Occupational Therapy Career Guide: Roles, Salary 2025 & Future Scope

Updated on Dec 23, 2024 11:08 IST
Parul Thapa

Parul ThapaAssistant Manager

An Occupational Therapy career provides various job opportunities, such as occupational therapists, occupational therapist assistants, rehabilitation therapists, clinical assistants, etc. The Occupational Therapy salary offered at entry-level positions ranges between INR 2.5, for mid-level profiles INR 5 LPA and for senior-level profiles INR 8 LPA.

Occupational Therapy course graduates can either go for jobs or pursue further options such as an MBA in Hospital Management, Clinical Research and Public Health courses, etc. The top recruiters where candidates can kickstart their Occupational Therapy career are Max Healthcare Group, Apollo Hospital Group, Tickles India, Fortis Healthcare Group, etc.

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Occupational Therapy Career Scope: Quick Facts

  • The most preferred treatment for occupational therapists is neuro-muscular education and re-education, with 32.1% of occupational therapists ranking it as their first choice.
  • 39% of research in occupational therapy in India focuses on clinical research related to occupational therapy interventions.
  • Occupational Therapist salary in India ranges between INR 0.3 Lakh to INR 8 Lakhs with an average annual salary of INR 3.9 LPA for less than 1 year of experience to 10 years of experience. 

Top Career Profiles in Occupational Therapy 

Candidates can check the job options they have:

Job Profiles

Description

Average Salary (in INR)

Healthcare Administrators

The prime responsibility of this job seeker is to oversee the administrative operations of hospitals or healthcare facilities.

6 LPA

Epidemiologists

An epidemiologist is responsible for planning, directing and working out ways to prevent and treat problems/diseases. 

5.7 LPA

Public Health Educators

The principal job of a public health educator is to ensure large groups of people receive awareness of community health areas.

1 LPA

Environmental Scientists

A relatively new area of interest, an environmental scientist is involved in a variety of tasks surrounding the environment and its impact on public health.

2.8 LPA

Biosecurity Specialists

These professionals develop and implement different safety measures related to biosecurity by creating plans and new procedures.

15.3 LPA

Relevant Links for Occupational Therapy Career Scope:

BAMS Career Prospects

Clinical Research Professional Growth

Pharmacognosy Career Potential

Pharmacovigilance Employment Opportunities

Occupational Therapy Scope in India: Jobs, Salary and Further Education

Occupational Therapy career in India offers promising career opportunities as healthcare awareness and rehabilitation services continue to grow.

They are in demand in hospitals, rehabilitation centres, mental health institutions, schools for children with special needs, and even private practice.

The table below shows the industries where an Occupational Therapy graduate can find job:

Sectors

Description

Healthcare

Hospitals, rehabilitation centres, orthopaedic clinics, and nursing homes.

Education

Special schools, inclusive education institutions, and early intervention centres.

Mental Health

Psychiatric hospitals, mental health clinics, and community mental health programs.

Sports

Sports rehabilitation centres and teams focusing on injury recovery and performance optimization.

NGOs

Organizations working with individuals with disabilities, developmental delays, or social challenges.

Private Practice

Offering personalized therapy and rehabilitation services.

Courses After Occupational Therapy

Here are some advanced courses and certifications candidates can pursue:

Courses

Description

MBA in Hospital Management

A 2-year PG course that provides students with the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively manage healthcare organizations, particularly hospitals and other healthcare facilities.

Public Health Management

A Public Health and Management course in India typically refers to a program of study that combines elements of Public Health and Management to equip students with the knowledge and skills needed to address public health challenges from a managerial and administrative perspective. 

Clinical Research courses

Clinical Research courses are educational programs designed to provide individuals with the knowledge and skills necessary to conduct and manage clinical research studies.

Recommended Resources for Occupational Therapy Career Scope:

Hospital Management Career Path

Learn more about Bachelor of Occupational Therapy

Occupational Therapy: Top Recruiters in India

The top recruiters are mentioned below:

Occupational Therapy Top Recruiters

Max Healthcare Group

Apollo Hospital Group

Tickles India

Fortis Healthcare Group

The Wings Learning Centre

Nirmala Hospital, New Delhi

Best Occupational Therapy Colleges: Placements

Listed below are some of the best Occupational Therapy colleges in India known for their placement: 

College Name

Median Salary

JSS Medical College

13.55 LPA

Manipal College of Health Professions

6.8 - 11.75 LPA

Symbiosis Institute of Health Sciences

10.3 LPA

Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University

6.75 LPA

Padmashree Dr. D.Y. Patil Vidyapeeth, Navi Mumbai

6.4 LPA

College of Occupational Therapy, SRM IST, Chennai

5.95 LPA

Chettinad Academy of Research and Education

5.8 LPA

Jamia Hamdard

4.87 - 5.72 LPA

SJJTU 

5.3 LPA

Recommended Topics for Occupational Therapy Career Scope: 

