Culture & Community
Celebrating Teachers and Nurses Week: 2025 Trends in Increased Pay, Benefits, and the Rise of Travel Careers
9TH MAY, 2025
When Charlotte J., Occupational Therapist, got a text about a travel opportunity, she said yes and never looked back. Three and a half years later, she’s built a career (and a community) she didn’t expect, discovering new cities, new settings, and a faster path to growth with Pioneer by her side.
“It’s fun, you should just do it.” — Charlotte J., OTR/L
What Led Her to a Career In Occupational Therapy
Originally from a small town north of Boston, Charlotte moved to San Diego after grad school and gravitated to pediatrics. Inspired by her brother with special needs and early exposure to OT, she found purpose in helping kids function in everyday school life: regulation, participation, and the skills that make classrooms work.
Charlotte’s Journey Into Travel Therapy
Travel felt intimidating from the outside, until she tried it. A simple message led to a streamlined start: licensing, district requirements, onboarding, even neighborhood tips for housing and commuting. “Everything happened so fast,” she says. “I just went for it.”
Support, Mentorship, and Real Community
Travel can be isolating unless you have the right team and support system, then it’s the adventure of a life time. Charlotte reflects on her initial experience, with consistent check-ins, quick help for documentation and payroll questions, and pre–school-year meetups that made admin and billing feel manageable.
She also benefited from experienced Pioneer OT mentorship for scheduling, caseload organization, and treatment ideas, sometimes hopping on a Zoom for a full working session to untangle week-one overwhelm. Group chats with other Pioneer OTs turned into a built-in community.
What She Loves About Travel Therapy (and Pioneer)
- Professional momentum: Charlotte felt her confidence click into place. The fast pace pushed her to trust her OT training, organize big caseloads, and see real progress fast.
- Choice & variety: She loves that travel lets her sample what’s next: different age groups, new classrooms, even new settings without getting stuck.
- Life beyond work: LA completely surprised her. What started as “I’d never live there” turned into deep friendships, favorite neighborhoods, and being closer to family. Now she hopes her contract renews each year.
- A clear next step: When she’s ready for a new chapter, Texas, Florida, or back to the East Coast, she just says the word and Pioneer starts the search.
Challenges and How She Manages Them
Juggling multiple schools can be tricky, especially in huge districts. The first week can feel overwhelming as you learn systems and get your schedule set. Charlotte’s approach: expect a fast start, lean on your support team, block focused time to build schedules, and remember it evens out.
Advice For Aspiring Travel OTs/COTAs
- Say yes to the first step. The year flies by and the learning compounds.
- Trust your training. You’re there to help a real need, own it.
- Use the support system. Ask questions early; join meetups and group chats.
- Treat it like a tour. If a setting or city isn’t your fit, finish the contract and try another.
The Bigger Picture
Charlotte sees OT gaining visibility, especially around self-regulation and holistic wellness. Movement, she notes, is a “universal regulator,” and creative, functional interventions can meet people where they are, from preschool classrooms to workplace ergonomics.
Thinking about your first travel contract? Explore current opportunities and talk with our team about the locations and settings that fit you best.
