Join the Harris Health System Team! Occupational Therapist II Pay: $38.08 to $49.50/hour Location: Houston, TX 77026 Job Reference : 172997 Job Status: Full-Time Benefits: Day 1 Benefits – Available the first day of hire $10k student loan repayment Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) Short- and Long-Term Disability insurance Life insurance 401(k) retirement plan Employee Assistance Program Subsidized parking Credit union Employee disaster relief Tuition Reimbursement – Available after 6 months of employment About the Position: Harris Health System is seeking a dedicated Occupational Therapist II to provide comprehensive patient evaluations and interventions in inpatient settings, including acute care, mental health units, PM&R Inpatient Programs, and skilled nursing facilities . The Occupational Therapist II will also participate in clinical education, performance improvement initiatives, and multidisciplinary case management , ensuring the highest level of patient care. This role requires expertise in occupational therapy techniques, patient rehabilitation, and adaptive treatment planning while ensuring adherence to regulations, policies, and best practices . The Occupational Therapist II will also mentor assistant and support personnel and contribute to program development initiatives. About Harris Health System: Harris Health is a nationally recognized health system comprising three teaching hospitals and an extensive network of ambulatory care centers serving the people of Harris County, Texas, since 1966. Staffed by faculty, fellows, and residents from two nationally ranked medical schools, Baylor College of Medicine and The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Harris Health is the first healthcare system in Houston to receive the prestigious National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) designation for its network of patient-centered medical homes. Each year, Harris Health provides more than 1.8 million total outpatient visits through its over 40 ambulatory care facilities . Additionally, Harris Health sees more than 177,000 emergency visits at its Level 1 and Level 3 trauma centers and 35,000 hospital admissions through its three hospitals: Ben Taub, LBJ, and Quentin Mease . Responsibilities: Perform patient evaluations and administer interventions in acute care, mental health units, inpatient rehabilitation, and skilled nursing settings . Serve as clinical supervisor to assistant and support personnel. Ensure compliance with practice acts, regulations, and hospital policies. Participate in multidisciplinary case management meetings and collaborate with healthcare teams to enhance patient recovery . Assist in departmental performance improvement and program development . Demonstrate strong competency in occupational therapy equipment and patient rehabilitation techniques. Provide exceptional customer service and patient-centered care . Requirements: Education & Licensure: Bachelor’s or Master’s in Occupational Therapy Current Texas Occupational Therapy License Basic Life Support (BLS) Certification – American Heart Association (AHA) approved Work Experience: Two (2) years of Occupational Therapy experience OR One (1) year of OT experience with two (2) years as a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA) (for candidates who completed a COTA-to-OT bridge program) Preferred Experience: Acute care, inpatient rehabilitation, or skilled nursing facility experience preferred. Skills & Competencies: Above average verbal communication – Heavy public contact Proficiency in medical terminology, research, and computer skills (MS Word, PC, CRT, Analytics) Bilingual (Spanish, Vietnamese) preferred but not required Specialty certification preferred Work Schedule: Flexible – May include weekends or varying shifts as needed Apply Today! Join Harris Health System and help patients regain their independence and improve their quality of life as an Occupational Therapist II . Apply now and become part of a compassionate team dedicated to exceptional patient care. Powered by JazzHR
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General overview for this role type — specific duties and requirements vary by employer.
Support roles in senior living — housekeeping, maintenance, activities, and social work — are far more resident-facing than similar positions in other industries. Housekeepers and maintenance staff interact with residents in their personal living spaces daily, which requires discretion, patience, and genuine respect for the people who live there. In Texas, even non-clinical staff must complete facility-specific training on topics like abuse prevention, infection control, and emergency procedures.
Activities coordinators and social workers play a direct role in resident well-being — isolation and depression are significant concerns in senior living, and programming that keeps residents socially engaged has measurable health outcomes. Maintenance staff in senior care need to understand life-safety systems (fire alarms, emergency generators, call systems) and are often the first responders for building emergencies. Background checks are required for all positions, and many facilities prefer candidates who have previous experience working with older adults.
What to Expect in This Role Day-to-Day
Based on typical senior living facilities in the Houston area.
For housekeeping roles, the day follows a room-by-room schedule — cleaning resident rooms, sanitizing common areas, managing laundry, and responding to spill or accident cleanups as they happen. Infection control protocols are more rigorous than in hotels or commercial cleaning, especially during flu season or respiratory illness outbreaks.
Maintenance staff handle a daily work order queue — everything from changing light bulbs and fixing call buttons to HVAC maintenance and plumbing repairs. Life-safety equipment checks (fire extinguishers, exit lighting, generator testing) happen on set schedules. Activities professionals plan and lead group programming — exercise classes, crafts, music sessions, outings — and also provide one-on-one engagement for residents who cannot participate in group settings. Social workers manage care conferences, discharge planning, family mediation, and community resource referrals. Across all these roles, the common thread is that you become a familiar, trusted presence in residents' daily lives.
Houston Area Salary Data
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Home Health and Personal Care Aide positions in the Houston metro area earn a median wage of
$10.97/hr ($22,818/yr).
The typical range is $10.60 – $13.28/hr
(25th–75th percentile).
Entry Level (10th)$20,613/yr
Houston Median$22,818/yr
Experienced (90th)$30,597/yr
vs. National Median-34.6%
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX Metro Area).
Salary data provided by Houston Senior Living Guide.