How the national numbers differ
1Registered Nurse has the edge on annual openings
Registered Nurse is at 180,800 annual openings, compared with 10,000 annual openings for Occupational Therapist.
Occupational Therapist has the edge on projected growth
Occupational Therapist is at 14.8% projected growth, compared with 5.6% projected growth for Registered Nurse.
Typical preparation differs.
Occupational Therapist: Master's degree Registered Nurse: Bachelor's, associate-degree, and approved diploma routes exist, followed by licensure. A BSN typically takes four years; compare prerequisites and clinical placements for the full timeline. Some employers require a BSN. Preparation categories do not establish admission difficulty, calendar time, tuition, time without earnings, or licensing difficulty.
Occupational Therapist has the edge on median pay
Occupational Therapist is at $100,330, compared with $97,550 for Registered Nurse.
69.8/ 100Occupational Therapist
vs
76.5/ 100Registered Nurse
Each available metric is ranked from 0 to 100 against the careers on ChooseField. The weighted average uses this profile: pay 30%, growth 25%, openings 30%, preparation level 15%. Missing values are not scored as zero; their weights are redistributed across available metrics. Occupation size has zero weight: employment is not accessible vacancies. Preparation categories do not measure admission difficulty or years without earnings. The score summarizes national measures; local opportunities and personal fit still need separate consideration.
Detailed evidence
Occupational Therapist vs Registered Nurse
| Dimension | Occupational Therapist | Registered Nurse |
|---|
| Median pay (2025) | $100,330 | $97,550 |
|---|
| Pay percentile | 82.9 percentile | 80.9 percentile |
|---|
| Projected growth (2025–2035) | 14.8% | 5.6% |
|---|
| Annual openings (2025–2035) | 10,000 | 180,800 |
|---|
| 2025 employment | 169,600 | 3,465,400 |
|---|
| How you qualify | Master's degree | Bachelor's, associate-degree, and approved diploma routes exist, followed by licensure. A BSN typically takes four years; compare prerequisites and clinical placements for the full timeline. Some employers require a BSN. |
| O*NET preparation group | Job Zone 5 | Job Zone 4 |
| Related work experience | No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary. | No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary. |
| On-the-job training | BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training. | BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training. |
| Schedules | Varies by employer and setting; ask about shifts, overtime, on-call work, and predictable hours. | Hospital work may include nights, weekends, holidays, and on-call coverage. Office and school roles more often have regular hours. |
| Physical work | Unknown: review standing, lifting, repetitive movement, and posture with a practitioner. No overall physical-demand rating is assigned. | Standing, walking, bending, and patient handling; demands depend on the care setting. |
The table reports national benchmarks and reviewed work descriptions. It does not rate personal suitability, job security, or physical safety.
