Occupational Therapist Jobs in California

Occupational Therapist jobs in California represent one of the most active markets in the country, with strong demand across pediatric clinics, acute care hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, and school districts at every level from new graduate to senior clinician. Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego are the largest hiring metros, home to major employers such as Kaiser Permanente, Dignity Health, and UCLA Health. The specialties seeing the steadiest openings are pediatrics, hand therapy, and geriatric rehabilitation. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.

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Overview

Open roles169+
Top employerCommonSpirit Health
Top citySanta Maria, CA
Cities hiring81
Work type100% On-site
Top industryHealthcare

Showing 5 of 169+ Occupational Therapist jobs

AccentCare
Occupational Therapist
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AccentCare
Added 1d ago
Occupational Therapist
AccentCare
Redding, California
Allied Health
Healthcare Administration
Occupational Therapy
$116k - $142k/yr
On-Site
Master's
10,000+

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Reliant Rehabilitation
Occupational Therapist
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Reliant Rehabilitation
Added 2d ago
Occupational Therapist
Reliant Rehabilitation
San Andreas, California
Allied Health
Healthcare Administration
Occupational Therapy
Patient Services & Wellbeing
On-Site
Bachelor's

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El Camino Health
Occupational Therapist
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El Camino Health
Added 2d ago
Occupational Therapist
El Camino Health
Mountain View, California
Allied Health
Healthcare Administration
Occupational Therapy
Patient Services & Wellbeing
$59 - $78/hr
On-Site
Bachelor's
1,001-5,000

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City and County of San Francisco
Occupational Therapist
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City and County of San Francisco
Added 3d ago
Occupational Therapist
City and County of San Francisco
San Francisco, California
Allied Health
Healthcare Administration
Occupational Therapy
Patient Services & Wellbeing
$165k/yr
On-Site
None

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HealthPRO Heritage
Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant (COTA)
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HealthPRO Heritage
Added 3d ago
Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant (COTA)
HealthPRO Heritage
Hayward, California
Allied Health
Healthcare Administration
Occupational Therapy
Patient Services & Wellbeing
$40 - $46/hr
On-Site
Associate's
10,000+

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Occupational Therapist Jobs by City in California

Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Santa Maria
9 jobs
Fresno
7 jobs
Sacramento
7 jobs
San Francisco
6 jobs
Los Angeles
5 jobs
San Leandro
5 jobs
Redding
4 jobs
San Jose
4 jobs
Sunnyvale
4 jobs

Occupational Therapist Job Market in California

A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.

Who's Hiring

  • CommonSpirit Health
    CommonSpirit Health19
  • FOX Rehabilitation
    FOX Rehabilitation14
  • HealthPRO Heritage
    HealthPRO Heritage13
  • Dignity Health
    Dignity Health10
  • Sutter Health
    Sutter Health9

Top Industries Hiring

  • Healthcare & Medical Services131
  • Consulting & Professional Services12
  • Education10
  • Insurance4
  • Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals3

What California Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in occupational therapist jobs across California.

  • Active California Occupational Therapy license issued by the California Board of Occupational Therapy
  • Master's or doctoral degree in occupational therapy from an accredited program
  • Passage of the NBCOT certification examination prior to or upon hire
  • Relevant clinical fieldwork experience in a hospital, clinic, or school setting
  • Strong documentation skills and familiarity with electronic health record systems
  • Current CPR and Basic Life Support certification from an accredited provider

Occupational Therapist Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a occupational therapist in California?

You must obtain a California occupational therapy license from the California Board of Occupational Therapy before practicing in the state. This requires completing an accredited master's or doctoral OT program, accumulating the required supervised fieldwork hours, and passing the NBCOT certification exam. Once you have your NBCOT results, you apply to the California Board of Occupational Therapy for licensure. California does not participate in the OT licensure compact, so out-of-state therapists must apply for a California-specific license.

How much do occupational therapists make in California?

Occupational therapists in California earn a median of about $124,510 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $85,550 for the lowest 10% to over $158,560 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.

Which companies hire occupational therapists in California?

Employers hiring occupational therapists in California right now include CommonSpirit Health, FOX Rehabilitation, and HealthPRO Heritage, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of June 2026. California's large integrated health systems, school districts, and rehabilitation networks consistently post the highest volume of openings across the state.

Which California cities have the most occupational therapist jobs?

Santa Maria, Fresno, and Sacramento have the most occupational therapist openings in California. Los Angeles leads due to the sheer concentration of hospital systems, pediatric clinics, and school districts, while San Francisco and San Diego draw demand from major academic medical centers and VA facilities that anchor those metro areas.

Are there remote occupational therapist jobs in California?

Yes, but they're rare. Occupational therapy is a hands-on clinical profession, so most roles require in-person patient contact. About 0% of occupational therapist openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of June 2026, and those tend to be in telehealth consultation, care coordination, or utilization review rather than direct patient treatment.

How can I get hired as a occupational therapist in California with little or no experience?

The most realistic entry path is applying for new-graduate positions at large California health systems, which recruit directly from accredited OT programs. Kaiser Permanente, Dignity Health, and many California school districts run structured new-grad onboarding programs designed for therapists completing their first year of practice. Candidates with completed Level II fieldwork in pediatrics, acute care, or skilled nursing have the strongest footing. Obtaining your California Board of Occupational Therapy license before your first interview signals readiness and removes a common hiring barrier for entry-level candidates.

Where can I find and apply to occupational therapist jobs in California?

You can find and apply to occupational therapist jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings updated regularly. Search the available roles, find the ones that fit your specialty and location, and apply directly to the employer.

See All 169+ Occupational Therapist Jobs in California

Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

Find Occupational Therapist Jobs