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Sanford Health
South Dakota

Acute Occupational Therapist

Occupational TherapistIncludes callFull-Time

Listed compensation

$71K–$97K /yr

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

Ask the employer about the work setting, weekend coverage, nights and shift pattern and time off.

Posted 7mo ago

Job Description

Sanford Health is one of the largest and fastest-growing not-for-profit health systems in the United States. We’re proud to offer many development and advancement opportunities to our nearly 50,000 members of the Sanford Family who are dedicated to the work of health and healing across our broad footprint.

  • Work Shift: 8 Hours - Day Shifts (United States of America) Scheduled
  • Weekly Hours: 40
  • Salary Range: $34.00 - $46.50$15,000 Sign-On Bonus! Union
  • Position: No Department Details - Work in a fast-paced, highly collaborative hospital environment where your clinical skills make an immediate impact

Sanford’s Acute Care team serves a diverse caseload including pulmonary, surgical/trauma, cardiology, renal, ortho, neuro, oncology, general medical, and ICU patients—offering unmatched variety and daily professional growth.

You’ll be part of a supportive, interdisciplinary team that values autonomy, strong communication, and teamwork.

With a positive culture, advanced technology, and the stability of one of the region’s largest health systems, this is a great opportunity for therapists who want to make a meaningful difference and be challenged every day. New grads welcome!

Summary Assesses clients/patients/residents and designs occupational therapy treatments. Help clients/patients/residents to develop, maintain and recover their ability to perform tasks in client’s/patient’s/resident's occupations of life.

Job Description The therapist conducts evaluations and provides interventions for clients/patients/residents who have functional, cognitive or behavioral impairments.

Occupational Therapist evaluate physical, cognitive, developmental and psychosocial abilities of clients/patients/residents; developing realistic therapy goals and administering appropriate occupational therapy programs.

Documents client's/patient's/resident's information for evaluation; establishes therapeutic plans and modifies them if necessary. Provides clients/patients/residents education designed to enhance understanding and improve functional outcomes.

Knowledge of and utilizes appropriate age-related treatments and evaluations relating to the needs of clients/patients/residents. Demonstrate and incorporate knowledge of current research into daily treatment of clients/patients/residents. May treat individuals of all ages with varying diagnosis and disorders.

Will demonstrate documentation in accordance with departmental guidelines and meet all regulatory requirements. Demonstrates level of treatment associated with their specialty provided to their clients/patients/residents. Follows and adheres to accepted clinical practice guidelines of professional organization.

Exhibits flexibility with acceptance of variable work schedules/assignments. Participates in activities to promote the department, Good Samaritan Society and Sanford Health.

Will be interacting with individuals outside of the department including but not limited to: providers, case managers, family members, third party payers, public organizations, etc. May be asked to supervise assistants, aides, and students as they provide patient/resident care, treatment, or other services.

Will be expected to provide ongoing education and training to peers in the area(s) of expertise as determined by the department leadership. Performs other related duties as requested by manager.

Dependent on facility and location, work may focus on those receiving intervention in the post-acute, long term care, and home health care environments.

Qualifications Appropriate education level required in accordance with state licensure. Must be licensed in the state(s) of practice as Occupational Therapist.

When working at a Sanford Health Facility (not required but preferred for GSS Facilities): Must also be certified through the National Board of Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). When applicable, may require valid driver's license.

Obtains and subsequently maintains required department specific competencies and certifications. Basic Life Support (BLS) for health care providers required or within the first 60 days of employment.

In the states of North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, and Minnesota, new graduates in the process of testing with the board, will be considered with the possession of a temporary license. Sanford is an EEO/AA Employer M/F/Disability/Vet.

If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request an accommodation for help with your online application, please call 1-877-673-0854 or send an email to talent@sanfordhealth.org.

The Sanford organization owns and manages multiple distinct brands, including Sanford Health, Marshfield Clinic, and Good Samaritan, as well as Lewis Drug, Sanford Health Equip, Solutions by Sanford, Great Shots, and Blue Rock Bar & Grill.

Sanford Health, the largest rural health system in the United States, is dedicated to transforming the health care experience and providing access to world-class health care in America’s heartland.

Headquartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the organization has 53,000 employees and serves over 2 million patients and nearly 425,000 health plan members across the upper Midwest including South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wyoming, Iowa, Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

The integrated nonprofit health system includes a network of 56 hospitals, 288 clinic locations, 147 senior care communities, 4,000 physicians and advanced practice providers and nearly 1,500 active clinical trials and studies.

The organization’s transformational virtual care initiative brings patients closer to care with access to 78 specialties. Learn more about Sanford Health’s commitment to shaping the future of rural health care across the lifespan at sanfordhealth.org or Sanford Health News.

Good Samaritan, one of the nation’s largest nonprofit providers of senior care and services, is committed to transforming the aging experience through innovation, compassion and personalized care.

As part of Sanford Health, an integrated nonprofit health system headquartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Good Samaritan serves 10,000 seniors and offers access to a full continuum of care, including 94 rehabilitation and skilled nursing centers, 56 assisted living and memory care facilities, 44 independent living locations and 37 home health and hospice agencies.

The senior care provider delivers services across the upper Midwest, with 70% of residents living in rural communities. Learn more about Good Samaritan’s mission and commitment to delivering high quality senior care in rural America at good-sam.com.

Key Responsibilities

The therapist assesses clients and designs occupational therapy treatments to help them develop, maintain, and recover their ability to perform daily life tasks. This involves conducting evaluations, providing interventions for functional, cognitive, or behavioral impairments, and establishing and modifying therapy plans.

Requirements

Candidates must possess the appropriate education level and be licensed in the state(s) of practice as an Occupational Therapist, with NBCOT certification preferred for Sanford Health Facilities. Basic Life Support (BLS) certification is required or must be obtained within 60 days of employment.

Qualifications

Education
Professional certificate or licensure

Key Skills

Interdisciplinary Teamwork

Occupational Therapist Career Context

The cost-of-living index for South Dakota is 88.6 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$84k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $94k in an average-cost state. 58.2% of South Dakota clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Of the 40 active Occupational Therapy listings this role was benchmarked against, 5% are remote, 45% have no call, 55% require no weekends.

What does the Occupational Therapy market look like in South Dakota?
MeasureThis jobMarket
Work-life score5.1 / 10 · above average in occupational therapyranked against 9,325 Occupational Therapy listingslisting-based score, 0–10
Listed pay$71k–$97kOccupational Therapy median $105k (middle half $95k–$120k)376 comparable listings, Oct 2026
Cost-of-living adjusted pay~$94k in purchasing powerSouth Dakota index 88.6 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Occupational Therapy listings in South Dakota31 active9,362 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Oct 2026
Work settingon-sitepeers: 5% remote · 45% no call · 55% no weekends40 benchmarked listings
Occupational Therapy pay trend+1.5% vs prior quarter—through Sep 2026
Sources: WeekdayDoc live listing index (9,325 Occupational Therapy listings), BEA Regional Price Parities (2024); as of Oct 2026. Same values as the Weekday Verdict and Market Insights on this page.

Top Occupational Therapist Jobs

23 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution

23 jobs · 13 employers
10
<$105k
8
$105k-120k
2
$120k-135k
3
$135k-150k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks

22 jobs · 13 employers
401k / retirement match
95% this job
CME allowance
55% this job
Sign-on bonus
45% this job
Loan repayment
18% this job
Relocation assistance
5%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Occupational Therapist - Part Time

Sentara Health · Kitty Hawk, North Carolina

$96k-$141k
#2

Occupational Therapist Matawan NJ

Healthcare Recruitment Counselors · Matawan, New Jersey

$140k
#3

Occupational Therapist Marlboro NJ

$140k
#4

Occupational Therapist (OT) Acute Care

$80k-$130k
+ 21 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 4.8this job 5.1
Better work-life than 50% of Occupational Therapy listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 9,325 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • Includes call
Sanford Health logo

About Sanford Health

Hospitals and Health Care
Sioux Falls, SD
10,000+ employees

Benefits & Perks

$15,000 sign-on bonus
Health insurance
Dental
Vision
Retirement plan
Paid time off
CME allowance