Occupational Therapist - Acute Care

Occupational TherapistIncludes callIncludes weekendsFull-Time

Listed compensation

$68K–$111K

The week · per this posting · Monday – Friday

Weekend work is also flagged as required; confirm which days and how often.

Ask the employer about nights and shift pattern and time off.

Posted 2mo ago

Job Description

Shift: Monday – Friday DAYS with a weekend/Holiday rotation

Department: University Hospital

Compensation

  • Base Pay Range: $68,266 - $111,426/year, based on experience

About the Job

MU Health Care is looking for a passionate and dedicated Occupational Therapist to join our dynamic team! We seek individuals who are not only skilled and knowledgeable but also enthusiastic about continuous learning and professional growth.

The ideal candidate will be a compassionate and innovative problem-solver, committed to enhancing patient safety and independence in daily activities. If you thrive in a collaborative environment and are eager to make a meaningful impact on patients' lives, we want to hear from you.

Join us at MU Health Care, where your expertise and dedication will be valued and supported. Apply today to become a vital part of our mission to provide exceptional care!

About MU Health Care

MU Health Care is proud to be named one of Forbes’ Best-in-State Employers seven years in a row, and that’s largely a result of the incredible culture and team we’ve built. At MU Health Care, we have an inspired, hard-working and collaborative environment driven by our mission to save and improve lives.

Here, we believe anything is possible and rally around solutions. We celebrate innovation and offer opportunities to be a part of something bigger — to have a voice and role in the work that is serving our community and changing the field of medicine.

Our academic health system — the only in mid-Missouri — is home to seven hospitals, including the region’s only Level 1 Trauma Center and region’s only Children’s Hospital, as well as over 90 specialty clinics. Here you can define your career among our many clinical and nonclinical positions — with growth, opportunity and support every step of the way.

  • Learn more about MU Health Care.
  • Learn more about living in mid-Missouri.

Employee Benefits

  • Health, vision and dental insurance coverage starting day one
  • Generous paid leave and paid time off, including ten holidays
  • Multiple retirement options, including 100% matching up to 8% and full vesting in three years
  • Tuition assistance for employees (75%) and immediate family members (50%)
  • Discounts on cell phone plans, rental cars, gyms, hotels and more
  • See a comprehensive list of benefits here.

Detailed Job Description

Actively identify and participate in training, education, development activities, and/or supervise Occupational Therapy or Certified Occupational Therapy Students to improve own knowledge and performance, including acquiring the CEU’s needed to maintain state licensure in the State of Missouri.

  • Administer treatment that requires the advanced skills of a licensed clinician.
  • Complete documentation according to UMHC and department guidelines and policies.

In accordance with physician orders, skillfully provide modalities including, but not limited to, splint fabrication, casting, and compression garment measurement/fitting.

Maintain standards in accordance with the code of ethics of the AOTA and the State of Missouri Practice Act to maintain eligibility for licensure. Perform comprehensive patient evaluations in a time sensitive manner.

Correlate data from the assessment to determine an individualized occupational therapy plan of care directed toward goals based on a developmentally appropriate approach.

May complete unit/department specific duties and expectations as outlined in department documents.

Required Qualifications

Occupational Therapist (OT) licensure by the Missouri Board of Occupational Therapy. OT Limited permit holders must be a graduate of an OT program.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met with or without reasonable accommodation. The performance of these physical demands is an essential function of the job. This position is very active and requires ambulating, reaching, and moving objects weighing up to and over 20 lbs.

This role also routinely comes into contact with patients who may have contagious illnesses. This position is in a health care facility open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Rotating shifts as well as holiday and work during inclement weather will be required.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of Missouri is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Key Responsibilities

The Occupational Therapist will perform comprehensive patient evaluations and administer individualized treatment plans, including splinting and casting. They are also responsible for maintaining accurate clinical documentation and supervising students while adhering to professional ethical standards.

Requirements

Candidates must hold a valid Occupational Therapist (OT) license from the Missouri Board of Occupational Therapy or be a graduate of an OT program with a limited permit. The role requires the ability to perform active physical tasks, including moving objects weighing over 20 lbs.

Qualifications

Education
Professional certificate or licensure

Key Skills

Patient evaluationCompression garment fittingPatient careProblem-solvingCollaborationClinical assessment

Occupational Therapist Career Context

The cost-of-living index for Missouri is 90.8 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$90k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $99k in an average-cost state. 60.1% of Missouri clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Of the 50 active Occupational Therapy listings this role was benchmarked against, 2% are remote, 46% have no call, 60% require no weekends.

Occupational Therapy pay on WeekdayDoc is up 2.5% vs. the prior quarter (through Sep 2026).

Work-Life Balance Analysis

WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Occupational Therapist - Acute Care at University of Missouri Health Care a 6.4 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as good. This places the position in the Above average in Occupational Therapy — ranked against 9,471 active Occupational Therapy listings on WeekdayDoc.

Top Occupational Therapist Jobs

15 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution15 jobs · 13 employers

7
<$105k
2
$105k-120k
2
$120k-135k
3
$135k-150k
1
$160k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks15 jobs · 13 employers

401k / retirement match
93%
Sign-on bonus
73%
CME allowance
47% this job
Loan repayment
33%
PSLF eligible
20%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Occupational Therapist (Home Health)

21st Century Home Health Services · Guerneville, California

$130k-$160k
#2

Occupational Therapist

Sentara Health · Norfolk, Virginia

$96k-$141k
#3

Occupational Therapist Matawan NJ

$140k
#4

Occupational Therapist Marlboro NJ

$140k
+ 13 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 4.8this job 6.4
Better work-life than 70% of Occupational Therapy listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 9,471 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • On-site
  • Includes call
  • Includes weekends

Living in Columbia

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$290k≈ 4.2× annual pay
Typical market rent
$1,444/mo≈ 25% of gross pay
Residents’ average commute
16 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
89.4
State income tax
Up to 5.3%
Sources & methodology

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

BEA 2024 · Columbia, MO metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

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

University of Missouri Health Care logo

About University of Missouri Health Care

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

Benefits & Perks

Health, vision and dental insurance coverage starting day one
Generous paid leave and paid time off, including ten holidays
Multiple retirement options, including 100% matching up to 8%
Tuition assistance for employees (75%) and immediate family members (50%)
Discounts on cell phone plans, rental cars, gyms, hotels