$10,000 Sign on Bonus Occupational Therapist

Occupational TherapistFull-Time

Listed compensation

$72k-$95k

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

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

Posted 1h ago · Verified live

Job Description

Shine on as a occupational therapist.

In special education and alternative education settings nationwide, the team members of Specialized Education Services, Inc. (SESI) shine a positive light on students who need academic, emotional, social, and behavioral support and uncover the unique learner within. Have a profound impact, grow, learn, and thrive as part of our team.

The purpose of this position is to provide services to students who are eligible for occupational therapy intervention in accordance with their IEP/ISP. The occupational therapist may also provide assessment if requested, in accordance with state and district requirements.

Responsibilities

Provide Occupational Therapy intervention for students utilizing exercises and equipment to facilitate fine motor coordination based on the goals and objectives included in the student’s IEP/ISP.

Monitor student progress.

Test and evaluate students (if requested) to determine their need, or continuing need, for occupational therapy.

Consult with classroom teachers regarding occupational therapy plans for each student to assure that intervention is targeted to address the student’s educational needs and incorporated into the classroom as appropriate and possible.

Communicate with parents on a regular basis to assure that they are informed with regard to student progress, and that interventions are incorporated into home activities as appropriate and possible.

Creates solutions to challenges for individual students, which are based in research and sound professional judgment.

  • Make referrals to community resources as needed.
  • Complete required paperwork in a timely and well-organized manner.
  • Other duties may be assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities

OT Assistant.

Qualifications

Requires a bachelor’s degree or master’s degree in occupational therapy, as required by state and contract. NBCOT Certification and/or valid State Certification as specified in the contract.

Ability to work independently. Motivated and well-organized.

Good communication skills with adults and students

Posted Salary Range

USD $72,000.00 - USD $95,000.00 /Yr.

Physical Requirements

Ability to run short distances and move swiftly in response to student needs, including bending, kneeling, and crouching.

Ability to lift and assist students with mobility challenges, often requiring the handling of up to 50 pounds or more.

Skill in managing fine motor tasks, such as helping students with writing, manipulating small objects, or using adaptive devices.

Ability to operate a computer or tablet for up to 8 hours daily.

Capacity to notice and respond to non-verbal cues from students

Capacity to remain calm and composed during physically and emotional demanding situations, ensuring student safety and well-being

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.

Qualifications

Education
Master's degree (postgraduate degree)

Key Skills

IEP/ISP implementationStudent assessmentClassroom consultationParent communicationDocumentationSupervisionResearch-based intervention

Occupational Therapist Career Context

In Illinois, the Occupational Therapy weighted monthly median benchmark on WeekdayDoc is ~$93k (346 salary observations; 963 listings), vs ~$97k nationally (5,886 salary observations; 27,166 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 Illinois is 100.0 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$84k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $84k in an average-cost state. 62.6% of Illinois clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

What does the Occupational Therapy market look like in Illinois?
MeasureThis jobMarket
Listed pay$72k–$95kOccupational Therapy median $88k (middle half $76k–$101k)13 comparable listings, Oct 2026
Illinois vs national$93k median in Illinois$97k nationally (−4%)346 state / 5,886 national salary observations
Cost-of-living adjusted pay~$84k in purchasing powerIllinois index 100.0 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Occupational Therapy listings in Illinois295 active9,123 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Oct 2026
Work settingon-sitepeers: 7% remote · 44% no call · 58% no weekends43 benchmarked listings
Sign-on & loan repayment$10k sign-onIllinois Occupational Therapist listings: 19% state a sign-on bonus (median $10k) · 14% offer loan repayment354 active listings, Oct 2026
Occupational Therapy pay trend+3.3% vs prior quarter—through Sep 2026
Sources: WeekdayDoc live listing index, 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

27 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution

27 jobs · 18 employers
7
<$95k
14
$95k-110k
3
$110k-125k
1
$130k
2
$140k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks

25 jobs · 18 employers
401k / retirement match
96%
CME allowance
52%
Sign-on bonus
40% this job
Loan repayment
20%
PSLF eligible
8%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Occupational Therapist Matawan NJ

Healthcare Recruitment Counselors · Matawan, New Jersey

$140k
#2

Occupational Therapist Marlboro NJ

Healthcare Recruitment Counselors · Marlboro, New Jersey

$140k
#3

Occupational Therapist (OT) Acute Care

$80k-$130k
#4

Occupational Therapist

$76k-$114k
+ 25 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 9,225 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

Specialized Education Services logo

About Specialized Education Services

Education Administration Programs
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
201-500 employees

Benefits & Perks

$10,000 sign-on bonus

Living in Moline

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$153k≈ 2.1× annual pay
Typical market rent
$1,090/mo≈ 18% of gross pay
Residents’ average commute
18 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
89.1
State income tax
Up to 5%
Sources & methodology

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

BEA 2024 · Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

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