Occupational Therapist - NICU
Listed compensation
$75-$80 Per Hour
The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed
Ask the employer about the work setting, nights and shift pattern, benefits and time off.
Job Description
- Job Title: Occupational Therapist - NICU
- Pay: $75-$80 Per Hour
- Shift: 1 weekend a month, 8am start time
- Location: Salinas, CA, 93901
- Schedule: Temp to Hire
Job Duties
Works under the supervision of Rehab Supervisor and Manager of Rehabilitation Services.
Provides Occupational Therapy interventions to patients per referral, including assessment, care, planning, educating patients and families regarding treatment plans, progress and prognosis, scheduling, recording treatment information, and issuing appropriate adaptive equipment.
Should be able to demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the patients served on his/her unit. Performs other duties as assigned.
Skills
1. Assesses patients, plans and administers Care Plan compatible with physician, patient and family goals.
2. Provides high quality and safe patient care.
3. Completes all necessary documentation related to patient treatment.
4. Assists in efficient and effective return of patient to the highest degree of independence possible.
5. Maintains a cost-effective treatment plan
6. Assists in orientation of new employees and volunteers.
7. Instructs and evaluates performance of therapy students and therapy assistant students during clinical affiliations.
8. Regularly assumes duties of Charge Therapist
9. Provides the highest degree of courtesy possible to all employees, patients and associates of the hospital.
10. Adheres to establish Hospital safety standards
11. Ensures that department objectives are met.
12. Demonstrates the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care age appropriate care to the patients served on his/her unit.
Administers to children, an Occupation Therapy Care Plan compatible with physician, patient and family goals, including assessment and intervention in the areas of fine motor skills, self-help skills, development, durable medial equipment, and other areas specific to occupational therapy.
Coordinates with a CCS Case Manager for referral to a CCS panel provider or CCS Medical Therapy Unit for the patient who may continue to require occupational therapy services after hospital discharge.
13. Performs other duties as assigned.
MUST have NICU expereince
Required Certifications & Licensure
- California Occupational Therapy license required.
- Current BLSAHA required.
- Experience: Minimum of 3 years OT experience, and 1 year of NICU
- Education: Master of Occupational Therapy required.
XPDEL, Inc. is committed to an inclusive workplace that does not discriminate against race, nationality, religion, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender, or gender identity. We believe in diversity and encourage any qualified individual to apply. We are an EEOC Employer.
Key Responsibilities
Provides occupational therapy interventions including assessment, care planning, and patient education within the NICU. Coordinates with medical teams and CCS case managers to ensure continuity of care and effective patient rehabilitation.
Requirements
Requires a Master of Occupational Therapy degree, a California Occupational Therapy license, and current BLS certification. Candidates must have at least 3 years of OT experience, including a minimum of 1 year specifically in a NICU setting.
Qualifications
- Education
- Professional certificate or licensure
- Experience
- 2+ years of experience
Key Skills
Occupational Therapist Career Context
In California, the Occupational Therapy weighted monthly median benchmark on WeekdayDoc is ~$116k (627 salary observations; 2,011 listings), vs ~$97k nationally (4,521 salary observations; 25,570 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 ~$161k 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 44 active Occupational Therapy listings this role was benchmarked against, 36% have no call, 73% require no weekends.
Occupational Therapy pay on WeekdayDoc is up 3.7% vs. the prior quarter (through Sep 2026).
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