School-Based Occupational Therapist (OT)

Occupational TherapistFull-Time

Listed compensation

$55-$60/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

Job Description

  • Job Title: School-Based Occupational Therapist (OT)
  • Location: La Plata, MD
  • Company: Strides Therapy & Educational Services

About Us

Strides Therapy & Educational Services is a leading local provider of contract therapy services dedicated to enhancing the educational experience of students in schools across Maryland. We are seeking a skilled and passionate Occupational Therapist to join our team of professionals, working collaboratively to support students' fine motor, sensory, and functional development within educational settings.

Position Overview

As a School-Based Occupational Therapist in Maryland, you will have the opportunity to make a significant impact on students' lives by addressing their unique needs, enhancing their participation in school activities, and helping them achieve their educational goals. Your expertise will be crucial in promoting students' overall well-being and success in the school environment.

Requirements

Occupational Therapist MD State Licensure

Responsibilities

Conduct comprehensive assessments and evaluations to determine students' occupational therapy needs and develop individualized treatment plans.

Provide evidence-based occupational therapy interventions, activities, and strategies to improve students' fine motor skills, sensory processing, and functional independence.

Collaborate closely with educators, parents, and other members of the school-based team to create and implement strategies that support students' participation in the classroom and school activities.

Monitor and document students' progress, adapting treatment plans as necessary to ensure optimal outcomes.

Provide guidance and education to parents, teachers, and support staff on strategies to enhance students' fine motor skills and sensory regulation.

Maintain accurate and up-to-date records, including session notes, progress reports, and billing documentation.

Stay current with the latest research, best practices, and techniques in pediatric occupational therapy.

Participate in Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings, team meetings, and school-based professional development opportunities.

Ensure compliance with all federal, state, and local regulations and ethical standards governing occupational therapy services in schools.

Qualifications

  • Master's degree or Doctorate in Occupational Therapy from an accredited program.
  • Maryland state licensure or eligibility for licensure as an Occupational Therapist.
  • Experience in pediatric or school-based occupational therapy is highly desirable.
  • Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with students, parents, educators, and support staff.
  • Excellent organizational skills and the ability to manage a diverse caseload.
  • Dedication to providing culturally competent and student-centered care.

Benefits

  • Health Benefits on Day 1 (Medical, Dental, Vision) with 50% employer contribution
  • 401k with match and immediate vesting, 100% match for the first 3% and 50% for 4 % and 5% (also a part-time benefit)
  • Up to 40 hours PTO/sick time (also a part-time benefit)
  • MD State Licensure Reimbursement
  • National Certification Stipend
  • Professional liability insurance (also a part-time benefit)
  • Cancer insurance (also a part-time benefit)
  • Pet insurance (also a part-time benefit)
  • Life insurance (also a part-time benefit)
  • Catastrophe medical (also a part-time benefit)

Please contact Dana Morgan for more information and additional details. Email: danamorgan@stridesspeechtherapy.com / Phone: 443-247-5517

Join our team and make a meaningful difference in the lives of children and families in Maryland. Apply today!

Qualifications

Education
Doctoral or professional degree (postgraduate degree)

Key Skills

Pediatric therapyFine motor skills developmentAssessment and evaluationTreatment planningCollaborationCulturally competent care

Occupational Therapist Career Context

In Maryland, the Occupational Therapy weighted monthly median benchmark on WeekdayDoc is ~$95k (117 salary observations; 354 listings), vs ~$96k nationally (4,769 salary observations; 24,610 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 Maryland is 105.0 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$120k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $114k in an average-cost state. 62.9% of Maryland clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Of the 40 active Occupational Therapy listings this role was benchmarked against, 5% are remote, 48% have no call, 70% require no weekends.

Strides Therapy and Educational Services holds silver-tier status on WeekdayDoc's Top Employers work-life index, composite score 75/100, 56 active listings.

Occupational Therapy pay on WeekdayDoc is up 2.5% vs. the prior quarter (through Sep 2026).

Top Occupational Therapist Jobs

22 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution22 jobs · 20 employers

9
<$115k
4
$115k-140k
5
$140k-165k
4
$165k-190k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks19 jobs

401k / retirement match
95% this job
Sign-on bonus
63%
CME allowance
42%
Loan repayment
26%
PSLF eligible
16%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Occupational Therapist

Ironside Human Resources · Fairfield, California

$75-$90/hr
#2

Occupational Therapist II EX

UCSF · San Francisco, California

$64.05-$86.19/hr
#3

Virtual Occupational Therapist

$82.50 per hour
#4

Head Occupational Therapist (Inpatient Rehabilitation & Acute Care) | NYP-CUIMC | Full-Time | Mon - Fri | Day Shift

$70.76-$81.01/hr
+ 20 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 4.8this job 5.1
Better work-life than 50% of Occupational Therapy listings

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

Living in La Plata

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$417k
Typical market rent
$2,547/mo
Residents’ average commute
40 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
108.9
State income tax
Up to 5.8%
Sources & methodology

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

BEA 2024 · Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

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

Strides Therapy and Educational Services logo

About Strides Therapy and Educational Services

Education
Davidsonville, MD
11-50 employees

Benefits & Perks

Health Benefits on Day 1 (Medical, Dental, Vision) with 50% employer contribution
401k with match and immediate vesting
Up to 40 hours PTO/sick time
MD State Licensure Reimbursement
National Certification Stipend
Professional liability insurance
Cancer insurance
Pet insurance