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Rochester Regional Health
Rochester, Minnesota

Occupational Therapist - Acute Care - [Per Diem]

Occupational TherapistIncludes weekendsNo nightsPer Diem

Listed compensation

$50/hour

The week · per this posting

Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations, benefits and time off.

Posted 1h ago · Verified live

Job Description

As an Occupational Therapist, your strong attention to detail and excellent evaluation skills are crucial to successfully restoring or improving each patient’s optimal level of function, independence, and quality of life.

  • STATUS: Per Diem
  • LOCATION: Rochester General Hospital -1425 Portland Ave, Rochester, NY 14621
  • DEPARTMENT: Respiratory

SCHEDULE: Day shift, 8-hr. shift; (7:00 a. m. - 3:30 p. m. or 8:00 a. m.- 4:30 p. m.). Weekend rotation requirement: 1-2 days per month

Position Summary

Upon referral, evaluates patients. Develops and implements rehabilitative treatment programs for the purpose of restoring or improving the patient’s optimal level of function, independence, and quality of life.

Responsibilities

Evaluation & Development. Perform a complete initial evaluation of referred patients using evaluation protocols, standardized tests, and clinical observations; develop and implement treatment plans, including short- and long-term goals and methods to achieve them; adjust treatment plan and goals as needed

Documentation & Communication. Maintain complete documentation of patient evaluation, treatment, progress, and discharge status; counsel and teach patients and families; coordinate care plans with other involved health professionals and discuss changes in treatment programs with MDs

Employee Development. Assist with the supervision and guidance of new personnel, assistants, students, and volunteers as assigned; develop and conduct in-service training programs

Required Qualifications

  • Degree in Occupational Therapy, bachelor's, master's, or doctorate.
  • Required Licensure/Certification Skills: Current NYS Occupational Therapist License or limited permit as a Registered Occupational Therapist.
  • Compassionate, kind, and patient-focused
  • Excellent communication and customer service skills

Preferred Qualifications

Three (3) to six (6) months of previous experience preferred

Rochester General Health System is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer. Minority/Female/Disability/Veteran

Education

LICENSES / CERTIFICATIONS:

Physical Requirements

Moderate - Clinical - Moderate clinical roles are patient facing roles that require continual movement, including standing, walking, and lifting 20–50 lbs., along with pushing and pulling medical equipment and assisting with patient positioning.

Employees perform frequent bending, twisting, and reaching while completing fine motor tasks in busy or confined clinical environments. High sensory acuity is essential for monitoring patient status and responding to alarms or safety concerns.

Emotional and cognitive demands are substantial, involving decision-making under pressure, responding to emergencies, and maintaining sustained focus. Environmental exposures include infectious agents, bodily fluids, chemicals, and radiation. TB testing, mask-fit testing, and physical exams are common requirements.

For disease specific care programs refer to the program specific requirements of the department for further specifications on experience and educational expectations, including continuing education requirements.

Any physical requirements reported by a prospective employee and/or employee’s physician or delegate will be considered for accommodations.

Pay Range

$50.00 - $50.00

City

Rochester

Postal CODE

14621

The posted pay range is a good faith representation of potential base pay for this position. It may be modified in the future and eligible for additional pay components. Individual annual salaries/hourly rates could vary based on position details and FTE. Pay is determined by considering factors including, but not limited to, experience, relevant qualifications, specialty, internal equity, locations, and contracts.

Rochester Regional Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, predisposing genetic characteristics, marital or familial status, military or veteran status, citizenship or immigration status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.

Requirements

Candidates must hold a degree in Occupational Therapy and possess a current NYS Occupational Therapist License or limited permit. Previous experience of three to six months is preferred, along with strong communication and patient-focused skills.

Key Skills

Treatment planningRehabilitative careClinical documentationPatient counselingCare coordination

Occupational Therapist Career Context

In Minnesota, the Occupational Therapy weighted monthly median benchmark on WeekdayDoc is ~$90k (156 salary observations; 605 listings), vs ~$97k nationally (5,153 salary observations; 28,851 listings). Monthly aggregates cover 2026-01-01 through 2026-11-01; these are not the modal's selected comparable-job medians.

The cost-of-living index for Minnesota is 98.6 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)). 63.4% of Minnesota clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

What does the Occupational Therapy market look like in Minnesota?
MeasureThis jobMarket
Work-life score5.1 / 10 · above average in occupational therapyranked against 9,043 Occupational Therapy listingslisting-based score, 0–10
Minnesota vs national$90k median in Minnesota$97k nationally (−7%)156 state / 5,153 national salary observations
Cost of livingMinnesota index 98.6US average = 100BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Occupational Therapy listings in Minnesota176 active9,129 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Work settingon-sitepeers: 58% no call · 58% no weekends43 benchmarked listings
Sign-on & loan repaymentnot statedMinnesota occupational therapist listings (all specialties): 17% state a sign-on bonus (median $5k) · 20% offer loan repayment213 active listings, Nov 2026
New Occupational Therapy listings3,238 in the last 30 days1,701 the 30 days before (+90%)U.S., first seen on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Occupational Therapy pay trend+4.7% vs prior quarter—through Oct 2026
Sources: WeekdayDoc live listing index (9,043 Occupational Therapy listings), BEA Regional Price Parities (2024); as of Nov 2026. Same values as the Weekday Verdict and Market Insights on this page.

Top contract/1099 Occupational Therapist Jobs

43 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution

19 jobs
10
<$105k
5
$105k-120k
1
$131k
2
$135k-150k
1
$152k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks

27 jobs · 26 employers
401k / retirement match
81%
CME allowance
59%
Loan repayment
44%
Sign-on bonus
37%
PSLF eligible
19%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Home Care Occupational Therapist- Independent Contractor (Ocean County)Per Diem

US Physical Therapy · Toms River, New Jersey

$74-$95/hr
#2

Home Care Occupational Therapist- 1099 (Eastern Suffolk County)Per Diem

US Physical Therapy · Selden, New York

$65-$90/hr
#3

Occupational Therapist - $80 to 90 per hour - Part Time

$80-$90/hr
#4

Occupational Therapist, OT

$70-$80/hr
+ 41 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 4.8this job 5.1
Better work-life than 50% of Occupational Therapy listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 9,043 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • No nights
  • On-site
  • Includes weekends

Living in Rochester

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$305k
Typical market rent
$1,602/mo
Residents’ average commute
17 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
90.8
State income tax
Up to 9.8%
Sources & methodology

Sources: Zillow home values (Sep 2026), Zillow market rents (Sep 2026), U.S. Census ACS 2024 five-year.

BEA 2024 · Rochester, MN metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

City-level figures. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.