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Essentia Health
Detroit Lakes, Minnesota

Occupational Therapist - Hand Therapy (FT) - Detroit Lakes

Occupational TherapistIncludes weekendsNo callFull-Time

Listed compensation

$73k-$109k

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

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

Posted 1mo ago

Job Description

Building Location

EH St. Marys Therapy Center - Detroit Lakes

Department: 3203810 OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY - DL CLIN

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.

Education Qualifications

Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, or Doctorate Degree in Occupational Therapy from accredited program

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

Outpatient Hand Therapy

  • Fabrication of custom static and dynamic splints
  • Management of post‑surgical and post‑injury wounds
  • Certified Hand Therapist (CHT) credential preferred, but not required for application

Licensure/Certification Qualifications

Current state licensure as Occupational Therapist

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

1

Possible Remote/Hybrid Option

Shift Rotation

Day/Eve Rotation (United States of America)

Shift Start Time

7:00am

Shift End Time

5:30pm

Weekends

Hospital weekend rotation - about 6 weekends per year

Holidays

No

Call Obligation

No

Union

Union Posting Deadline:

Compensation Range

$72,716.80 - $109,075.20

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.

Requirements

Candidates must hold a Bachelor's, Master's, or Doctorate degree in Occupational Therapy from an accredited program and possess current state licensure. A Certified Hand Therapist (CHT) credential is preferred but not required.

Qualifications

Education
Doctoral or professional degree (postgraduate degree)
Experience
2+ years of experience

Key Skills

Patient evaluationTreatment planningSplint fabricationWound managementPatient educationMultidisciplinary collaborationEvidence-based practice

Occupational Therapist Career Context

In Minnesota, the Occupational Therapy weighted monthly median benchmark on WeekdayDoc is ~$89k (181 salary observations; 450 listings), vs ~$97k nationally (6,684 salary observations; 25,690 listings). Monthly aggregates cover 2026-01-01 through 2026-10-01; 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)), so the posted ~$91k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $92k in an average-cost state. 63.4% of Minnesota clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Of the 46 active Occupational Therapy listings this role was benchmarked against, 7% are remote, 37% have no call, 59% require no weekends.

Essentia Health holds silver-tier status on WeekdayDoc's Top Employers work-life index, composite score 73/100, 152 active listings.

Occupational Therapy pay on WeekdayDoc is up 1.5% vs. the prior quarter (through Sep 2026).

Work-Life Balance Analysis

WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Occupational Therapist - Hand Therapy (FT) - Detroit Lakes at Essentia Health a 6.9 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as good. This places the position in the Above average in Hand Therapist (OT) — ranked against 166 active Hand Therapist (OT) listings on WeekdayDoc. Contributing factors include no on-call duties.

Top Occupational Therapist Jobs

28 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution28 jobs · 15 employers

14
<$105k
9
$105k-120k
2
$120k-135k
2
$140k
1
$160k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks28 jobs · 15 employers

401k / retirement match
96% this job
CME allowance
50% this job
Sign-on bonus
39%
Loan repayment
11% this job
Relocation assistance
4%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Occupational Therapist (Home Health)

21st Century Home Health Services · Galt, California

$130k-$160k
#2

Occupational Therapist Matawan NJ

Healthcare Recruitment Counselors · Matawan, New Jersey

$140k
#3

Occupational Therapist Marlboro NJ

$140k
#4

Occupational Therapist (OT) Acute Care

$80k-$130k
+ 26 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 6.0this job 6.9
Better work-life than 70% of Hand Therapist (OT) listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 166 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • No call
  • Includes weekends

Living in Detroit Lakes

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$384k≈ 5.3× annual pay
Median resident rent
$954/mo≈ 16% of gross pay
Residents’ average commute
14 min
State income tax
Up to 9.8%
Sources & methodology

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

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

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About Essentia Health

Hospitals and Health Care
Duluth, MN
5,001-10,000 employees

Benefits & Perks

Medical, dental, vision insurance
Life and disability insurance
401(k) with employer contributions
Tuition reimbursement
Flexible scheduling
Generous time off
Wellness resources
Annual continuing education budget