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NovaCare Rehabilitation
Columbia, Maryland

Outpatient Occupational Therapist - Hands and Neuro

Occupational TherapistFull-Time

Listed compensation

$80k-$90k

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 48m ago · Verified live

Job Description

  • Position: Outpatient Occupational Therapist
  • Location: Columbia, MD
  • Population: Hands, Upper Extremity, Orthopedics, and Neurology
  • Schedule: Full-time (32- 40 hours)
  • Salary: $80,000 - $90,000 annually, based on years of experience
  • Incentives: Sign-on bonus and Indefinite Loan Help Available

NovaCare's outpatient team in Columbia, Maryland, is seeking a full-time occupational therapist to join us in providing quality patient care. Certified Hand Therapist (CHT) is not required to be considered. We cannot consider new graduates. At least one (1) year of ortho and neuro experience is required.

We are passionate about creating an exceptional patient experience and helping all of our patients get back to athletics, work, life, and the things they love. We pay for the CHT exam and recertification for our hand therapists. Your caseload will consist of upper extremity, upper limb, neuro (MS, CVA, TBI, Parkinson's, etc.), and orthopedic patients.

Schedule: Full-time. Mondays and Wednesdays 10:45 AM- 7 PM and Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays 7 AM- 3 PM.

  • Why Join Us: (benefits for full-time at 32+ hours/week)
  • Start Strong: Our orientation programs ensure a successful transition

Recharge & Refresh: Generous PTO to maintain a healthy work-life balance with separate Paid Sick Time (PST) accrual and separate Holidays.

Your Health Matters: Comprehensive medical/RX, health, vision, and dental plan with multiple offerings available.

Invest in Your Future: Company-matching 401(k) retirement plans as well as life and disability protection

Elevate Your Skills: Unmatched CEU program with in-person & online CEU courses, paid certifications (CHT, COMT-UL, NCS, Graston, etc.)

Advance your Career: Our Outpatient Clinical Advancement Program supports professional growth and clinical expertise with bonus incentives

  • Go Anywhere with Us: 1800 centers in 36 states, offering internal movement
  • Shanel Green
  • TA Manager- Outpatient Division
  • NovaCare Rehabilitation
  • 610-223-5944 Cell ssgreen@selectmedical.com

Responsibilities

Best Practices: Stay current and up to date with Occupational Therapy research and employ Evidence Based Practice (RCB, clinician expertise, patient perception).

Build Relationships: Enhance, develop and expand relationships with referral sources and maintain a positive level of interaction with centers and patients.

Collaborative Approach: Develop objective patient goals and establish the type, frequency and duration of occupational therapy in collaboration with the referring physician.

High Standard of Care: Understand appropriate state Practice Act and adhere to the laws that govern how OTs may practice and whom they may supervise.

Innovative Opportunities: Participate in the design and implementation of new programs or procedures with the approval of the manager and referring physicians per HIPPA guidelines.

Leadership: Supervise and delegate occupational therapy care for each patient within the guidelines of state rules and federal regulations.

Personalized Treatment: Provide comprehensive and individualized treatment programs and demonstrate completion of patient care responsibilities and documentation requirements in an appropriate and timely manner.

Qualifications

  • Graduate of an accredited school for occupational therapy
  • State Occupational Therapist license (or license eligible)
  • CPR certification
  • Valid state driver’s license
  • Additional Data
  • Equal Opportunity Employer/including Disabled/Veterans

Qualifications

Education
Doctoral or professional degree (postgraduate degree)

Key Skills

Hand therapyTreatment planningSupervisionUpper extremity therapy

Occupational Therapist Career Context

In Maryland, the Occupational Therapy weighted monthly median benchmark on WeekdayDoc is ~$91k (53 salary observations; 113 listings), vs ~$96k nationally (1,891 salary observations; 7,747 listings). Monthly aggregates cover 2026-01-01 through 2026-09-01; these are not the modal's selected comparable-job medians.

Of the 40 active Occupational Therapy listings this role was benchmarked against, 3% are remote, 73% have no call, 75% require no weekends.

Occupational Therapy pay on WeekdayDoc is up 3.8% vs. the prior quarter (through Aug 2026).

The cost-of-living index for Maryland is 105.0 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$85k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $81k in an average-cost state. 62.9% of Maryland clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Top Occupational Therapist Jobs

16 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution16 jobs · 13 employers

6
<$100k
6
$100k-115k
2
$115k-130k
1
$141k
1
$160k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks16 jobs · 13 employers

401k / retirement match
100% this job
CME allowance
63% this job
Sign-on bonus
38% this job
Loan repayment
19% this job
Relocation assistance
6%

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
+ 14 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 5.1this job 3.0
Higher than about 2 in 10 of 8,995 Occupational Therapy listings

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

Living in Columbia

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$448k≈ 5.6× annual pay
Typical market rent
$2,259/mo≈ 34% of gross pay
Residents’ average commute
28 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
104.5
State income tax
Up to 5.8%
Sources & methodology

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

BEA 2024 · Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

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

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About NovaCare Rehabilitation

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

Benefits & Perks

Sign-on bonus
Indefinite Loan Help
Generous PTO
Paid Sick Time (PST)
Holidays
Medical/RX
Health
Vision