Occupational Therapist OT - Pensacola FL - Full Time W2

Occupational Therapist

Your skills change lives. Your job should change yours. Escambia County, FL (Pensacola area) | Full-Time W-2 Employee

W-2 from day one. Benefits from day one. A team that has your back from day one.

There's a moment in school-based OT that never gets old: a student who couldn't hold a pencil in September is writing their name in December. A child who melted down every time the fire alarm rang is now navigating sensory challenges with strategies you taught them. A teenager who couldn't button their own shirt is getting dressed independently for the first time.

That's the work. It's quiet, it's patient, and it changes the trajectory of a child's life. You already know this. What you may not know is that there's a company willing to build an entire employment model around making sure you can keep doing it — sustainably, with support, and for pay that actually reflects what you bring to the table.

That company is Thrive.

The Position

We're hiring a full-time Occupational Therapist to serve students at our partner school in Escambia County. You'll join a team that values clinical judgment, respects your time, and understands that the best outcomes come from providers who aren't running on fumes.

Start Date: SY26-27

Schedule: School day hours, Monday through Friday. Summers off with optional paid Extended School Year (ESY).

Workload: Aligned to AOTA best practice guidelines. We protect your ability to deliver quality services, not just check boxes.

Setting: School-based, serving a range of learners with fine motor, sensory processing, self-regulation, and functional skill needs

Compensation — Top of Market, Full Stop

Base Hourly Pay (W-2) - $35–$42/hr - $45–$52/hr

Annual Salary (est.) - $57K–$69K - $73K–$85K

Health Insurance - Rarely offered - Full medical/dental/vision

PTO / Sick Leave - None (1099) - 10 days PTO + sick leave

Retirement - None - 401(k) with company match

CEU / Prof Development - Minimal - $750 annual stipend

NBCOT Dues / Licensure - Self-pay - Fully reimbursed

Signing Bonus - Uncommon - $2,000(paid at 90 days)

Semester Retention Bonus - None - $1,000 per semester

Pensacola offers an exceptional quality of life — beaches, a tight-knit community, and a cost of living well below South Florida. Your Thrive salary goes further here, and your commute probably involves a sunset.

The W-2 Difference

Here's what typically happens in school-based OT staffing: an agency offers you a contract position with a decent hourly rate but no benefits, no PTO, no guarantee it lasts past winter break. You take it because you love working with kids. Then the contract doesn't renew, or the agency cuts your hours, or you get reassigned to a campus 45 minutes away. It doesn't have to be this way.

At Thrive, every provider is a W-2 employee:

Full benefits package: medical, dental, vision, 401(k), PTO, and sick leave

Employer pays FICA, FUTA, workers' comp, and unemployment insurance

A dedicated account manager who knows your school, your students, and your name

Clinical mentorship and a peer community of OTs, SLPs, and BCBAs who get it

No non-compete. No bait-and-switch. If you stay, it's because you want to.

The Work That Matters

• Provide direct OT services to students per their IEPs — fine motor development, sensory processing, self-care skills, handwriting, classroom participation

• Conduct evaluations and re-evaluations with the care and thoroughness they deserve

• Collaborate with teachers and families to weave OT strategies into the fabric of a child's school day — not just their therapy session

• Sit at the IEP table as a clinical expert whose voice carries weight

• Be the reason a child can open their lunch box, tie their shoes, or raise their hand in class for the first time

What You Bring

• Master's degree (or higher) in Occupational Therapy from an ACOTE-accredited program

• Active Florida OT license (or ability to obtain within 30 days)

• NBCOT certification (current or eligible)

• Experience with pediatric or school-aged populations preferred — new graduates are welcome and will receive structured mentorship from day one

• The kind of patience and creativity that turns a frustrating skill gap into a breakthrough moment

Why Thrive

• Workloads designed around what's right for students and sustainable for you — aligned to AOTA best practice guidelines

• A company that intervenes when workloads become unreasonable. We have those hard conversations with school leadership so you can focus on the kids.

• Clinical community and professional development: $750/year for CEUs and conferences, plus NBCOT and licensure fees fully covered

• Stability. A schedule. A team. The kind of professional home that makes you want to come back next year — and the year after.

Apply Now — This Position Won't Last There are students in Escambia County who need an OT who will stay, invest, and care. That's the job. Email your resume to View email address on click.appcast.io or apply at thrivestaffing.com/careers. We'll be in touch within 24 hours.

Thrive Staffing is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.