SLP Operations logo
SLP Operations
Merkel, Texas

Occupational Therapist (OT) FT, PT and PRN schedules available!

Occupational TherapistFull-Time

Compensation

Pay not listed

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

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

Posted 53m ago · Verified live

Job Description

In-House Therapy Program! $5000.00 Sign On Bonus!!

Merkel Care Center is currently seeking a full time, part time or prn Occupational Therapist to join its in-house therapy team. We seek a therapist who is innovative, positive, and team oriented. Part of Gemini Healthcare, Merkel Care Center is a long-term care and post-acute rehab facility located in Merkel, Texas.

We have an in-house team of therapists to work with, an amazing rehab director and opportunity to see a wide range of conditions. We offer opportunity for you to create and implement speech therapy programs that will best fit the needs of your patients.

We are supported by Vital Therapy, a growing provider of therapy support and leadership to 85 locations throughout Texas and Oklahoma. We believe in giving our patients and residents moments of joy and reason to live each day, developing and supporting our leaders, and sharing a fierce commitment to quality of care.

We offer comprehensive benefits, PTO, opportunity for career growth and fun, high energy work environment.

Requirements

Texas License

We are an equal opportunity employer and prohibit discrimination/harassment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

Key Responsibilities

Provide occupational therapy to patients and residents in a long-term care and post-acute rehabilitation setting. Work with the in-house therapy team to support patient needs and contribute to therapy program development.

Qualifications

Experience
2+ years of experience

Key Skills

Patient CareTeamworkInnovation

Physical Therapy — Occupational Therapist Career Context

The cost-of-living index for Texas is 97.1 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)). 57.7% of Texas clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Of the 50 active Occupational Therapist listings this role was benchmarked against, 4% are remote, 42% have no call, 62% require no weekends.

What does the Occupational Therapist market look like in Texas?
MeasureThis jobMarket
Listed paynot listedOccupational Therapist median $88k (middle half $85k–$99k)23 comparable listings, Nov 2026
Cost of livingTexas index 97.1US average = 100BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Occupational Therapist listings in Texas1,076 active10,035 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Work settingon-sitepeers: 4% remote · 42% no call · 62% no weekends50 benchmarked listings
Sign-on & loan repayment$5k sign-onTexas Occupational Therapist listings: 10% state a sign-on bonus (median $5k) · 6% offer loan repayment1,000 active listings, Nov 2026
New Physical Therapy listings7,739 in the last 30 days4,062 the 30 days before (+91%)U.S., first seen on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Occupational Therapist pay trend+4.3% vs prior quarter—through Oct 2026
Sources: WeekdayDoc live listing index, BEA Regional Price Parities (2024); as of Nov 2026. Same values as the Weekday Verdict and Market Insights on this page.

Location & Logistics

Texas has no state income tax, which can significantly increase take-home pay compared to high-tax states.

Top contract/1099 Occupational Therapist Jobs

34 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution

31 jobs · 24 employers
11
<$105k
8
$105k-125k
4
$125k-145k
8
$145k-165k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks

28 jobs · 24 employers
401k / retirement match
93%
CME allowance
57%
Sign-on bonus
36% this job
Loan repayment
18%
Relocation assistance
11%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Travel Physical TherapistContract

Ironside Human Resources · Augusta, Georgia

$75/hr
#2

Physical Therapist (PT)

Healthpro Heritage · Chambersburg, Pennsylvania

$70-$75/hr
#3

School Physical Therapist (PT)

$70-$73/hr
#4

Home Health Physical Therapist - Berkeley/Richmond

$150k
+ 32 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 4.8this job 4.8
Better work-life than 50% of Physical Therapy (Occupational Therapy) listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 84 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

SLP Operations logo

About SLP Operations

Hospitals and Health Care
Fort Worth, Texas
201-500 employees

Benefits & Perks

$5,000 Sign-On Bonus
Comprehensive Benefits
PTO
Career Growth Opportunities
Flexible Schedules (FT, PT, PRN)

Living in Merkel

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$215k
Median resident rent
$1,058/mo
Residents’ average commute
27 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
90.4
State income tax
None
Sources & methodology

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

BEA 2024 · Abilene, TX metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

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