Occupational Therapist - Texas Behavioral Health Center
Compensation
Pay not listed
The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed
Ask the employer about the pay range, the work setting, call expectations and time off.
Job Description
Texas Behavioral Health Center
The Texas Behavioral Health Center is a newly completed state-funded psychiatric hospital opening in Dallas’ Southwestern Medical District that is owned by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) and operated by UT Southwestern Medical Center.
When fully operational, the 505,000-square-foot facility will house 292 beds – 200 for adult patients and 92 for children and adolescents. As DFW’s first state-funded behavioral health hospital, it is designed to deliver state-of-the-art, patient-centered care in a modern and healing environment.
The center provides comprehensive behavioral health treatment and features private patient rooms, abundant access to natural light and nature, and thoughtfully designed spaces that promote recovery. The hospital will also provide training to all behavioral health disciplines.
As employees of UT Southwestern, team members will join a world-class academic medical center committed to patient-centered care, innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and preparing patients for successful reintegration into their families and communities.
With competitive benefits and a mission-driven culture, Texas Behavioral Health Center offers an unparalleled opportunity to make a lasting impact on mental health care in North Texas. Learn more about Texas Behavioral Health Center here!
Why UT Southwestern?
With over 75 years of excellence in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, UT Southwestern is committed to excellence, innovation, teamwork, and compassion. As a world-renowned medical and research center, we strive to provide the best possible care, resources, and benefits for our valued employees.
Ranked as the No. 1 hospital in Dallas-Fort Worth according to U.S. News & World Report, we invest in you with opportunities for career growth and development to align with your future goals.
Our highly competitive benefits package offers healthcare, PTO and paid holidays, on-site childcare, wage, merit increases and so much more. We invite you to be a part of the UT Southwestern team where you'll discover a culture of teamwork, professionalism, and a rewarding career!
Job Summary
Works under supervision.
Benefits
UT Southwestern is proud to offer a competitive and comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees. Our benefits are designed to support your overall wellbeing, and include:
- PPO medical plan, available day one at no cost for full-time employee-only coverage
- 100%25 coverage for preventive healthcare-no copay
- Paid Time Off, available day one
- Retirement Programs through the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS)
- Paid Parental Leave Benefit
- Wellness programs
- Tuition Reimbursement
- Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Qualified Employer
- Learn more about these and other UTSW employee benefits!
Experience and Education
Required
Education
Bachelor's Degree From accredited Occupational Therapy program
Experience
No experience is required,
Licenses and Certifications
- (BLS) BASIC LIFE SUPPORT or Basic Life Support (BLS) certification, course accredited by the American Heart Association (AHA) or American Red Cross (ARC), and
- Texas licensed or eligible for Texas license is required and
- (CPI) CRISIS PREVENTION INSTITUT CER - training must be completed within 30 days of hire date
- Preferred
Experience
1 year Experience, preferred.
Job Duties
Demonstrates knowledge of departmental policies and procedures, and treatment specific protocols regarding patient care. Passes competency reviews. Demonstrates knowledge of proper body mechanics, for personal and patient safety. Utilizes good body mechanics and instructs others in proper body mechanics. Does not compromise patient's or another's safety and maximizes patients' treatment potential.
Reviews information available from all sources, i. e., history and physical, overt and subjective complaints, etc. Utilizes proper testing and measurement procedures based on information gathered in evaluation. Identifies and records problems noted. For each problem identified, projects realistic goals with reasonable time frames. Determines if treatment is effective. Utilizes resulting evaluation to identify and record problems and progresses patient in timely fashion.
Analyzes and designs treatment plans based on patient problems and goals. Prepares for patient discharge. Records patients' progress. Orders equipment and ensures prescriptions are completed in full.
Organizes patient treatment and unscheduled time efficiently. Assists willingly in coverage of other patients and on-the-job training, education, and supervision of occupational therapy technicians, students and/or nursing staff.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
- Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Work requires independent worker and team oriented.
- Work requires basic computer knowledge.
- Work requires general patient care skills with hospital experience.
Work requires heavy physical effort (lift/carry up to 50 lbs.): prolonged, extensive, or considerable standing/walking: lifts, positions, pushes and/or transfers patients: lifts supplies/equipment.
Physical Requirements/Working Conditions
- Physical Requirements
- Carrying
- Lifting
- Pulling
- Pushing
- Standing
- Walking
- Working Conditions
- Hospital Setting
Salary Information
Salary is commensurate with education, skills, and relevant experience.
Security and EEO Statement
Security
This position is security-sensitive and subject to Texas Education Code 51.215, which authorizes UT Southwestern to obtain criminal history record information.
EEO
UT Southwestern Medical Center is committed to an educational and working environment that provides equal opportunity to all members of the University community. As an equal opportunity employer, UT Southwestern prohibits unlawful discrimination, including discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability, genetic information, citizenship status, or veteran status.
Key Responsibilities
The occupational therapist will evaluate patients, design and implement treatment plans, and document progress to facilitate recovery and successful reintegration. They will also collaborate with interdisciplinary teams and assist in the supervision of therapy technicians and students.
Requirements
Candidates must hold a Bachelor's degree from an accredited Occupational Therapy program and possess or be eligible for a Texas license. Basic Life Support (BLS) certification is required, and training in Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) protocols must be completed within 30 days of hire.
Qualifications
- Education
- Bachelor degree
Key Skills
Occupational Therapist Career Context
In Texas, the Occupational Therapy weighted monthly median benchmark on WeekdayDoc is ~$94k (221 salary observations; 3,012 listings), vs ~$97k nationally (5,263 salary observations; 28,727 listings). Monthly aggregates cover 2026-01-01 through 2026-11-01; these are not the modal's selected comparable-job medians.
The cost-of-living index for Texas is 97.1 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)). 57.7% of Texas clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).
| Measure | This job | Market |
|---|---|---|
| Listed pay | not listed | Occupational Therapy median $96k (middle half $89k–$103k)11 comparable listings, Nov 2026 |
| Texas vs national | $94k median in Texas | $97k nationally (−3%)221 state / 5,263 national salary observations |
| Cost of living | Texas index 97.1 | US average = 100BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) |
| Occupational Therapy listings in Texas | 937 active | 9,079 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026 |
| Work setting | on-site | peers: 12% remote · 34% no call · 66% no weekends50 benchmarked listings |
| Sign-on & loan repayment | loan repayment | Texas occupational therapist listings (all specialties): 8% state a sign-on bonus (median $5k) · 6% offer loan repayment1,000 active listings, Nov 2026 |
| New Occupational Therapy listings | 3,284 in the last 30 days | 1,635 the 30 days before (+101%)U.S., first seen on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026 |
| Occupational Therapy pay trend | +4.4% vs prior quarter | —through Oct 2026 |
Location & Logistics
Texas has no state income tax, which can significantly increase take-home pay compared to high-tax states.
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