Orientation and Mobility Specialists

The higher the degree held by specialists, the higher their earning potential. Those with a Ph.D. can take jobs in indirect service, research, and planning. Salaries also vary among regions; in general, social workers on the East and West Coasts earn higher salaries than those in the Midwest. During the first five years of practice, salaries increase faster than in later years.

Occupational therapists, a field that also includes orientation and mobility specialists, earned a median annual salary of $84,950 in May 2019, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. The lowest paid 10 percent earned $56,800 or less, and the top paid 10 percent earned $121,490 or more.

Specialists who work in school systems are generally paid on the same scale as teachers in the system. Those who work for private clients are usually paid by the hour or per session.

Orientation and mobility specialists usually receive benefits such as vacation days, sick leave, health and life insurance, and a savings and pension program. Self-employed specialists must provide their own benefits.