University of Missouri Health Care logo
University of Missouri Health Care
Jefferson City, Missouri

Occupational Therapist, Inpatient

Occupational TherapistNo weekendsFull-Time

Listed compensation

$68k-$111k

The week · per this posting · Monday – Friday

Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations, nights and shift pattern and time off.

Posted 42m ago · Verified live

Job Description

  • Shift: Monday-Friday 7:30 AM-4:00 PM, Saturday and Holiday Rotation
  • Work Arrangement: On-Site
  • Department: Therapy Services, Inpatient
  • Facility: Capital Region Medical Center, 1125 Madison St, Jefferson City, MO 65101

Compensation

  • Base Pay Range: $68,266 - $111,426/year, based on experience

About the Job

MU Health Care is looking for a passionate and dedicated Occupational Therapist to join our dynamic team! We seek individuals who are not only skilled and knowledgeable but also enthusiastic about continuous learning and professional growth.

The ideal candidate will be a compassionate and innovative problem-solver, committed to enhancing patient safety and independence in daily activities. If you thrive in a collaborative environment and are eager to make a meaningful impact on patients' lives, we want to hear from you.

Join us at MU Health Care, where your expertise and dedication will be valued and supported. Apply today to become a vital part of our mission to provide exceptional care!

About MU Health Care

MU Health Care is proud to be named one of Forbes’ Best-in-State Employers seven years in a row, and that’s largely a result of the incredible culture and team we’ve built. At MU Health Care, we have an inspired, hard-working and collaborative environment driven by our mission to save and improve lives.

Here, we believe anything is possible and rally around solutions. We celebrate innovation and offer opportunities to be a part of something bigger — to have a voice and role in the work that is serving our community and changing the field of medicine.

Our academic health system — the only in mid-Missouri — is home to seven hospitals, including the region’s only Level 1 Trauma Center and region’s only Children’s Hospital, as well as over 90 specialty clinics. Here you can define your career among our many clinical and nonclinical positions — with growth, opportunity and support every step of the way.

  • Learn more about MU Health Care.
  • Learn more about living in mid-Missouri.

Employee Benefits

  • Health, vision and dental insurance coverage starting day one
  • Generous paid leave and paid time off, including ten holidays
  • Multiple retirement options, including 100% matching up to 8% and full vesting in three years
  • Tuition assistance for employees (75%) and immediate family members (50%)
  • Discounts on cell phone plans, rental cars, gyms, hotels and more
  • See a comprehensive list of benefits here.

Detailed Job Description

  • Performs comprehensive patient evaluations in a time-sensitive manner to assess functional status, limitations, and rehabilitation potential.
  • Develops individualized occupational therapy plans of care based on evaluation findings, patient goals, and a developmentally appropriate approach.
  • Implements evidence-based therapeutic interventions to improve functional performance, safety, and independence in activities of daily living.
  • Administers therapeutic treatments requiring advanced clinical skills, including therapeutic activities, neuromuscular re-education, and functional training.
  • Fabricates, applies, and modifies splints, casts, and compression garments to support patient function and recovery.
  • Documents evaluations, treatment plans, interventions, and patient progress in accordance with MU Health Care and departmental policies and regulatory standards.
  • Monitors patient response to treatment and modifies plans of care as clinically indicated to achieve optimal outcomes.
  • Collaborates with physicians, interdisciplinary team members, and support staff to coordinate care and ensure continuity of services.
  • Maintains compliance with the American Occupational Therapy Association Code of Ethics and the Missouri Practice Act to ensure licensure eligibility and professional standards.
  • Orders and manages discipline-specific referrals in accordance with state practice acts and regulatory requirements.
  • Participates in professional development, continuing education, and training activities to maintain competency and licensure requirements.
  • Educates Occupational Therapy and Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant students as assigned to support clinical education and professional development.
  • Ensures a safe environment for patients and staff by adhering to infection control, safety, and regulatory guidelines.
  • Adheres to timekeeping, attendance, and punctuality guidelines in accordance with MU Health Care policies.
  • May complete unit/department specific duties and expectations as outlined in department documents.

