If you're looking for a high-paying, rewarding career, you may want to check out the OT jobs Phoenix ^[1] has to offer.

Occupational therapists work with people who are suffering from mentally, physically, developmentally, or emotionally disabling conditions that affect their living or working environments. Their overall goal is to help patients obtain an independent and productive lifestyle.

These employees may help patients ^[2] with everything from daily tasks such as showering to more advanced tasks such as using a computer. Occupational therapists often specialize in working with one type of disability or one age group.

In order to become an occupational therapist, you must first earn an undergraduate degree, and then go on to earn at least a master's degree from a school recognized by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education ^[3]. You then must pass a national licensing examination before you can begin working.

There were about 104,500 occupational therapists throughout America during 2008, and that number is expected to increase by an impressive 26 percent by 2018, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics ^[4].

In Arizona ^[5], a total of 281 occupational therapy jobs should be created between 2008 and 2018, making for an increase of 16.7 percent. This is great news for job seekers, as there will be an average of 59 job openings every year, according to the Arizona Workforce Informer ^[6].

The majority of occupational therapists, about 29 percent, work in ambulatory healthcare services, while others work in hospitals, health practitioners' offices, educational services, nursing care facilities, home healthcare services, outpatient care centers, physicians offices, individual and family services, community care facilities for the elderly, and the government.

The top 10 industries that employed occupational therapists in Arizona during 2008 include:

1. General medical and surgical hospitals - 19 percent
2. Elementary and secondary schools - 16.8 percent
3. Offices of other health practitioners - 13.8 percent
4. Nursing care facilities - 10.2 percent
5. Home healthcare services - 7.8 percent
6. Vocational rehabilitation services - 7.8 percent
7. Other hospitals - 3.3 percent
8. Community care facilities for the elderly - 2.4 percent
9. Employment services - 2 percent
10. Management of companies and enterprises - .9 percent

The national median wage for occupational therapists during 2008 was $66,780 per year. The middle 50 percent of employees earned between $55,090 per year and $81,290 per year, while the bottom 10 percent earned less than $42,820 per year, and the top 10 percent earned more than $98,310 per year.

The average wage throughout Arizona in 2009 was $31.23 per hour, with entry-level employees earning about $17.31 per hour, and experienced employees earning roughly $38.19 per hour.