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Ernest Health
Thornton, Colorado

Occupational Therapist Per Diem

Occupational TherapistPer Diem

Listed compensation

$51.00/Hr

The week · per this posting

Schedule not stated in this posting — no days, weekends, call or nights given.

Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations, weekend coverage and time off.

Posted 1h ago · Verified live

Job Description

Occupational Therapist - Per Diem - Thornton, Colorado

Join our world-class team of driven, passionate healthcare professionals who are focused on service excellence and providing top quality care!

At Denver Regional Rehabilitation Hospital we strive to attract, retain, develop, and empower our employees, supporting them in their professional growth with career advancement opportunities and a path to success within our organization.

We have a great per diem opportunity for an Occupational Therapist in Colorado.

Denver Regional Rehabilitation Hospital, serving the greater Denver, Colorado area, provides specialized inpatient rehabilitative services in a warm and patient focused setting.

We offer intensive therapy programs for patients recovering from strokes, neurological injuries, spinal cord and orthopedic trauma, and other debilitating conditions.

Our dedicated team of rehabilitation experts works closely with each patient and their family to create personalized treatment plans – including physical, occupational, and speech therapies – aimed at restoring function and hope.

Accredited and stroke rehabilitation certified, Denver Regional Rehabilitation Hospital has earned national recognition for effective, timely care, allowing patients to receive the highest level of rehab close to home.

Experience the perfect balance of city life and natural beauty in Thornton, Colorado. Just eight miles from downtown Denver and a short drive to Rocky Mountain National Park, the area offers 300 days of sunshine annually and endless recreational opportunities.

Whether you’re catching a game from one of Denver’s four professional sports teams or enjoying a concert at the iconic Red Rocks Amphitheater, there’s always something exciting nearby. Nestled at the foot of the Rocky Mountains, Thornton is an ideal destination for outdoor lovers and urban explorers alike.

As a participating hospital of Ernest Health, we offer robust recognition, wellness, and retention programs. These programs focus to enhance the employees’ work experience, recognize, and celebrate achievements.

We also encourage employees to share their work experience through “My Ernest Journey” and through our Engagement Survey, where our approach is “You Spoke, We Listened”. These platforms provide additional avenues for employees to give feedback about their work experience and share what is important to them.

What You Bring

A passion for patient care, a team player, motivating and collaborating therapist to assist patients to reach the best outcome.

  • Graduate Degree from an accredited program in Occupational Therapy.
  • Current State Occupational Therapist License.
  • Current CPR

Qualifications

Required Skills

Current licensure as an Occupational Therapist required

Basic Life Support/CPR Card Required

One year of experience in the care of patients in rehabilitation hospital setting preferred.

Additional Qualifications/Skills

  • Knowledge of clinical operations and procedures.
  • Demonstrates an understanding of treatment costs and financial support as they relate to quality and efficiency.
  • Demonstrates competency in the provision of care according to established standards
  • Demonstrates appropriate application of age specific standards, policies and procedures and guidelines in caring for pediatric, adolescent, adult, and geriatric patients
  • Demonstrates general computer skills including: data entry, word processing, email, and record management.
  • Leadership skills in delegating, organizing, and educating coworkers and staff.
  • Effective organizational and time management skills.
  • Effective written and verbal communication skills.
  • Ability to maintain proper levels of confidentiality.
  • Ability to work closely and professionally with others.
  • Ability to maintain quality, safety, and/or infection control standards.

Responsibilities

Evaluates patients and helps them improve basic motor functions and reasoning abilities, but also compensate for permanent loss of function by teaching them to perform tasks in their daily living and working environments.

These patients may have conditions that are mentally, physically, developmentally, or emotionally disabling. May also assist patients in selecting appropriate adaptive equipment and assistive devices. Integrates the hospital’s mission and “Guiding Principles” into daily practice.

Posted Total Compensation

The wage range for this role takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including, but not limited to, skill sets, experience, education and training, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs.

It’s not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for their role and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. A reasonable estimate of the current range is $

Minimum Salary

USD $51.00/Hr.

Maximum Salary

USD $51.00/Hr.

Qualifications

Education
Master's degree (postgraduate degree)

Certifications

BLS

Key Skills

Patient evaluation

Occupational Therapist Career Context

The cost-of-living index for Colorado is 103.1 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)). 60.9% of Colorado clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Of the 40 active Occupational Therapy listings this role was benchmarked against, 13% are remote, 40% have no call, 63% require no weekends.

Occupational Therapy pay on WeekdayDoc is up 1.3% vs. the prior quarter (through Sep 2026).

Top contract/1099 Occupational Therapist Jobs

39 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution24 jobs · 23 employers

5
<$115k
4
$115k-130k
8
$130k-145k
5
$145k-160k
2
$160k+

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks29 jobs · 23 employers

401k / retirement match
86%
CME allowance
72%
Sign-on bonus
21%
Relocation assistance
14%
Loan repayment
10%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Occupational Therapist (OT)- South County

Home Care Providers Group · San Diego, California

$158k – $198k
#2

Home Care Occupational TherapistPer Diem

US Physical Therapy · Morristown, New Jersey

$74-$93.75/hr
#3

Home Care Occupational Therapist- (Morris County)

$74-$93.75/hr
#4

Home Care Occupational Therapist- 1099 (Queens)

$80-$90/hr
+ 37 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 4.8this job 3.0
Better work-life than 20% of Occupational Therapy listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 9,491 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

Living in Thornton

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$470k
Typical market rent
$1,881/mo
Residents’ average commute
30 min
State income tax
Up to 4.4%
Sources & methodology

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

City-level figures. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.

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About Ernest Health

Hospitals and Health Care
Mesquite, Texas
501-1,000 employees

Benefits & Perks

Robust recognition, wellness, and retention programs