High Salary Career Options in Medical without NEET in India

Different options to go with if the NEET score is low

Table of contents
  • Popular Occupational Therapy Courses Colleges in India
  • Popular Private Occupational Therapy Courses Colleges in India
  • Popular Exams
  • Most Popular Courses
  • Popular Occupational Therapy Courses UG Courses
  • Popular Occupational Therapy Courses PG Courses

Popular Occupational Therapy Courses Colleges in India

Following are the most popular Occupational Therapy Courses Colleges in India. Learn more about these Occupational Therapy Courses colleges (Courses, Reviews, Answers & more) by downloading the Brochure.
3 Courses
3.2 L - 5.8 L
4.87 - 5.72 LPA

#40 NIRF

1 Course
9 L

#18 NIRF

6.4 L
2 L - 4 L
4.0

Occupational Therapy Applications open. Apply Now

1 Course
5 L

#21 NIRF

1 Course
8.8 L
13.55 LPA

#37 NIRF

Popular Private Occupational Therapy Courses Colleges in India

5.8 LPA

#49 NIRF

2 L - 4 L
4.0

Occupational Therapy Applications open. Apply Now

5.92 L
6.4 L

Occupational Therapy Applications open till Jan 15, 2026. Apply Now

Popular Exams

Following are the top exams for Occupational Therapy Courses. Students interested in pursuing a career on Occupational Therapy Courses, generally take these important exams.You can also download the exam guide to get more insights.

Jan '26

NEET PG 2025 round-3 reporting

TENTATIVE

Jan '26

NEET PG 2025 stray round registration and choice ...

TENTATIVE

10 Jan ' 26 - 15 Jan ' 26

INI CET Nov 2025 round-2 reporting

9 Jan ' 26

INI CET 2025 round-2 seat allotment result

Mar '26 - Apr '26

AIIMS BSc Paramedical Registration (Basic)

TENTATIVE

May '26

AIIMS BSc Paramedical Admit Card

TENTATIVE

Popular Occupational Therapy Courses UG Courses

Following are the most popular Occupational Therapy Courses UG Courses . You can explore the top Colleges offering these UG Courses by clicking the links below.

UG Courses

Popular Occupational Therapy Courses PG Courses

Following are the most popular Occupational Therapy Courses PG Courses . You can explore the top Colleges offering these PG Courses by clicking the links below.

PG Courses

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Student Forum

chatAnything you would want to ask experts?
Write here...

Answered a month ago

The private colleges that have the lowest Occupational Therapy course fees are:

Colleges 

Fees (INR)

Shridhar University

6,000 - 60,000

Saveetha University

75,000 - 2 Lakh

Sun Rise University

80,000 - 1.6 Lakh

OPJS University

1 Lakh

Rayat Bahra University

1.2 Lakh

Note: This information is taken from the official website and may vary.

R

Rashmi Srivastava

Contributor-Level 9

Answered a month ago

Students can try to get admission in government colleges as these colleges have low tuition fees if we compare it to the private colleges or take education loan to reduce the cost. Most of the students prefer govt. colleges for this course.

R

Rashmi Thakur

Contributor-Level 9

Answered a month ago

Yes, definitely the fees can be different according to the state or region where the college is located. Private colleges in the urban areas and the colleges in the metropolitan cities have much higher fees. Colleges that are located in tier 2 cities or are run by the govt. often have lower fees whi

...Read more

S

Shikha Arora

Contributor-Level 9

Answered a month ago

Yes, private colleges mostly charge higher fees for Occupational Therapy courses if we compare it to government colleges.
Government colleges often subsidize fees making them more affordable oprion which is from Rs. 20 K to Rs. 60 K per year. In contrast, private colleges may charge between rs. 1 - 3

...Read more

M

Mohit Datta

Contributor-Level 9

Answered a month ago

NIMS College of Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy offers admisison based on merit to UG and PG courses. Aspiring students must qualify the eligibility criteria set by the institute for the desired course. The college accepts admisison through online mode. Students can apply directly through the

...Read more

M

Mayank Surbhi

Contributor-Level 9

Answered a month ago

NIMS College of Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy offers MPT course in full-time mode for two-years. The college offers MPT specialisation in Cardiopulmonary Disorders, Neurology, Sports, Pediatrics, Community Based Rehabilitation, and others.

U

Upasana Shukla

Contributor-Level 9

Answered a month ago

NIMS College of Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy is one of the top-notch private college which is accredited NABH. The college provides UG, PG and PhD programmes in Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy. The college appoints well-trained and expert faculty members. The highest pacakge offered

...Read more

A

Abhishek Aggarwal

Contributor-Level 9

Answered a month ago

NIMS College of Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy application is open. The college accepts admission through the online application. The step-by-step application process:

  • Go to the official page.
  • Click on 'Apply Today'.
  • Register with the basic details
  • Log in to fill the application form.
  • Pay the app

...Read more

U

Upasana Kumari

Contributor-Level 9

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