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Cortica
Carlsbad, California

Occupational Therapist

Occupational TherapistFull-Time

Listed compensation

$83k-$104k

Listing transparency2 of 6 stated

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

Employment & setting
Full-Time
Call expectations
Not specified
Weekends
Not specified
Posted 37m ago · Verified live

Job Description

Cortica is looking for an Occupational Therapist to join its growing multi-disciplinary team in Carlsbad, CA!

As an Occupational Therapist, you’ll assess, diagnose, and treat sensory integration, sensorimotor, motor, feeding, and developmental disorders in children, while utilizing Cortica’s Whole Child Approach.

We are a rapidly growing healthcare company pioneering the most effective treatment methods for children with neurodevelopmental differences. Our mission is to design and deliver life-changing care – one child, one family, one community at a time. Ultimately, we envision a world that cultivates the full potential of every child. At Cortica, every team member is instrumental in helping us achieve our mission!

Our culture and values guide how we work and treat one another. Cortica celebrates diversity and fosters an inclusive environment, seeking ideas and opinions from everyone on the team.

We safeguard equal rights and respect for all individuals, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, creed, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, ancestry, veteran status or other applicable, legally protected characteristics.

All Cortica employment decisions are made based on an individual’s qualifications and ability to successfully perform the job responsibilities.

What Will You Do?

Establish occupational therapy treatment goals through dynamic and standardized assessment tools, in alignment with Cortica’s Whole Child Approach.

Consult closely with transdisciplinary team members to create collaborative treatment plans and integrative strategies.

Provide individual, group, and co-treat therapy sessions for therapy services within scope, as clinically appropriate.

Contributes to the autism diagnostic process by providing clinical insight and administering standardized assessments (e. g. ADOS), as appropriate.

  • Provide therapeutic services in-person in the clinic setting and via telehealth, as clinically appropriate.
  • Accurately complete documentation in accordance with Cortica’s designated time frames.
  • Provide neurodiversity affirming interventions that are both play-based and goal-based.
  • Facilitate functional and child-led experiences to target and achieve individualized goals
  • Utilize transdisciplinary care strategies and supports to help the individual engage in occupations and activities of daily living.
  • Collaborate with the individual and family to understand their values, interests, and goals.

Implement programming that considers all aspects of the child, inclusive of, but not limited to sensory, motor, cognitive, communicative, recreational, and social activities.

Educate patients, families, team members, and caregivers on strategies and generalization activities that complement treatment.

Attend and participate in transdisciplinary rounds, care collaboration meetings, collaborative workshops, site meetings, as well as discipline specific trainings.

Follow Cortica crisis and emergency procedures, including de-escalation strategies, first aid strategies and mandated reporting.

Utilize software and systems, including electronic medical record (EMR) systems and Microsoft Office products, to efficiently manage documentation, reporting, and communication tasks.

We’d Love to Hear from You If

  • You hold a current and unrestrictive license for Occupational Therapy in the state of practice.
  • You hold a master’s degree in related field.
  • You have first aid/CPR training.
  • You have a tuberculosis (TB) clearance.
  • You can complete safety training within the first 90 days of employment.
  • You can obtain and maintain licensure in other states where Cortica operates, as requested, to support the growth and development of Cortica services.
  • You have an appreciation for a wide range of therapeutic approaches.
  • You possess a passion for working with children.
  • You preferably have knowledge of HIPAA regulations to safeguard patient information.

Your Compensation & Benefits

Cortica cares deeply about the well-being of each member of our team, and we have created a passionate, caring, and growth-minded culture that helps teammates thrive!

As a Cortica teammate, we’ll support your well-being through medical, dental, and vision insurance, a 401(k) plan with company matching and rapid vesting, paid holidays and wellness days, life insurance, disability insurance options, tuition reimbursements for professional development and continuing education, and referral bonuses.

We value you and the experience you bring to your role, and are proud to provide you with a compensation and benefits package designed to enhance all aspects of your life.

The base pay range for this opening is $83,288 to $104,111. According to your skill level, relevant experience, education level, and location, you will receive compensation that fits appropriately within the range.

EOE. This posting is not meant to be an exhaustive list of the role and its duties. Please review the job description in the following link: http://bit.ly/4nM70Ql

Privacy Notice

Cortica is committed to protecting your personal information in compliance with applicable federal and state laws. Please review our Privacy Notice to understand how your data is collected, used, and protected.

Fair Chance Ordinance Compliance

Cortica is committed to fair hiring practices. Qualified candidates with criminal histories will be considered and are not automatically disqualified from employment, consistent with applicable federal law, the California Fair Chance Act, and local ordinances such as the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, the City of Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring, and the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers.

E-Verify Participation

This employer participates in E-Verify. Click here to view the E-Verify Poster and your Right to Work.

Este empleador participa en E-Verify. Haga clic aquí para ver el cartel de E-Verify y su derecho a trabajar.

Key Responsibilities

The Occupational Therapist will assess, diagnose, and treat children with neurodevelopmental differences using a transdisciplinary, Whole Child approach. They will collaborate with team members to create individualized treatment plans and provide services both in-clinic and via telehealth.

Requirements

Candidates must hold a current, unrestrictive Occupational Therapy license and a master's degree in a related field. Additional requirements include first aid/CPR training, TB clearance, and the ability to complete safety training within 90 days.

Qualifications

Education
Master's degree (postgraduate degree)
Experience
2+ years of experience

Key Skills

Sensorimotor therapyPediatric therapyTreatment planningADOS assessmentClinical documentationPatient educationCrisis intervention

Occupational Therapist Career Context

In California, the Occupational Therapy weighted monthly median benchmark on WeekdayDoc is ~$116k (89 salary observations; 182 listings), vs ~$96k nationally (714 salary observations; 2,288 listings). Monthly aggregates cover 2026-01-01 through 2026-09-01; these are not the modal's selected comparable-job medians.

Of the 49 active Occupational Therapy listings this role was benchmarked against, 4% are remote, 63% have no call, 71% require no weekends.

Occupational Therapy pay on WeekdayDoc is up 7.3% vs. the prior quarter (through Aug 2026).

The cost-of-living index for California is 110.7 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$94k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $85k in an average-cost state. 63.6% of California clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Top Occupational Therapist Jobs

20 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution20 jobs · 17 employers

7
<$105k
8
$105k-120k
3
$120k-135k
1
$141k
1
$160k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks18 jobs · 17 employers

401k / retirement match
100% this job
CME allowance
67% this job
Sign-on bonus
39%
Loan repayment
17%
Relocation assistance
11%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Occupational Therapist

Amedisys · Hayward, California

$129k–$160k
#2

Acute Care Occupational Therapist

Sentara Health · Hampton, Virginia

$96k-$141k
#3

Occupational Therapist, Home Health

$94k-$129k
#4

Occupational Therapist

$106k-$126k
+ 18 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

3.0/ 10
Listing-based score

Living in Carlsbad

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$1.35M
Typical market rent
$3,556/mo
Residents’ average commute
27 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
111.9
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 · San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

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

Cortica logo

About Cortica

Hospitals and Health Care
San Diego, California
1,001-5,000 employees

Benefits & Perks

Medical, dental, and vision insurance
401(k) plan with company matching and rapid vesting
Paid holidays and wellness days
Life insurance
Disability insurance options
Tuition reimbursements for professional development and continuing education
Referral bonuses