The occupational therapist (OT) profession made the list of Money Magazine’s 50 best jobs in America. According to the study released this week, the high-ranking comes from variety of factors including compensation and forecasted growth.

“We’ve been experiencing growth in the need for and use of occupational therapy for some time, and it’s gratifying to see an independent source confirm the value of the profession,” says American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) President M. Carolyn Baum, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA. “This phenomenal growth makes it all the more important that occupational therapy envisions where the profession is going, in order to manage this growth.”

Money Magazine began by compiling a list of jobs that the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects will grow at an above-average rate over the next decade. Jobs with average pay below $50,000, total employment of less than 15,000, dangerous work environments or fewer than 800 annual job openings were eliminated from consideration.

The organization then rated the positions by stress levels, flexibility in hours and working environment, creativity and how easy it is to enter and advance in the field. The jobs were ranked with double weight being given to compensation and percentage growth.

Experts forecast OTs to enjoy a 33.61 percent job growth over the next decade, and they have current salaries averaging $51,973.

“The opportunities for occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants are not only strong, they are diverse,” adds Baum. “Our professionals provide services for the full spectrum of life, beginning with children, helping provide skills to grow up and continuing all the way through to senior citizens, to help provide skills for growing older.”

Source: AOTA