Shepherd Center — the #1 SCI/TBI rehab OT destination in the US. OTLC Compact member. 5.49% flat tax. Emory stroke rehab, CHOA pediatric OT, and rural south Georgia shortage premiums.
The OT Licensure Compact (OTLC) allows occupational therapists licensed in a member state to practice in other member states on compact privilege — without a full state-by-state endorsement. Georgia joined the OTLC, making it faster and easier for travel OTs to start assignments here.
Georgia replaced its graduated income tax with a 5.49% flat rate — one of the most competitive in the Southeast. The rate is scheduled to phase down annually, reaching 4.99% by 2029. For travel OTs comparing markets, the tax differential vs. coastal high-tax states is substantial.
| State | Top Income Tax Rate | vs. Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Georgia | 5.49% flat | — |
| Tennessee | 0% | TN saves ~$55/wk |
| Florida | 0% | FL saves ~$55/wk |
| Oregon | 9.9% | GA saves ~$44/wk |
| New York | 10.9% | GA saves ~$55/wk |
| California | 13.3% | GA saves ~$77/wk |
Example: $2,400/wk GA OT Package
Typical OT package structure: ~$1,000 taxable weekly wage + tax-free stipends. Georgia state income tax on the $1,000 taxable base = approximately $55/week. Compare to California at $133/week on the same base — a savings of $78/week or over $3,900 per 50-week year.
Five reasons Georgia ranks among the top travel OT markets in the Southeast.
Ranked #1 in the US for SCI and TBI rehabilitation. Travel OTs gain unmatched SCI/TBI caseload experience — ASIA classification, tenodesis grasp, driving rehab, adaptive equipment.
Georgia is an OT Licensure Compact member. If your home state is also OTLC, you can practice in Georgia on compact privilege — no separate endorsement required.
One of the lowest flat income tax rates in the Southeast. Phasing down to 4.99% by 2029. Dramatically better take-home than CA, NY, or OR assignments.
Children's Healthcare of Atlanta is a national leader in pediatric care. Travel OTs gain pediatric rehab experience in sensory integration, NDT, and autism-spectrum OT.
Atlanta is one of the fastest-growing metro areas in the US. Healthcare system expansion is creating sustained travel OT demand across hospital, outpatient, and school-based settings.
Where Georgia's highest-paying and most specialized travel OT assignments are concentrated.
#1 SCI/TBI rehab hospital in the US (US News). National referral center for spinal cord and traumatic brain injury.
Academic Level I trauma center. Emory Stroke Center and Marcus Stroke & Neuroscience Center maintain high-volume stroke rehab OT programs.
One of the top-ranked pediatric hospital systems in the US. Multiple campuses across metro Atlanta with diverse pediatric OT caseloads.
WellStar Health System is the largest health system in Georgia. Kennestone is a Level I trauma center with high-volume acute OT caseloads.
IDEA-funded school-based OT assignments across all 19 Georgia Regional Educational Service Agencies (RESAs). High demand for bilingual Spanish-speaking OTs in metro Atlanta and south GA.
Weekly pay ranges reflect total package (taxable wages + tax-free housing/meals) for a 13-week contract. Actual rates vary by facility, shift, and specialty.
| Market / Setting | Weekly Pay Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Atlanta Metro — Shepherd Center / Emory | $2,400–$2,800/wk | SCI, TBI, stroke rehab, academic |
| Atlanta Metro — Academic / Community | $2,000–$2,500/wk | WellStar, Piedmont, general rehab |
| CHOA — Pediatric OT | $2,100–$2,600/wk | Sensory integration, NDT, autism |
| Augusta — AU Medical Center | $2,000–$2,400/wk | Level I trauma, acute rehab |
| Savannah — Memorial / Candler | $1,900–$2,400/wk | Coastal lifestyle + shortage premium |
| School-Based — GA ESAs | $1,900–$2,300/wk | IDEA-funded, bilingual OT demand |
Updated every 4 hours from live assignment data.
New Georgia OT assignments coming in daily
Our recruiters source GA OT positions directly. Contact us for unlisted Shepherd Center, Emory, CHOA, and WellStar assignments.
Get Georgia OT JobsShepherd Center in Atlanta is consistently ranked #1 or #2 in the United States for Spinal Cord Injury and Traumatic Brain Injury rehabilitation by US News & World Report. For travel occupational therapists, Shepherd Center offers the most specialized SCI/TBI OT caseloads available anywhere in the country.
