Ascend Rehab Services logo
Ascend Rehab Services
San Jose, California

Occupational Therapist - School Based

Occupational TherapistFull-Time

Listed compensation

$80k-$120k

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

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

Posted 1mo ago

Job Description

  • Pay: $80,000.00 - $120,000.00 per year
  • Job Location: Santa Clara County
  • School-Based Occupational Therapist or COTA | Multiple Bay Area Locations

At Ascend Rehab Services, our mission is simple—grow, learn, and develop alongside the children and families we serve. We believe every day holds the possibility of a miracle, and our team is passionate about making a meaningful impact through collaboration, compassion, and clinical excellence.

We are currently seeking an Occupational Therapist to join our school-based team in the Santa Clara County, working with students across K–12 settings.

What You’ll Do

Conduct pediatric occupational therapy assessments to evaluate students’ functional abilities, including fine/gross motor skills, sensory integration, and daily living skills

  • Provide individual and group therapy to address sensory-motor needs and support student development
  • Develop and implement IEP goals focused on fine motor skills, sensory processing, self-regulation, and functional independence
  • Collaborate with teachers, SLPs, psychologists, and other school staff to support student success
  • Recommend and implement assistive technology and accommodations
  • Maintain accurate documentation, progress reports, and compliance with school and state guidelines
  • Participate in IEP meetings and communicate effectively with families and staff members

Why Join Ascend

  • Competitive salary + sign-on bonus
  • Relocation Assistance
  • Comprehensive benefits package (medical, dental, vision, life insurance)
  • 401(k) with company match
  • Multi-tiered clinical support and mentorship
  • Generous PTO, paid holidays, and sick leave
  • CEU support (in-house + reimbursement)
  • Licensure and credential reimbursement
  • Wellness incentives and employee recognition programs
  • Career growth and leadership opportunities
  • Laptop or iPad provided, with full access to in-office laminators and therapy resources

What We’re Looking For

  • Master’s Degree in Occupational Therapy
  • Active California OT License (required)
  • Experience or interest in working with pediatric/school-based populations
  • Strong collaboration and communication skills
  • Passion for supporting students with diverse learning and developmental needs
  • If this sounds like a great fit, please contact Scarlett at (510) 362-0834 or talent@ascendrehabinc.com

Key Responsibilities

The Occupational Therapist will conduct pediatric assessments and provide individual or group therapy to support student development in K-12 settings. They will also collaborate with school staff to develop IEP goals and implement necessary accommodations.

Requirements

Candidates must hold a Master’s Degree in Occupational Therapy and possess an active California OT License. Experience or a strong interest in working with pediatric or school-based populations is required.

Key Skills

Pediatric assessmentIEP developmentClinical documentation

Occupational Therapist Career Context

In California, the Occupational Therapy weighted monthly median benchmark on WeekdayDoc is ~$117k (745 salary observations; 2,304 listings), vs ~$97k nationally (5,279 salary observations; 29,546 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 California is 110.7 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$100k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $90k in an average-cost state. 63.6% of California clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

What does the Occupational Therapy market look like in California?
MeasureThis jobMarket
Listed pay$80k–$120kOccupational Therapy median $102k (middle half $98k–$120k)22 comparable listings, Nov 2026
California vs national$117k median in California$97k nationally (+21%)745 state / 5,279 national salary observations
Cost-of-living adjusted pay~$90k in purchasing powerCalifornia index 110.7 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Occupational Therapy listings in California882 active9,004 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Work settingon-sitepeers: 4% remote · 30% no call · 62% no weekends47 benchmarked listings
Sign-on & loan repaymentsign-on bonusCalifornia occupational therapist listings (all specialties): 15% state a sign-on bonus (median $5k) · 5% offer loan repayment938 active listings, Nov 2026
New Occupational Therapy listings3,212 in the last 30 days1,658 the 30 days before (+94%)U.S., first seen on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Occupational Therapy pay trend+4.1% vs prior quarter—through Oct 2026
Sources: WeekdayDoc live listing index, BEA Regional Price Parities (2024); as of Nov 2026. Same values as the Weekday Verdict and Market Insights on this page.

Top Occupational Therapist Jobs

25 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution

25 jobs · 15 employers
5
<$100k
11
$100k-115k
4
$115k-130k
5
$130k-145k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks

23 jobs · 15 employers
401k / retirement match
91% this job
Sign-on bonus
35% this job
CME allowance
35% this job
Loan repayment
4%
PSLF eligible
4%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Occupational Therapist Marlboro NJ

Healthcare Recruitment Counselors · Marlboro, New Jersey

$140k
#2

Occupational Therapist Matawan NJ

Healthcare Recruitment Counselors · Matawan, New Jersey

$140k
#3

Occupational Therapist II, 40 Hours Days, University Campus

$77k-$139k
#4

Occupational Therapist - Acute Care

$115k-$135k
+ 23 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 8,995 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

Ascend Rehab Services logo

About Ascend Rehab Services

Medical Practices
Union City, California
51-200 employees

Benefits & Perks

Sign-On Bonus
Relocation Assistance
Medical Insurance
Dental
Vision
Life Insurance
401(k) with Company Match
Generous PTO

Living in San Jose

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$1.29M≈ 16.1× annual pay
Typical market rent
$3,582/mo≈ 54% of gross pay
Residents’ average commute
27 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
110.4
State income tax
Up to 13.3%
Sources & methodology

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

BEA 2024 · San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

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