Occupational Therapist Jobs in San Diego

What Does a Occupational Therapist Do?

Occupational therapists help individuals develop, recover, or maintain skills needed for daily living and work activities. They design interventions and adaptive strategies for physical, cognitive, or emotional conditions.

Occupational Therapist Salary in San Diego

The median salary for a Occupational Therapist in San Diego is $103,297 per year. The range is $79K - $113K (P10: $71,422, P90: $127,635). (BLS OEWS 2025) Typical US salary range: $80K - $130K. In Europe: €45K - €75K. Cost of living in San Diego is very high compared to other cities.

Most In-Demand Skills

The San Diego Job Market

Biotech and defense stronghold with 210K+ life sciences and aerospace jobs. San Diego's biotech cluster rivals the Bay Area with fortress-like stability in life sciences and defense sectors.

Top industries: Biotechnology, Aerospace & Defense, Software, Healthcare.

Mix of public transit and sprawl; remote biotech and aerospace roles are expanding rapidly.

Career Path & 2026 Trends

Occupational therapists advance to senior therapist, supervisor, or clinical specialist roles; many specialize in pediatrics, hand therapy, or mental health. Occupational therapy in 2026 is growing with aging populations and increased focus on mental health, with telehealth expanding service delivery models.

Interview Tip

Share a patient case where you developed innovative adaptive strategies—focus on your assessment process, client collaboration, and functional outcome improvements.

How to Find a Occupational Therapist Job in San Diego?

jobko.ai aggregates listings from 40+ sources (Indeed, LinkedIn, Glassdoor, and more) and uses AI to analyze each posting against your profile. With 2 current Occupational Therapist listings in San Diego, you get honest match scores, red flag detection, and personalized CV advice — all for free.