Occupational Therapist, Acute Care
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
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!
Schedule/Training
Work Schedule: Full-time: 5 days/week, 8 hours/day (40 hours total).
During training: Follow your trainer’s start time, including weekends.
Post-training: Start at 10 AM
Non-exempt Employees
Full-time OT/PT staff qualify for overtime pay if working over 40 hours/week.
Overtime Pay
- Paid at 1.5 times your hourly rate for hours beyond 40/week.
- No double pay for overtime and holiday premium.
Weekend Shifts
- 3 weekend shifts/month for the first 2 years.
- 2 weekend shifts/month after 2 years.
- Example: Working Sat, Nov 2 = 1 shift; Sun, Nov 3 = 1 shift; Sun, Nov 17 = 1 shift (total 3 shifts).
Flex Days
- Mandatory to ensure a 40-hour workweek.
- Flexible weekend shift design, subject to approval.
Holiday Work Expectations
- Mandatory work on Thanksgiving and Christmas as part of a rotating schedule.
- Shift differentials are available
- Second Shift (Evening): Clock out after 7:07pm then pays from 2:45pm
- Third Shift (Night): Clock out after 3:07am then pays from 10:45pm
- Weekend Shift: Clock out after 10:45pm Friday to 7:15am Monday
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. or
Licenses and Certifications
- (BLS) BASIC LIFE SUPPORT CPR or Basic Life Support (BLS) certification, course accredited by the American Heart Association (AHA) or American Red Cross (ARC) Upon Hire and
- Texas licensed or eligible for Texas license is required Upon Hire
- 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
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 maximize patient recovery. They will also collaborate with the healthcare team, manage equipment, and assist in the supervision of students and technicians.
Requirements
Candidates must hold a Bachelor's degree from an accredited Occupational Therapy program and possess a valid Texas license or be eligible for one. A Basic Life Support (BLS) certification is required upon hire.
Qualifications
- Education
- Bachelor degree
Key Skills
Occupational Therapist Career Context
In Texas, the Occupational Therapy weighted monthly median benchmark on WeekdayDoc is ~$97k (232 salary observations; 2,857 listings), vs ~$97k nationally (5,591 salary observations; 28,673 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Texas vs national | $97k median in Texas | $97k nationally (about the same)232 state / 5,591 national salary observations |
| Cost of living | Texas index 97.1 | US average = 100BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) |
| Occupational Therapy listings in Texas | 904 active | 9,142 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026 |
| Work setting | on-site | peers: 8% remote · 40% no call · 62% no weekends50 benchmarked listings |
| Sign-on & loan repayment | loan repayment | Texas Occupational Therapist listings: 8% state a sign-on bonus (median $5k) · 6% offer loan repayment1,000 active listings, Nov 2026 |
| New Occupational Therapy listings | 3,199 in the last 30 days | 1,713 the 30 days before (+87%)U.S., first seen on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026 |
| Occupational Therapy pay trend | +3.0% 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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