PACS logo
PACS
Santa Cruz, California

Occupational Therapist (OT)

Occupational TherapistFull-Time

Listed compensation

$50-$58/hr

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

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

Posted 1mo ago

Job Description

Occupational Therapist (OT) – Santa Cruz Post Acute

Full-Time

  • Part-Time
  • PRN

Starting at $50-58/hour DOE + Benefits

Santa Cruz Post Acute is seeking a compassionate, licensed Occupational Therapist (OT) to join our dedicated rehabilitation team. We provide patient‑centered care in a supportive and collaborative environment where your clinical skills and passion for helping others can thrive. We welcome candidates looking for full‑time, part‑time, or PRN opportunities.

Position Summary

The Occupational Therapist is responsible for evaluating, planning, and implementing therapy programs to help residents regain functional independence. This role partners closely with an interdisciplinary team to deliver high‑quality, evidence‑based care.

Responsibilities

Perform comprehensive evaluations and develop individualized treatment plans for residents with physical, cognitive, and psychosocial impairments.

Provide direct therapeutic interventions to improve ADLs, functional mobility, strength, and overall independence.

Document evaluations, treatment notes, progress reports, and discharge summaries in accordance with regulatory and facility standards.

  • Collaborate with nursing, therapy staff, and physicians to ensure coordinated, resident‑centered care.
  • Educate residents, caregivers, and families on safe techniques and home‑care strategies.
  • Participate in care conferences and contribute to interdisciplinary planning.
  • Maintain compliance with state, federal, and professional practice guidelines.

Qualifications

  • Current Occupational Therapist (OTR/L) license in the state of California.
  • Graduate of an accredited Occupational Therapy program.
  • Strong interpersonal, communication, and documentation skills.
  • Skilled nursing facility (SNF) experience preferred but not required—new grads are welcome to apply!

Compensation & Benefits

  • Starting at $50 per hour (DOE)
  • Competitive benefits package for eligible employees, which may include:
  • Medical, dental, and vision insurance
  • Paid time off and holidays
  • Retirement plan options
  • Continuing education support
  • Employee wellness and assistance programs
  • Schedule Options
  • Full-Time
  • Part-Time

PRN / Per‑Diem

We offer flexible scheduling to support work‑life balance.

How to Apply

If you are passionate about helping individuals regain independence and want to make a meaningful impact, we’d love to talk with you!

Please submit your resume or reach out to our recruiting team for more information.

We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other legally protected status.

Qualifications

Education
Professional certificate or licensure

Key Skills

Patient evaluationTreatment planningClinical documentationInterdisciplinary collaborationPatient educationCognitive impairment assessmentPsychosocial impairment assessmentEvidence-based practice

Occupational Therapist Career Context

In California, the Occupational Therapy weighted monthly median benchmark on WeekdayDoc is ~$117k (924 salary observations; 2,017 listings), vs ~$97k nationally (6,587 salary observations; 25,232 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 California is 110.7 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$112k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $101k in an average-cost state. 63.6% of California clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Of the 44 active Occupational Therapy listings this role was benchmarked against, 5% are remote, 41% have no call, 61% require no weekends.

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

Top Occupational Therapist Jobs

26 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution26 jobs · 17 employers

8
<$105k
10
$105k-120k
2
$120k-135k
4
$135k-150k
2
$150k+

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks24 jobs · 17 employers

401k / retirement match
96% this job
CME allowance
54% this job
Sign-on bonus
50%
Loan repayment
21%
Relocation assistance
8%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Occupational Hand Therapist II, Ambulatory

Sutter Health · Yuba City, California

$122k-$171k
#2

Occupational Therapist (Home Health)

21st Century Home Health Services · Galt, California

$130k-$160k
#3

Occupational Therapist

$96k-$141k
#4

Occupational Therapist Matawan NJ

$140k
+ 24 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

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

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 9,285 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

Living in Santa Cruz

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$1.44M
Typical market rent
$3,532/mo
Residents’ average commute
23 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
109.9
State income tax
Up to 13.3%
Sources & methodology

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

BEA 2024 · Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

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

PACS logo

About PACS

IT Services and IT Consulting
201-500 employees

Benefits & Perks

Medical, dental, and vision insurance
Paid time off and holidays
Retirement plan options
Continuing education support
Employee wellness and assistance programs
Flexible scheduling