Travel Occupational Therapy Jobs: 2026 Ultimate Guide

Many OTs consider trying out traveling occupational therapy at some point. 

Not only do travel OT jobs provide tons of experience and exposure to multiple settings, but they also offer higher-than-average compensation—which can help you pay down loans faster and get out of debt more quickly.

That said, as with any type of practice, travel therapy comes with a host of pros and cons to consider. 

Think of this post as your guide to travel occupational therapy in 2026—how it works, how much you can expect to earn, and where to find your perfect travel therapy job. We’ll answer common travel therapy questions we’ve received from occupational therapists and OT assistants to help you determine whether traveling is the right career move for you.

Please note: We are an affiliate of Nomadicare, which helps match travelers with vetted recruiters. Nomadicare founder Laura Latimer, OTR/L, started her business in 2014—just like me! I am so proud of the transparency she has brought to this competitive (and sometimes shady!) industry.

How Travel OT Works

Travel therapy involves taking short-term contracts at facilities that have an immediate need for staffing. This means therapists typically transition between different facilities every few months, hitting the ground running at each new location with minimal orientation. The industry standard for a travel contract is 13 weeks, though some can be as short as 8 weeks or as long as 26 weeks.

Most travel therapy journeys start with a travel healthcare recruiter, who partners with a staffing agency. The agency often has contracts with hospitals, schools, home health agencies, and SNFs across the country. You decide your preferred setting and location, and the recruiter submits your profile for open positions that match your preferences. After a quick interview to ensure a good fit, it’s time to pack your bags and get to work!

The agency typically handles all the heavy lifting: coordinating background checks, assisting with state licensure, and providing tax-free stipends for living costs. You as the therapist have the flexibility to decide when and where you work (and when you want to take time off). Some of the most in-demand travel positions are in SNFs and rural settings, though travel therapists can truly work across a wide variety of settings and patient populations.

Where to Find Travel OT Jobs

When you’re looking for a travel OT position, you’re really looking more for the right company and recruiter.

I say this because a good recruiter is key to finding good travel jobs. In fact, the whole reason you use a recruiter is so you don’t have to stress about vetting each travel occupational therapist job every time you change roles. It is important to understand that one recruiter or agency does not have all the jobs, so therapists should shop around and compare options when applying to travel positions. You might even receive different pay package options from different recruiters for the same position!

This is where Nomadicare comes in. Nomadicare rigorously vets recruiters and agencies—and then connects therapists with the ones who match their needs. (OT Potential is a proud affiliate of Nomadicare!)

Another great go-to source for OT travel information is the Travel Therapy Therapists Facebook Group. This is an extremely active and supportive community with nearly 19,000 members at the time of this article’s latest update. Here are some of the other travel companies I see mentioned regularly:

• Ardor Health Solutions

• Comp Health

• Core Medical Group

• Fusion Medical Staffing

• Jackson Therapy Partners

• AMN Healthcare (formerly Med Travelers)

• Pioneer Healthcare Services

• Supplemental Health Care

Travel Occupational Therapy Salaries and Pay

A big draw to travel therapy, aside from the opportunity to travel and gain a variety of clinical experiences, is that travel positions typically pay more than traditional permanent roles. While rates vary widely by geographic area and setting, traveling therapy professionals have the potential to earn up to 1.5 times more than they would in a permanent therapy job!

Check out Nomadicare’s Travel Therapy Salary Guide to compare average travel therapy salaries across specialties and states.

States with the Highest Average Occupational Therapist Travel Pay

Based on the Nomadicare guide, here are the top ten states with the highest occupational therapist average pay. For context, the average salary for all OTs is $98,833, which amounts to $1,902 per week.

Now, let’s say you’re a travel therapist in Kentucky. If you worked all 52 weeks at the average travel therapy rate of $2,341 per week, you would earn $121,732 in a year. If you worked in the highest-paying travel role in California, you’d earn $3,008 per week—or $156,416 for a full year.

1. North Dakota ($2,343/week)

2. Kentucky ($2,341/week)

3. New Hampshire ($2,333/week)

4. New York ($2,311/week)

5. Idaho ($2,306)

6. Iowa ($2,280)

7. Montana ($2,273/week)

8. Alaska ($2,268/week)

9. Nebraska ($2,221/week)

10. Nevada ($2,220/week)

Note: Averages and ranges fluctuate as new positions are listed. The numbers above are accurate as of the publish date of this updated article.

