New Leader Academy logo
New Leader Academy
Streamwood, Illinois

Occupational Therapist

Occupational TherapistFull-Time

Listed compensation

$50k-$80k

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

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

Posted 3mo ago

Job Description

Benefits

  • 401(k)
  • Competitive salary
  • Dental insurance
  • Health insurance
  • Paid time off
  • Tuition assistance
  • Vision insurance

Occupational Therapist (OT)

New Leader Academy

Full-Time | Competitive Salary + Excellent Benefits

New Leader Academy is seeking a compassionate and skilled Occupational Therapist to join our dedicated team. We are a specialized therapeutic day school serving students with disabilities, including autism spectrum disorders, developmental delays, emotional and behavioral challenges, intellectual disabilities, and other complex needs.

About the Role

As an Occupational Therapist at New Leader Academy, you will play a critical role in helping our students build the functional, sensory, and motor skills they need to succeed in school and beyond. You will work collaboratively within a supportive, multidisciplinary team to implement individualized education programs (IEPs) in a nurturing, structured environment.

Key Responsibilities

Conduct thorough occupational therapy evaluations and develop individualized OT goals and treatment plans

Deliver direct occupational therapy services to students in both individual and small-group formats

Address sensory processing difficulties, fine and gross motor development, visual-motor integration, self-regulation, executive functioning, and activities of daily living

Collaborate closely with classroom teachers, speech-language pathologists, behavior specialists, and families to embed OT strategies throughout the school day

  • Participate actively in IEP meetings, progress reporting, and multidisciplinary team consultations
  • Maintain accurate documentation in compliance with IDEA and state regulations
  • Support students in improving handwriting, self-care skills, classroom participation, and overall independence

Qualifications

Master’s degree (or higher) in Occupational Therapy from an accredited program

Current IL state Occupational Therapy license (or eligibility to obtain one)

NBCOT Certification Preferred

  • Experience working with children and adolescents with disabilities, ideally in a school or therapeutic setting
  • Strong knowledge of sensory integration techniques and evidence-based occupational therapy interventions
  • Excellent interpersonal, communication, and team collaboration skills
  • Passion for making a meaningful impact on students with complex learning and behavioral needs
  • Commitment to a trauma-informed, student-centered approach

What We Offer

  • Competitive salary commensurate with experience
  • Comprehensive benefits package including health, dental, vision, and retirement options
  • Professional development and continuing education reimbursement
  • Collaborative and supportive work environment with smaller caseloads

School-year Calendar to Include ESY

Opportunity to be part of a mission-driven team focused on helping every student become a “New Leader”

Schedule: Full-time

If you are a dedicated Occupational Therapist who is passionate about working with students with disabilities and thrives in a team-oriented, therapeutic school setting, we invite you to apply!

Qualifications

Education
Master's degree (postgraduate degree)
Experience
2+ years of experience

Key Skills

IEP ImplementationFine Motor DevelopmentTrauma-Informed CareMultidisciplinary Collaboration

Occupational Therapist Career Context

In Illinois, the Occupational Therapy weighted monthly median benchmark on WeekdayDoc is ~$93k (258 salary observations; 920 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 Illinois is 100.0 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$65k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $65k in an average-cost state. 62.6% of Illinois clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Of the 40 active Occupational Therapy listings this role was benchmarked against, 43% have no call, 80% require no weekends.

Occupational Therapy pay on WeekdayDoc is up 3.7% vs. the prior quarter (through Sep 2026).

Work-Life Balance Analysis

WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Occupational Therapist at New Leader Academy a 7.2 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as very good. This places the position in the top 10% in Occupational Therapy — ranked against 9,471 active Occupational Therapy listings on WeekdayDoc.

Top Occupational Therapist Jobs

23 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution23 jobs · 19 employers

13
<$105k
4
$105k-120k
2
$120k-135k
3
$135k-150k
1
$160k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks21 jobs · 19 employers

401k / retirement match
95% this job
Sign-on bonus
62%
CME allowance
52% this job
Loan repayment
29%
PSLF eligible
14%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Occupational Therapist (Home Health)

21st Century Home Health Services · Galt, California

$130k-$160k
#2

Occupational Therapist

Sentara Health · Norfolk, Virginia

$96k-$141k
#3

Occupational Therapist Matawan NJ

$140k
#4

Occupational Therapist Marlboro NJ

$140k
+ 21 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 4.8this job 7.2
Better work-life than 80% of Occupational Therapy listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 9,471 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

Living in Streamwood

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$337k≈ 6.7× annual pay
Typical market rent
$2,492/mo≈ 60% of gross pay
Residents’ average commute
30 min
State income tax
Up to 5%
Sources & methodology

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

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

New Leader Academy logo

About New Leader Academy

Benefits & Perks

401(k)
Competitive salary
Dental insurance
Health insurance
Paid time off
Tuition assistance
Vision insurance