CHOC logo
CHOC
Mission Viejo, California

Occupational Therapist, Inpatient Rehab (Per Diem)

Occupational Therapist 8.0 Work-LifePer Diem

Listed compensation

$110K - $112K

Listing transparency2 of 6 stated

Ask the employer about call expectations, weekend coverage and nights and shift pattern.

Employment & setting
Per Diem · on-site
Call expectations
Not specified
Weekends
Not specified
Posted 1mo ago · Verified live

Job Description

Work Location

Mission Viejo, California

Work Shift

Day – 08hrs (United States of America)

Why CHOC?

At CHOC, we strive to be the leading destination of children’s health by providing exceptional and innovative care. We are responsible for the overall health of our community’s pediatric population in our hospitals, clinics, and practices. And because of our breadth of care, your career at CHOC can be as diverse and fulfilling as you determine. CHOC’s compensation structure, benefits offerings, and career development programs are geared to helping you achieve your professional and personal goals. Apply now to see where your career at CHOC can take you.

Environmental Sustainability Statement

Driven by the connection between children's health and a healthy environment, we commit to creating a healthcare model that incorporates environmental sustainability aligned with our mission to protect children's health and patient safety.

Job Summary

The Occupational Therapist provides direct patient and family centered care while under the direction of the Rehabilitation Leadership Team. This includes, but is not limited to, evaluation, assessment, and treatment planning based on functional needs. Works with interdisciplinary team members to coordinate care and adjust treatment plan as necessary. May participate in department-wide process improvement initiatives and program development.

Pay Range

Minimum $53.00 Midpoint $53.00 Maximum $54.00

Rate of pay is determined by various factors, including but not limited to knowledge, skills, competencies, experience, education, as well as position requirements.

Experience

  • Required: None required.
  • Preferred: Clinical Affiliation in Pediatrics.
  • Required: Completion of accredited Occupational Therapy Program. Bachelor’s degree in related field.
  • Preferred: Master's degree in related field.
  • Required: None required.
  • Required: Ability to set goals and judge results in accordance with the highest standards and respect; advance care through development of new ideas and technology; promote teamwork to achieve CHOC’s mission; and understand and exceed customer expectations and effectively solve complex patient care and organizational problems. Strong verbal and written communication skills; interpersonal relationship and collaboration skills.
  • Required: Basic Life Support (BLS); Occ Therapist License – CA.
  • Preferred: SWS, PAMS or VitalStim certification.

Work Environments - Functional Demand

Medium - High energy level Lift and carry 40-50 lbs. Push/pull +/- 150-200 lbs. (Patients on bed, stretcher) Lateral transfer 150-200 lbs. (ie. Patient).

Physical Activity Requirements

Bending, Carry Objects, Climbing, Keyboard use/repetitive motion, Pinching/fine motor activities, Push/Pull, Reaching forward, Reaching overhead, Sitting, Squat/kneel/crawl (Squad & Knee), Standing, Talk or hear, Taste or smell, Twisting, Walking, Wrist position deviation

Physical Activity Lifting

Lifting (Floor to waist level) - Constant 67 or more%, Lifting (Floor to waist level) - Frequent 36-66%, Lifting (Floor to waist level) - Occasional 0-35%, Lifting (Waist level and above) - Constant 67 or more%, Lifting (Waist level and above) - Frequent 36-66%, Lifting (Waist level and above) - Occasional 0-35%

Sensory Requirements

Color Discrimination, Depth Perception, Far Vision, Hearing, Near Vision

Environment Requirements

Airborn Communicable Disease, Bloodborne Pathogens, Chemical, Dust Particular Matter, Extreme Noise Levels, Extreme Temperatures, Radiation, Uneven Surfaces or Elevations

Non-Discrimination Statement

CHOC does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, marital status, genetic information, disability, sex, gender (including pregnancy, breastfeeding, childbirth, lactation or related medical conditions), gender identity or expression, medical condition, sexual orientation, veteran status, military or uniformed service member status, or other protected characteristics in accordance with state and federal laws. CHOC will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories, in accordance with the Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring.

We encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply for positions at CHOC, even if your experience doesn’t align perfectly with the listed qualifications for a particular role, as your unique experience may be a great addition to our culture for another one of our opportunities.

If you desire support or accommodations throughout the Talent Acquisition process, please inform your Talent Acquisition Partner.

Key Responsibilities

The Occupational Therapist provides direct patient and family-centered care, including evaluation, assessment, and treatment planning. They collaborate with interdisciplinary team members to coordinate care and participate in process improvement initiatives.

Requirements

Candidates must have completed an accredited Occupational Therapy Program and hold a Bachelor's degree in a related field. A valid California Occupational Therapist license and Basic Life Support (BLS) certification are required.

Qualifications

Education
Bachelor degree

Key Skills

Patient evaluationPediatric careInterdisciplinary collaborationVerbal communicationInterpersonal skillsGoal settingProblem solving

Work-Life Balance Analysis

WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Occupational Therapist, Inpatient Rehab (Per Diem) at CHOC a 8.0 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as excellent. This places the position in the top 5% in Occupational Therapy — ranked against 8,907 active Occupational Therapy listings on WeekdayDoc.

Occupational Therapist Career Context

In California, the Occupational Therapy weighted monthly median benchmark on WeekdayDoc is ~$114k (273 salary observations; 703 listings), vs ~$97k nationally (2,215 salary observations; 9,570 listings). Monthly aggregates cover 2026-01-01 through 2026-09-01; these are not the modal's selected comparable-job medians.

Of the 50 active Occupational Therapy listings this role was benchmarked against, 6% are remote, 34% have no call, 66% require no weekends.

Occupational Therapy pay on WeekdayDoc is up 5.1% vs. the prior quarter (through Aug 2026).

The cost-of-living index for California is 110.7 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$54k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $48k in an average-cost state. 63.6% of California clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Top Occupational Therapist Jobs

50 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution50 jobs · 42 employers

16
<$115k
10
$115k-130k
13
$130k-145k
5
$145k-160k
6
$160k+

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks40 jobs

401k / retirement match
85%
CME allowance
57%
Sign-on bonus
28%
Relocation assistance
15%
Loan repayment
10%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Occupational Therapist II EX

UCSF · San Francisco, California

$64.05-$86.19/hr
#2

Occupational Therapist

UCSF · San Francisco, California

$64.05-$86.19/hr
#3

Occupational Therapist

$65-$85/hr
#4

Occupational Therapist, Home Health, Yolo County

$58.92-$82.49/hr
+ 48 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

8.0/ 10
Listing-based score

Top 5% in Occupational Therapy

  • On-site

Living in Mission Viejo

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$1,143k
Typical market rent
$3,144/mo
Residents’ average commute
27 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
113.6
State income tax
Up to 13.3%
Sources & methodology

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

BEA 2024 · Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

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