Respiratory Therapist to Occupational Therapist

Summary: 1 of the 6 core skills listed for Occupational Therapist carry over directly from Respiratory Therapist, and 2 more build on related experience. The US median salary changes by +29% ($68K → $88K). Difficulty: Challenging, typically around 9 months of focused upskilling.

The two roles

Respiratory Therapist: Treat patients with breathing disorders and manage ventilators.

Occupational Therapist: Help patients develop or recover daily living and work skills. Growth outlook +14%; AI-resistant. Typical education: master. Typical experience: Fieldwork + license.

Skills that carry over

• Documentation

Builds on related experience

• Treatment Planning — builds on Respiratory Care
• Patient Care — builds on Respiratory Care

Skills to learn for Occupational Therapist

• Assessment
• Adaptive Equipment
• Communication

Salary comparison (median, estimated)

Salary figures are estimates benchmarked against public compensation data — see methodology.

Next steps

Get a personalized analysis of your own skills against Occupational Therapist — free, no signup needed.

Related

Respiratory Therapist career guide | Occupational Therapist career guide

Other transitions to consider

• Respiratory Therapist to EMT/Paramedic — 4 of the core skills carry over
• Respiratory Therapist to Physical Therapist — 2 of the core skills carry over
• Respiratory Therapist to Registered Nurse — 2 of the core skills carry over
• Respiratory Therapist to Physician/Doctor — 2 of the core skills carry over
• Speech-Language Pathologist to Occupational Therapist — 4 of the core skills carry over
• Physician/Doctor to Occupational Therapist — 3 of the core skills carry over
• Home Health Aide to Occupational Therapist — 4 of the core skills carry over
• Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) to Occupational Therapist — 4 of the core skills carry over