Kessler Rehabilitation Center logo
Kessler Rehabilitation Center
Kendall Park, NJ, US

Occupational Therapist

Occupational TherapistPer Diem

Compensation

Pay not listed

The week · per this posting

Schedule not stated in this posting — no days, weekends, call or nights given.

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

Posted 1h ago · Verified live

Job Description

  • Kessler Rehabilitation Center
  • Position: Occupational Therapist
  • Location: Middlesex County
  • Schedule: Per Diem

At Kessler, we take pride in creating an exceptional patient experience, helping our patients get back to athletics, work, life, and the things they love. Every occupational therapist's journey becomes a testament to excellence, innovation, and life-changing patient care. We are here to nurture your growth as a occupational therapist.

  • Our benefits package supports your career growth and personal well-being:
  • Start Strong: Our mentorship and orientation programs ensure a successful transition
  • Elevate Your Skills: Unmatched CEU program with paid national certifications
  • Ease the Burden: Our student debt benefit program helps alleviate the financial pressure of student debt
  • Recharge & Refresh: Generous PTO to maintain a healthy work-life balance
  • Your Health Matters: Comprehensive benefits packages
  • Invest in Your Future: Company matching 401(k) retirement plans
  • Advance your Career: We offer specialties nationwide (aquatics, sports medicine, neuro, pelvic, concussion, hand therapy + more)
  • Go Anywhere with Us: 1900 centers in 39 states, offering internal movement

Responsibilities of the Occupational Therapist (OT)

Performs clinical care management in specialty area of upper extremity and hand to promote growth of program services w/ interest in Hand Therapy, Neuro, Lymphedema, Cancer Rehab

Possesses a highly specialized knowledge base and skills to facilitate patient treatment and staff development.

  • Effectively communicates on multiple levels.
  • Demonstrates active involvement in the community via education and marketing.
  • Promotes and develops services within the organization.
  • Assists with staff education through internal and external in-service education and mentorship programs.

Qualifications

  • Prior experience in outpatient orthopedics preferred;
  • Prior experience in Neuro and Orthopedics preferred.
  • Interest in Hand Therapy

Education and Experience Required

  • Minimum Bachelor’s Degree in Occupational Therapy;
  • Current and valid NJ state licensure or eligibility for state licensure as a Occupational Therapist
  • AHA CPR/AED Certified
  • Additional Data
  • Equal Opportunity Employer/including Disabled/Veterans

Qualifications

Education
Professional certificate or licensure
Experience
2+ years of experience

Key Skills

Neuro rehabilitationLymphedema therapyCancer rehabilitationCommunity education

Occupational Therapist Career Context

In New Jersey, the Occupational Therapy weighted monthly median benchmark on WeekdayDoc is ~$99k (159 salary observations; 471 listings), vs ~$97k nationally (5,096 salary observations; 27,028 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 New Jersey is 108.8 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)). 63.8% of New Jersey clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

What does the Occupational Therapy market look like in New Jersey?
MeasureThis jobMarket
Listed paynot listedOccupational Therapy median $121k (middle half $121k–$121k)10 comparable listings, Oct 2026
New Jersey vs national$99k median in New Jersey$97k nationally (+1%)159 state / 5,096 national salary observations
Cost of livingNew Jersey index 108.8US average = 100BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Occupational Therapy listings in New Jersey168 active9,061 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Oct 2026
Work settingon-sitepeers: 4% remote · 52% no call · 70% no weekends50 benchmarked listings
Sign-on & loan repaymentnot statedNew Jersey Occupational Therapist listings: 13% state a sign-on bonus (median $10k) · 10% offer loan repayment190 active listings, Oct 2026
Occupational Therapy pay trend+2.2% vs prior quarter—through Sep 2026
Sources: WeekdayDoc live listing index, BEA Regional Price Parities (2024); as of Oct 2026. Same values as the Weekday Verdict and Market Insights on this page.

Top contract/1099 Occupational Therapist Jobs

39 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution

32 jobs · 30 employers
14
<$105k
8
$105k-120k
4
$120k-135k
5
$135k-150k
1
$152k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks

34 jobs · 30 employers
401k / retirement match
100% this job
CME allowance
59% this job
Loan repayment
18%
Sign-on bonus
15%
PSLF eligible
9%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

School-Based Occupational Therapist (OT)

Strides Therapy and Educational Services · Baltimore, Maryland

$67-$73/hr
#2

Occupational Therapist

Infinity Rehab · Berkeley, California

$57-$70/hr
#3

Occupational Therapist (OTR/L)

$67/hr
#4

School-Based Occupational Therapist (OT)

$62-$66/hr
+ 37 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 9,128 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

Kessler Rehabilitation Center logo

About Kessler Rehabilitation Center

Hospitals and Health Care
Lyndhurst, NJ
201-500 employees

Benefits & Perks

Student debt benefit program
Unmatched CEU program with paid national certifications
Generous PTO
Comprehensive benefits packages
Company matching 401(k) retirement plans
Mentorship and orientation programs

Living in Kendall Park

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$623k
Median resident rent
$1,928/mo
Residents’ average commute
31 min
State income tax
Up to 10.8%
Sources & methodology

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

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