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Eleutheria
Tacoma, Washington

Occupational Therapist OT

Occupational TherapistFull-Time

Listed compensation

$62-$72/hr

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

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

Posted 1mo ago · Verified live

Job Description

Job Title

Occupational Therapist OT

Pay Range

$62-72/hour

Job Description

School-Based Occupational Therapist (OT) | Tacoma, WA | 2026–2027 School Year | Early Childhood

Ampersand Therapy is hiring a School-Based Occupational Therapist (OT) for the 2026–2027 school year in Tacoma, Washington. This position will support preschool students ages 3–5 in an early learning setting.

We are a women- and therapist-founded company working to elevate the employment experience for school-based professionals. Join a supportive team and help young students develop the skills needed to participate meaningfully and independently in their educational environment.

Job Highlights

  • Location: Tacoma, WA
  • Position: School-Based Occupational Therapist
  • Setting: In-person, early learning program
  • Grade Levels: Preschool, ages 3–5
  • Anticipated Start Date: Early September 2026
  • School Year: 2026–2027
  • Schedule, FTE, and caseload details will be confirmed

Responsibilities

  • Conduct occupational therapy evaluations and reevaluations
  • Provide individualized and small-group occupational therapy services
  • Develop and implement Individualized Education Program (IEP) goals
  • Support students’ fine-motor, visual-motor, sensory-processing, self-regulation, and daily living skills
  • Help students improve their participation in classroom routines, play, and early learning activities
  • Recommend adaptive equipment, assistive technology, and environmental modifications when appropriate
  • Track student progress and maintain accurate service documentation
  • Prepare evaluation reports, progress reports, and other required records
  • Participate in IEP meetings, eligibility meetings, and multidisciplinary team planning
  • Collaborate with teachers, families, administrators, and related service providers
  • Provide consultation and strategies to classroom staff and families
  • Ensure services comply with state, federal, and district requirements

Qualifications

  • Master’s or doctoral degree in Occupational Therapy from an accredited program
  • Valid Washington State Occupational Therapist license or eligibility to obtain one
  • Valid Washington Educational Staff Associate certificate or eligibility to obtain one
  • Current NBCOT certification
  • Must have current fingerprints on file with OSPI or be willing to complete
  • Must provide at least two supervisory references
  • Experience working with preschool-aged children preferred
  • Previous pediatric, early-intervention, or school-based experience preferred
  • Strong communication, documentation, organization, and collaboration skills

Benefits & Perks

  • Paid Sick Leave
  • Healthcare Benefits*
  • 401(k) with company matching*
  • Reimbursement for licensure, CEUs, and professional development
  • Mileage reimbursement at IRS rate
  • W-2 employee status with liability insurance coverage
  • Referral bonuses

No Non-compete Clause

(*Healthcare benefits available for 0.8 FTE or higher after a short waiting period)

Why Work With Ampersand Therapy?

Ampersand Therapy is a local, women- and therapist-operated company founded by providers who understand what it’s like to work in schools. Our mission is to build a community of therapists who feel supported, appreciated, and empowered to make a difference. We proudly serve school districts throughout Western Washington and across several other states.

You’ll work alongside a small, passionate team of school-based specialists—some of whom are still active providers in schools themselves. We offer mentorship and support, especially for professionals who are newer to school-based practice, and are deeply committed to equity, sustainability, and community involvement.

Our Values

  • Equity & Inclusion
  • Community Engagement

Environmental Sustainability

Apply today to join a team of passionate school-based professionals and make a difference as an Occupational Therapist in Tacoma, WA!

Qualifications

Education
Doctoral or professional degree (postgraduate degree)

Key Skills

IEP developmentFine-motor skillsVisual-motor skillsPediatric therapy

Occupational Therapist Career Context

In Washington, the Occupational Therapy weighted monthly median benchmark on WeekdayDoc is ~$113k (162 salary observations; 296 listings), vs ~$96k nationally (2,981 salary observations; 13,210 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 Washington is 107.0 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$139k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $130k in an average-cost state. 59.8% of Washington clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Of the 46 active Occupational Therapy listings this role was benchmarked against, 2% are remote, 43% have no call, 70% require no weekends.

Occupational Therapy pay on WeekdayDoc is up 1.1% vs. the prior quarter (through Sep 2026).

Location & Logistics

Washington has no state income tax, which can significantly increase take-home pay compared to high-tax states. At the posted ~$139k midpoint, that is roughly $6k–$10k a year versus a typical 4–7% state rate.

Top Occupational Therapist Jobs

27 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution27 jobs · 19 employers

13
<$105k
5
$105k-120k
3
$120k-135k
5
$135k-150k
1
$160k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks27 jobs · 19 employers

401k / retirement match
78% this job
Sign-on bonus
67%
Loan repayment
44%
CME allowance
41% this job
Relocation assistance
11%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Occupational Therapist (Home Health)

21st Century Home Health Services · Citrus Heights, California

$130k-$160k
#2

Acute Care Occupational Therapist

Sentara Health · Hampton, Virginia

$96k-$141k
#3

Occupational Therapist

$96k-$141k
#4

Acute Care Occupational Therapist - Flexi

$96k-$141k
+ 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 9,467 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

Living in Tacoma

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$488k
Typical market rent
$1,740/mo
Residents’ average commute
29 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
111.1
State income tax
None
Sources & methodology

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

BEA 2024 · Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

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

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About Eleutheria

Health, Wellness & Fitness
Goodyear, Arizona
11-50 employees

Benefits & Perks

Paid Sick Leave
Healthcare Benefits
401(k) with company matching
Reimbursement for licensure, CEUs, and professional development
Mileage reimbursement at IRS rate
W-2 employee status with liability insurance coverage
Referral bonuses
No non-compete clause