States with the Highest Average Occupational Therapy Assistant Travel Pay

Based on the Nomadicare guide, here are the top ten states with the highest OTA average pay. For context the average salary for all OTAs is $61,174, amounts to $1,176 per week.

Now, let’s say you’re a travel OTA in Kentucky. If you worked all 52 weeks at the average rate of $1,721 per week, you would earn $89,492 in a year. If you worked in the highest-paying travel OTA role in California, you’d earn $1,949 per week—or $101,348 for a full year.

1. Kentucky ($1,721/week)

2. Nebraska ($1,681/week)

3. North Dakota ($1,649/week)

4. Louisiana ($1,640/week)

5. Georgia ($1,628/week)

6. Connecticut ($1,622/week)

7. New Mexico ($1,595/week)

8. Oregon ($1,560/week)

9. California ($1,554/week)

10. Idaho ($1,531/week)

Note: Averages and ranges fluctuate as new positions are listed. The numbers above are accurate as of the publish date of this updated article.

It’s important to note that in order to qualify for the tax-tree housing and meal stipends offered by many travel therapy agencies, therapists must maintain a permanent residence elsewhere. This is called the Tax Home. So you’ll need to keep your home base while also paying for short-term housing on the road. Luckily, travel OT jobs typically offer higher compensation than permanent positions, which can help offset living costs.

What to Look For in a Travel OT Contract

Before you sign a travel therapy contract, you want to really understand what you are agreeing to—beyond the weekly paycheck. The staffing agency might not have all the details from the employer, so it’s important to ask a lot of questions when you interview with the facility. Here are some things to look for in a travel therapy employment contract:

Commonly Asked Travel Therapy Questions

Who can work in travel healthcare roles?

OT, PT, SLP, social work, and nursing professionals can all work in travel healthcare positions.

What settings are available for travel therapists?

Travel therapists can work in almost any setting with any patient population. However, the pickier you are, the harder it might be to find positions that match your preferences. Some of the most in-demand travel positions are in SNFs, home health, and rural settings.

How much experience do you need before pursuing travel therapy?

Occupational therapists can often start taking travel roles immediately after becoming licensed—no prior clinical experience necessary.

Once you decide to travel, how long does it take to actually start a travel OT position?

Travel therapy moves quickly, with offers coming and going fast. Once you’ve accepted a new job, you can expect to start working within a few weeks.

Does the therapist choose their location, or does the staffing agency decide?

Therapists have full flexibility to decide which placements to accept, so they maintain control over where and when they work. It’s helpful to work with a recruiter who really listens to your preferences and advocates for your needs.

Can I travel with a friend?

Absolutely! Travel therapy can be so much fun—and more cost-effective—with a friend. It takes a bit more effort to coordinate positions in the same area with similar start and end dates, but many current and former travel therapists highly recommend it.

How long is a typical travel therapy contract?

Almost all travel contracts are 13 weeks, though some may be as short as 8 weeks or as long as 26. Therapists can negotiate contract timing during the interview process. If you decide travel therapy isn’t for you, you’re not locked in—you can transition to a permanent role between contracts, or even give notice during a placement if it’s truly not the right fit.

Does having an OTD versus a master’s degree affect travel pay?

Travel salaries are based primarily on region and years of experience in a particular setting, rather than degree level.

How does pay work, and what costs should I expect?

Travel therapy pay packages include both a taxable base wage and tax-free stipends for housing and meals—but to qualify for those stipends, you must maintain a permanent residence (i.e., your “tax home”) elsewhere. However, housing is a negotiable part of your contract. Your agency can arrange extended-stay hotel accommodations, or you can find your own housing—which can save you money if you find an off-season rental or stay with friends. The housing stipend is calculated based on the regional cost of living, so it will be higher in places like California than in lower-cost states. Extras like mileage reimbursement are also negotiable—don’t be afraid to ask!

How do I find and evaluate travel companies?

Start by reaching out to any travel therapists you know for recommendations, keeping in mind that many travelers receive referral bonuses, so they may be inclined to steer you toward their own agency. From there, contact several companies and compare them. A useful approach is to put together a standard list of questions—covering topics like medical coverage between placements, CEU allowances, PTO, completion bonuses, and housing stipends—and send it to each recruiter. How thoroughly and promptly they respond will tell you a lot about the company. Track their responses in a spreadsheet so you can compare side by side.

What kinds of questions should I ask the travel agencies I’m evaluating?

Here’s a sample list of questions you can work from, borrowed from a travel OT who was looking for placements with a friend:

• Is medical coverage free for every placement?

• How does medical coverage work between placements? If I want to take off a week between placements, would I still have medical coverage?

