Occupational Therapist Clinical Specialist, Outpatient, Certified Hand Therapist
Listed compensation
$135K–$188K
The week · per this posting · Monday – Friday
Weekend work is also flagged as required; confirm which days and how often.
Ask the employer about call expectations and time off.
Job Description
We are so glad you are interested in joining Sutter Health!
Organization
SMF-Sutter Med Foundation- Central
Position Overview
Independently provides occupational therapy services to assigned specialty patient populations, e. g. hand & upper extremity disorders. Majority of patient caseload consists of patient population related to specialty certification.
Using advanced clinical practice knowledge, responsible for assessing, planning, organizing, and participating in rehabilitative programs that help build or restore vocational, homemaking, and daily living skills, as well as general independence, to persons with disabilities or developmental delays.
Demonstrates expert level competencies and skills and possesses at least one specialty certification in one of the pre-approved occupational therapy fields.
In addition, provides in- services, continuing education, training & competency resources, orients/trains/mentors assigned staff, contributes to performance improvement initiatives, provides student clinical experience and other assigned organizational priorities as approved by supervisor.
Adheres to all local/state/federal regulations, codes, policies, and procedures to ensure privacy and safety while delivering optimal patient care.
Job Description
Education
Graduate of an accredited occupational therapy program.
Certification & Licensure
- OT-Occupational Therapist
- OR CHT-Certified Hand Therapist
- BLS-Basic Life Support Healthcare Provider
Must Possess One of the Following
- CHT-Certified Hand Therapist – Hand Therapy Certification Commission
- OR CBIS-Certified Brain Injury Specialist – Brain Injury Association of America
- OR PRPC-Pelvic Rehabilitation Practitioner Certified – Herman & Wallace Pelvic Rehabilitation Institute (H&W)
OR PORI-Certified Oncology Therapist and Certified Oncology Specialist by Physiological Oncology Rehabilitation Institute OR LANA-Certified Lymphedema Therapist by the Lymphology Association of North America
OR AOTA - American Occupational Therapy Associations Board Advanced Certification Programs OR CWS-Certified Wound Specialist for PT, OT by the American Board of Wound Management
OR Duke/Emory University, University of Pitt Vestibular Rehabilitation Competency Based Course & Certification
OR ATP - Assistive Technology Professional Certification by RESNA (Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America)
OR IBCLC-International Board Certified Lactation Consultant by the International Board Certified Lactation Consult Commission
Typical Experience
6 years recent relevant experience
Skills and Knowledge
Clinical specialty area depth knowledge and skill level demonstrated by certification & specialty practice competencies.
- Ability to teach/educate others, public speaking.
- Ability to assess competencies.
- Ability to develop training materials and competency assessments.
- Develop treatment protocols.
- Ability to extract Evidence-based practice (EBP) information and apply to clinical practice and training materials.
- Complex problem solver within and outside of department.
- Analyzes data/information from multiple sources.
- Collaborates with key stakeholders in developing solutions.
- Develops educational curriculum for staff training.
Job Shift
Days
Schedule: Full Time
Days of the Week
Monday - Friday
Weekend Requirements
Every other Weekend, Saturday
Benefits
Yes
Unions
No
Position Status: Exempt
Weekly Hours
40
Employee Status
Regular
Employees of Sutter Health and its entities may handle hazardous drugs in the course of their work, including patient care, which requires them to manage, store, prepare, receive, unpack, transport, dispose of, or administer drugs identified as hazardous or potentially hazardous by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and in accordance with the USP 800 guidelines.
- Sutter Health is an equal opportunity employer EOE/M/F/Disability/Veterans.
- Pay Range is $134,638.40 to $188,489.60 / annual salary
The compensation range may vary based on the geographic location where the position is filled. Total compensation considers multiple factors, including, but not limited to a candidate’s experience, education, skills, licensure, certifications, departmental equity, training, and organizational needs. Base pay is only one component of Sutter Health’s comprehensive total rewards program. Eligible positions also include a comprehensive benefits package.
Key Responsibilities
Independently provide specialized occupational therapy services, focusing on hand and upper extremity disorders for assigned patient populations. Mentor staff, develop educational curricula, and contribute to performance improvement initiatives while adhering to safety and regulatory standards.
Requirements
Requires graduation from an accredited occupational therapy program and at least six years of recent relevant experience. Must hold a current OT license and at least one specialty certification such as Certified Hand Therapist (CHT).
Qualifications
- Education
- Professional certificate or licensure
- Experience
- 5+ years of experience
Certifications
Key Skills
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 ~$162k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $146k in an average-cost state. 63.6% of California clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).
Of the 45 active Occupational Therapy listings this role was benchmarked against, 4% are remote, 40% have no call, 60% require no weekends.
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 Clinical Specialist, Outpatient, Certified Hand Therapist at Sutter Health a 8.0 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as excellent. This places the position in the top 5% in Hand Therapist (OT) — ranked against 166 active Hand Therapist (OT) listings on WeekdayDoc. Contributing factors include no night shifts.
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