Required Qualifications

  • Occupational Therapist (OT) licensure by the Missouri Board of Occupational Therapy or OT Compact multi-state privilege. When primary state of residency changes, compact state OTs must apply under new state of residency within thirty (30) days. OT Limited permit holders must be a graduate of an OT program.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Additional license/certification requirements as determined by the hiring department.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met with or without reasonable accommodation. The performance of these physical demands is an essential function of the job. This position is very active and requires ambulating, reaching, and moving objects weighing up to and over 20 lbs.

This role also routinely comes into contact with patients who may have contagious illnesses. This position is in a health care facility open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Rotating shifts as well as holiday and work during inclement weather will be required.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of Missouri is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Key Responsibilities

The Occupational Therapist will perform comprehensive patient evaluations and develop individualized treatment plans to improve functional independence. They will also collaborate with interdisciplinary teams and document patient progress in accordance with regulatory standards.

Requirements

Candidates must hold an Occupational Therapist licensure from the Missouri Board of Occupational Therapy or possess an OT Compact multi-state privilege. Graduates of an OT program holding a limited permit are also eligible to apply.

Qualifications

Education
Professional certificate or licensure

Key Skills

Patient evaluationTreatment planningSplintingCastingDocumentationInterdisciplinary collaborationPatient educationSafety compliance

Occupational Therapist Career Context

The cost-of-living index for Missouri is 90.8 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$90k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $99k in an average-cost state. 60.1% of Missouri clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Of the 50 active Occupational Therapy listings this role was benchmarked against, 38% have no call, 58% require no weekends.

What does the Occupational Therapy market look like in Missouri?
MeasureThis jobMarket
Work-life score6.4 / 10 · above average in occupational therapyranked against 9,257 Occupational Therapy listingslisting-based score, 0–10
Listed pay$68k–$111kOccupational Therapy median $90k (middle half $82k–$104k)131 comparable listings, Oct 2026
Cost-of-living adjusted pay~$99k in purchasing powerMissouri index 90.8 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Occupational Therapy listings in Missouri205 active9,299 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Oct 2026
Work settingon-sitepeers: 38% no call · 58% no weekends50 benchmarked listings
Occupational Therapy pay trend+1.5% vs prior quarter—through Sep 2026
Sources: WeekdayDoc live listing index (9,257 Occupational Therapy listings), BEA Regional Price Parities (2024); as of Oct 2026. Same values as the Weekday Verdict and Market Insights on this page.

Work-Life Balance Analysis

WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Occupational Therapist, Inpatient at University of Missouri Health Care a 6.4 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as good. This places the position in the Above average in Occupational Therapy — ranked against 9,257 active Occupational Therapy listings on WeekdayDoc. Contributing factors include no weekend requirements.

Top Occupational Therapist Jobs

22 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution

22 jobs · 13 employers
10
<$100k
9
$100k-115k
1
$130k
2
$140k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks

22 jobs · 13 employers
401k / retirement match
95% this job
Sign-on bonus
45%
CME allowance
45% this job
Loan repayment
23%
PSLF eligible
9%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Occupational Therapist Matawan NJ

Healthcare Recruitment Counselors · Matawan, New Jersey

$140k
#2

Occupational Therapist Marlboro NJ

Healthcare Recruitment Counselors · Marlboro, New Jersey

$140k
#3

Occupational Therapist (OT) Acute Care

$80k-$130k
#4

Occupational Therapist (OT) - Santa Clara

From $109,000
+ 20 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 4.8this job 6.4
Better work-life than 70% of Occupational Therapy listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 9,257 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • No weekends
  • On-site
University of Missouri Health Care logo

About University of Missouri Health Care

Hospitals and Health Care
Columbia, Missouri
1,001-5,000 employees

Benefits & Perks

Base pay range $68,266 - $111,426/year
Health, vision and dental insurance starting day one
Generous paid leave and PTO including ten holidays
Multiple retirement options including 100% matching up to 8% and full vesting in three years
Tuition assistance for employees (75%) and immediate family members (50%)
Discounts on cell phone plans, rental cars, gyms, hotels and more

Living in Jefferson City

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$266k≈ 3.9× annual pay
Typical market rent
$1,005/mo≈ 18% of gross pay
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
88.0
State income tax
Up to 5.3%
Sources & methodology

Sources: Zillow home values (Sep 2026), Zillow market rents (Sep 2026).

BEA 2024 · Jefferson City, MO metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

Ratios use this listing’s gross annual pay. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.