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UW Health
Madison, Wisconsin

Per Diem Occupational Therapist - Acute Care

Occupational TherapistIncludes callIncludes weekendsNo nightsPer Diem

Compensation

Pay not listed

The week · per this posting

Ask the employer about the pay range, the work setting, benefits and time off.

Posted 6mo ago · Verified live

Job Description

Work Schedule: Per diem, day shift. Weekdays may vary. Shifts scheduled between the hours of 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM. Minimum requirement of two (2) weekend shifts per month.

Hours may vary based on the operational needs of the department.

Be Part of Something Remarkable

Join the #1 hospital in Wisconsin! Help patients live their lives to the fullest by providing consultative and rehabilitative treatment services at University Hospital.

We Are Seeking an Occupational Therapist (OT) To

  • Collaborate with the interdisciplinary team to create comprehensive evidence based treatment plans to maximize functional outcomes and optimize discharge.
  • Provide patient and family centered care in a fast paced, dynamic acute care environment at a nationally recognized academic medical center.
  • Demonstrate a high level of clinical excellence, autonomy, adaptability, and engagement.
  • Commit to on-going learning to advance their clinical knowledge, skills, and abilities through peer mentorship, clinical education, and other learning opportunities.
  • Take an active role in program development and quality improvement.

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's Degree in Occupational Therapy Required
  • Master's Degree Preferred

Work Experience

  • 2 years prior relevant experience Preferred

Licenses & Certifications

  • Licensure as an Occupational Therapist in the State of Wisconsin Upon Hire Required
  • Basic Life Support (BLS) within 3 months Required

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

UW Health is committed to fostering a workplace that creates belonging for everyone and is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer.

Our respect for people shines through patient care interactions and our daily work practices as we work to embrace the knowledge, unique perspectives and qualities each employee and faculty member brings to work each day.

It is the policy of UW Health to provide equal opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.

University Hospital In

Madison is a Magnet®-designated facility that’s ranked Wisconsin’s #1 hospital and considered one of the nation's leading hospitals, teaching institutions and referral centers.

View Full Job Description

UW Hospital and Clinics benefits

Key Responsibilities

The Occupational Therapist will collaborate with the interdisciplinary team to develop comprehensive, evidence-based treatment plans aimed at maximizing functional outcomes and optimizing patient discharge. This role involves providing patient and family-centered care within a fast-paced, acute care setting at an academic medical center.

Qualifications

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

Key Skills

Consultative TreatmentInterdisciplinary Team CollaborationEvidence Based Treatment PlanningFunctional Outcomes OptimizationDischarge PlanningPatient Centered CareClinical Knowledge Advancement

Occupational Therapist Career Context

The cost-of-living index for Wisconsin is 94.1 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)). 60.7% of Wisconsin clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Of the 50 active Occupational Therapy listings this role was benchmarked against, 12% are remote, 36% have no call, 70% require no weekends.

Occupational Therapy pay on WeekdayDoc is up 1.5% vs. the prior quarter (through Sep 2026).

Top contract/1099 Occupational Therapist Jobs

43 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution41 jobs · 35 employers

16
<$110k
8
$110k-130k
6
$130k-150k
7
$150k-170k
4
$170k+

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks33 jobs

401k / retirement match
91%
CME allowance
73%
Sign-on bonus
42%
Loan repayment
15%
Relocation assistance
15%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Occupational Therapist III EX

UCSF · Oakland, California

$67.06-$90.53/hr
#2

Occupational Therapist

Ironside Human Resources · Fairfield, California

$75-$90/hr
#3

Occupational Therapist II EX

$64.05-$86.19/hr
#4

Virtual Occupational Therapist

$82.50 per hour
+ 41 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 9,285 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • No nights
  • Includes call
  • Includes weekends

Living in Madison

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$433k
Typical market rent
$1,616/mo
Residents’ average commute
19 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
97.3
State income tax
Up to 7.7%
Sources & methodology

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

BEA 2024 · Madison, WI metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

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