Shepherd Center accepts national referrals for the most complex SCI and TBI cases. Travel OTs working here manage acute SCI OT from C1 to S5 level classification using the ASIA Impairment Scale, TBI cognitive-functional OT, and hand therapy programs for cervical-level SCI focused on tenodesis grasp development. The driving rehabilitation and vehicle modification program is one of the most advanced in the US.
Pay: $2,400–$2,800/wk | License: OTLC compact or full GA OT licensure required | Experience: SCI/TBI OT background strongly preferred for specialized units
Georgia sits within the US "Stroke Belt" — a region with some of the highest stroke mortality rates in the country. This translates directly into sustained, high-volume stroke rehab OT demand across Atlanta's hospital system. Emory Stroke Center, the Marcus Stroke & Neuroscience Center, and WellStar Health System all operate high-volume acute and post-acute stroke rehab programs.
Travel OTs specializing in NDT/Bobath, CIMT (Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy), or upper extremity neuro OT are in especially high demand across Atlanta's network of stroke rehabilitation units. Emory's academic medical center environment also means complex caseloads with direct physician partnership on stroke rehab protocols.
Emory Stroke Center
Acute stroke, CIMT, upper extremity neuro OT
$2,200–$2,700/wk
Marcus Stroke & Neuroscience Center
High-volume neuro OT, complex stroke rehabilitation
$2,100–$2,600/wk
WellStar Health System
Post-acute stroke OT, community reintegration
$2,000–$2,400/wk
Stroke rehab OT pay in Atlanta ranges from $2,000–$2,600/wk depending on acute vs. post-acute setting and specialty expertise.
Outside metro Atlanta, Georgia faces persistent OT shortages across multiple regions — creating shortage premium pay for travel OTs willing to work in these markets.
Valdosta, Albany, Waycross, Tifton, and surrounding rural south Georgia counties are designated Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) for OT. These markets pay $200–$350/wk above Atlanta community hospital rates — a significant premium for willing travel therapists.
Savannah is one of the most desirable travel OT destinations in the Southeast — combining a coastal lifestyle with genuine OT shortage demand. Memorial Health University Medical Center and Candler Hospital both recruit travel OTs year-round.
The north Georgia mountains (Gainesville, Dalton, Blue Ridge corridor) also face OT shortages, particularly in skilled nursing facilities and outpatient rehab. Northeast Georgia Medical Center (Gainesville) is a regional referral hub that regularly needs travel OTs. The mountain region appeals to nature-focused travel therapists with hiking, whitewater, and outdoor recreation access.
Yes. Georgia is a full member of the OT Licensure Compact (OTLC). Travel OTs holding a compact privilege from another OTLC member state can practice in Georgia without a separate full-endorsement license. Verify your compact status at otcompact.org before accepting an assignment.
Travel OT pay at Shepherd Center in Atlanta typically ranges from $2,400 to $2,800 per week depending on specialty (SCI, TBI, hand therapy), shift, and contract length. Specialized SCI/TBI OT experience commands the higher end of that range.
The highest-demand OT specialties in Georgia are SCI/TBI rehab OT (Shepherd Center), stroke rehab OT (Emory, WellStar), pediatric OT (CHOA), and school-based OT (GA ESAs). Rural south Georgia also has persistent demand for general-practice OTs due to HPSA-designated shortages.
Yes. Georgia requires NBCOT certification (OTR) for licensure as an occupational therapist. COTA licensure also requires passing the NBCOT COTA exam. Your NBCOT certification must be current and in good standing prior to applying for a GA OT license or compact privilege.
Georgia's 5.49% flat income tax is significantly lower than high-tax states like California (13.3%), New York (10.9%), or Oregon (9.9%). On a typical $2,400/week OT package with a $1,000 taxable wage base, your Georgia state income tax is approximately $55/week — a substantial savings over coastal high-tax markets. The rate is scheduled to decline to 4.99% by 2029.
Shepherd Center in Atlanta is consistently ranked #1 or #2 in the US by US News for Spinal Cord Injury and Traumatic Brain Injury rehabilitation. For travel OTs, it offers the most specialized SCI/TBI OT caseloads in the country — including acute SCI classification (ASIA scale), tenodesis grasp training for cervical-level injuries, driving rehab, adaptive equipment, and community reintegration OT. This is a career-defining assignment for OTs with rehab specialty backgrounds.
Shepherd Center SCI/TBI, Emory stroke rehab, CHOA pediatrics, rural south GA shortage premium — our recruiters place travel OTs across every Georgia market. OTLC compact or full endorsement.
$1,900–$2,800/wk · OTLC Compact · 5.49% flat tax · Shepherd Center, Emory, CHOA, WellStar