Occupational Therapist Ranks Seventh Among Best Healthcare Jobs in 2013

According to a report by the US News, occupational therapists rank 7th among the best healthcare jobs of 2013. Occupational therapists can work in a number of different environments, such as hospitals, rehabilitation centers, schools, and home care. Occupational therapists help patients with physical, mental, and developmental disabilities assimilate in society. They help patients with a wide range of activities that are essential to daily life, including eating, cooking, dressing, and operating a computer. If you want to become an occupational therapist, the minimum level of education is a master’s degree in the field. You must then sit, and pass the NBCOT.

Occupational therapists work with patients that range from toddlers to the elderly. Growth in America’s elderly population is expected to keep the job market for occupational therapists thriving. According to the BLS, occupational therapy jobs are suppose to grow 33.5% between 2010 and 2020. The job growth expectation is part of why an occupational therapist is ranked 7th in the best healthcare jobs in 2013 report.

 

Here is the methodology to choosing the best healthcare jobs in 2013:

For each list, occupations are ranked based on the US News and Career calculated Overall Score. The Overall Score combines several components into a single weighted average score of between 0 and 10. Occupational Therapist received an overall score of 7.6.

The Overall Score is calculated from seven component measures: 10-Year Growth Volume, 10-Year Growth Percentage, Median Salary, Employment Rate, Future Job Prospects, Stress Level, and Work-Life Balance. For each measure, jobs receive a score between 0 and 10.

Components measures and their weightings in computing the Overall Score:

10-Year Growth Volume (10%)

10-Year Growth Percentage (10%)

Median Salary (30%)

Job Prospects (20%)

Employment Rate (20%)

Stress Level (5%)

Work-Life Balance (5%)

 

Read the full best healthcare jobs 2013 report by the US News:

http://money.usnews.com/careers/best-jobs/rankings/best-healthcare-jobs