through training, tuition reimbursement, and educational programs. To help you thrive both at work and at home, we provide flexible scheduling, generous time off, and wellness resources focused on your physical, mental, and emotional health. Please note that benefit eligibility may vary. For full details, refer to your benefit summary or contact our HR Service Center at (218) 576-0000.

From Essentia Health's job posting, checked 9 Nov 2026. The employer's own page is the final word on requirements and availability.

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About Essentia Health

Essentia Health is a health system with more than 16,500 (source: Essentia Health, About Essentia Health) employees, 14 (source: Essentia Health, About Essentia Health) hospitals and 80 (source: Essentia Health, About Essentia Health) clinics serving patients in Minnesota, Wisconsin and North Dakota. Source: Essentia Health, About Essentia Health

Based in Duluth, MNHires in Minnesota, North Dakota, WisconsinPay on its listings: 61.1% of its open jobs state an hourly rate

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