Also called: CHT, Hand Therapist
An OT or PT who specializes in rehabilitating hands, wrists, and arms after injuries and surgery.
Molds custom splints from hot thermoplastic for a patient with a repaired tendon, guides finger exercises millimeter by millimeter, and works closely with hand surgeons. Patients include musicians, carpenters, and gamers.
Estimate.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Master's degree, about 9 years after high school. OT or PT degree, 3+ years of experience, 4,000 hours of hand therapy, and the CHT exam.
Ways in: Graduate school, Certification, On-the-job training. Training cost: $60k – $150k.
Majors to look at: Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy.
Growing much faster than average (about 14% over 10 years). Tracks OT growth.
Low risk for 10 years. AI may track range of motion from phone video; custom splinting and precise manual therapy stay hands-on.
Classes: Anatomy & physiology, Biology, Art or sculpture, Psychology.
Official data: O*NET occupation 29-1122.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.