• Is there any life insurance offered?

• Are meals and incidentals covered with a stipend?

• As part of the travel expense allowance, is there ever the opportunity for car rental when placements are farther away?

• How much is the CEU annual allowance?

• Are there any opportunities for PTO?

• Can you elaborate on completion and renewal bonuses?

• Another OT and I are hoping to travel together. Is it always possible to get placements in or near the same place?

How does state licensure work when traveling to multiple states?

Traveling therapists typically obtain a standard license (not a temporary one) in each state they work in. (Temporary licenses are generally reserved for new graduates awaiting their official license while working under the supervision of a licensed therapist.) Once you leave a state, you can keep your license active if you plan to return, switch it to inactive status for a reduced fee, or let it lapse entirely. Each state has its own renewal requirements, and many require verification letters from all other states where you hold a license. It’s worth noting that some states are working toward reciprocity agreements that would allow therapists to practice across state lines under a single license—a development worth following.

How does health insurance work as a travel therapist?

Health insurance as a travel therapist requires a bit more planning than it does for therapists in permanent roles, but there are several solid options to consider. The most common—and typically most affordable—route is to enroll in the health insurance plan offered by your staffing agency. Most travel companies cover a significant portion of your premium, sometimes 75% or more, making agency-sponsored insurance considerably cheaper than any plans you’d purchase on your own. Coverage generally begins on the first day of an assignment and can often be extended for a period between contracts, though the exact terms vary by agency—so it’s worth asking about this before signing.

If you plan to switch agencies frequently, or simply want more continuity and control over your coverage, purchasing your own private plan through the government Health Insurance Marketplace is another option. Open enrollment runs annually from November 1 through January 15, though you may also qualify to enroll outside that window if you experience a qualifying life event—such as moving or losing a job, both of which are common for travelers. Marketplace plans typically cost more than employer-sponsored options since you’re covering the full premium yourself, though income-based subsidies can sometimes help offset that difference.

A third option is to remain on a parent’s plan (if you’re under 26) or a spouse’s plan (if they have employer-sponsored coverage). Whatever route you choose, health insurance terms are worth raising early in your conversations with any recruiter, and should be clearly spelled out before you sign a contract.

How do I handle the documentation learning curve at a new facility?

The good news is that most facilities use one of a small number of widely used documentation systems, so there’s a decent chance you’ll already be familiar with the platform when you arrive, especially as you get more and more placements under your belt. Beyond that, coming prepared with your own organized collection of patient handouts and assessments—rather than hunting through an unfamiliar therapy gym in your first week—can make a big difference in how smoothly you’re able to hit the ground running.

What should I expect emotionally and logistically when transitioning between contracts?

We’re not going to sugar-coat it: the uncertainty is real. You may not know where your next placement will be until a week or two before your contract ends, which can make planning your personal life—flights, commitments, social plans—genuinely difficult. Facilities can also occasionally cut contracts short if they hire a permanent therapist, so it’s important to have financial flexibility and to stay mentally adaptable. Building a strong relationship with a recruiter you trust goes a long way toward managing these transitions with less stress.

Any final tips for success as a travel therapist?

Do your research and vet multiple agencies before committing. Find a recruiter you truly trust—someone who is detail-oriented, responsive, and will advocate for you. Get all contract terms in writing, and don’t sign anything you’re not comfortable with. Once you’re on assignment, be ready to learn fast: save your school notes and clinical resources, know where to turn for continuing education, and ask questions freely. Most importantly, trust your capabilities! There will be uncertainty, but you’ll become a more flexible and confident clinician with every placement.

Conclusion

Travel OT provides countless opportunities to grow. Not only can you gain experience in a wide variety of settings and patient populations, but you can also work in a number of locations across the country. Traveling and living in new places exposes you to ways of life you might not otherwise know.

In my opinion, travel OT is one of the best ways to grow—not just as a clinician, but also as a person.

Want to learn even more about the ins and outs of travel therapy? Listen to the OT Potential CEU course Intro to Travel Therapy with Laura Latimer!

Ready to start exploring what’s out there?

I really cannot recommend my favorite OT travel site, Nomadicare, enough. Nomadicare was started by Laura Latimer, OTR/L, a travel therapist. Laura vets recruiters using her extensive knowledge and experience.

If you are exploring travel therapy as a potential career path, then you will definitely want to explore her services. (And don’t worry, the travel companies bear the cost of her work. For travelers, getting a match is free!) I am a proud partner and affiliate of the work Nomadicare is doing to advocate for OTs!