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Best states for an occupational therapist
Quoted expert
Jennifer Hughes Ph.D.
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Job opportunities vary from state to state, and healthcare practitioner and technical careers are no different. Because we know how difficult it can be to know which states are the best when it comes to occupational therapist jobs, we decided to crunch some numbers to bring you the best states for occupational therapists.Pay, benefits, and opportunities vary greatly by state, and it's no different for occupational therapists. We found that California is the best state in the nation for occupational therapists, and people in Monterey earn the most in the field.
To do that, we looked at the most recent data we have available for the following criteria -- average annual wages, and availability of jobs for occupational therapists.We found that the South is best for occupational therapists, and the West is the worst. Salinas, CA is the best city in the country for occupational therapist jobs, where as California is the best state in the country.
10 best states for occupational therapists in 2025
1. California
Total occupational therapist jobs: 4,120 Average annual salary: $105,738 Lowest 10 percent earn: $78,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $142,000 Location Quotient: 1.13
2. Washington
Total occupational therapist jobs: 1,052 Average annual salary: $89,446 Lowest 10 percent earn: $68,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $116,000 Location Quotient: 1.16
3. Hawaii
Total occupational therapist jobs: 142 Average annual salary: $94,336 Lowest 10 percent earn: $76,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $115,000 Location Quotient: 1.36
4. Alaska
Total occupational therapist jobs: 97 Average annual salary: $98,525 Lowest 10 percent earn: $80,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $120,000 Location Quotient: 0.93
5. Nevada
Total occupational therapist jobs: 208 Average annual salary: $95,125 Lowest 10 percent earn: $70,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $128,000 Location Quotient: 0.8
6. Oregon
Total occupational therapist jobs: 446 Average annual salary: $92,211 Lowest 10 percent earn: $70,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $120,000 Location Quotient: 0.86
7. Louisiana
Total occupational therapist jobs: 396 Average annual salary: $82,500 Lowest 10 percent earn: $64,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $105,000 Location Quotient: 1
8. Idaho
Total occupational therapist jobs: 214 Average annual salary: $78,066 Lowest 10 percent earn: $59,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $102,000 Location Quotient: 1.05
9. Oklahoma
Total occupational therapist jobs: 405 Average annual salary: $75,222 Lowest 10 percent earn: $58,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $96,000 Location Quotient: 1.06
10. Arizona
Total occupational therapist jobs: 609 Average annual salary: $82,202 Lowest 10 percent earn: $60,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $111,000 Location Quotient: 0.84
Occupational therapist jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be an occupational therapist
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for an occupational therapist
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $105,738 | $78,000 | 39,536,653 | 4,120 |
| 2 | Washington | $89,446 | $68,000 | 7,405,743 | 1,052 |
| 3 | Hawaii | $94,336 | $76,000 | 1,427,538 | 142 |
| 4 | Alaska | $98,525 | $80,000 | 739,795 | 97 |
| 5 | Nevada | $95,125 | $70,000 | 2,998,039 | 208 |
| 6 | Oregon | $92,211 | $70,000 | 4,142,776 | 446 |
| 7 | Louisiana | $82,500 | $64,000 | 4,684,333 | 396 |
| 8 | Idaho | $78,066 | $59,000 | 1,716,943 | 214 |
| 9 | Oklahoma | $75,222 | $58,000 | 3,930,864 | 405 |
| 10 | Arizona | $82,202 | $60,000 | 7,016,270 | 609 |
| 11 | Rhode Island | $77,832 | $60,000 | 1,059,639 | 143 |
| 12 | Wisconsin | $74,823 | $59,000 | 5,795,483 | 710 |
| 13 | Indiana | $70,802 | $55,000 | 6,666,818 | 1,129 |
| 14 | Montana | $73,788 | $57,000 | 1,050,493 | 163 |
| 15 | New Hampshire | $73,089 | $56,000 | 1,342,795 | 267 |
| 16 | Iowa | $71,008 | $56,000 | 3,145,711 | 531 |
| 17 | Colorado | $76,096 | $58,000 | 5,607,154 | 848 |
| 18 | Tennessee | $73,937 | $58,000 | 6,715,984 | 700 |
| 19 | Texas | $72,237 | $55,000 | 28,304,596 | 2,872 |
| 20 | Wyoming | $71,018 | $54,000 | 579,315 | 86 |
| 21 | New Jersey | $77,339 | $61,000 | 9,005,644 | 990 |
| 22 | Virginia | $77,073 | $60,000 | 8,470,020 | 1,139 |
| 23 | Arkansas | $70,601 | $55,000 | 3,004,279 | 340 |
| 24 | Ohio | $71,976 | $56,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,134 |
| 25 | South Carolina | $70,116 | $55,000 | 5,024,369 | 647 |
| 26 | Nebraska | $69,538 | $54,000 | 1,920,076 | 366 |
| 27 | Massachusetts | $77,732 | $60,000 | 6,859,819 | 762 |
| 28 | Kansas | $68,542 | $53,000 | 2,913,123 | 529 |
| 29 | Maryland | $75,468 | $59,000 | 6,052,177 | 794 |
| 30 | District of Columbia | $85,854 | $67,000 | 693,972 | 115 |
| 31 | Utah | $73,396 | $55,000 | 3,101,833 | 239 |
| 32 | New Mexico | $71,432 | $53,000 | 2,088,070 | 241 |
| 33 | Maine | $68,992 | $52,000 | 1,335,907 | 203 |
| 34 | West Virginia | $66,843 | $52,000 | 1,815,857 | 235 |
| 35 | Pennsylvania | $69,889 | $55,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,352 |
| 36 | Georgia | $68,111 | $53,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,510 |
| 37 | Illinois | $69,303 | $54,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,712 |
| 38 | North Dakota | $64,816 | $51,000 | 755,393 | 154 |
| 39 | New York | $72,340 | $56,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,388 |
| 40 | Connecticut | $72,671 | $57,000 | 3,588,184 | 269 |
| 41 | North Carolina | $69,228 | $54,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,025 |
| 42 | Missouri | $67,618 | $53,000 | 6,113,532 | 825 |
| 43 | Minnesota | $70,407 | $55,000 | 5,576,606 | 532 |
| 44 | South Dakota | $65,421 | $51,000 | 869,666 | 137 |
| 45 | Vermont | $61,429 | $47,000 | 623,657 | 178 |
| 46 | Mississippi | $67,542 | $53,000 | 2,984,100 | 195 |
| 47 | Delaware | $67,769 | $53,000 | 961,939 | 157 |
| 48 | Kentucky | $64,160 | $50,000 | 4,454,189 | 471 |
| 49 | Florida | $68,039 | $53,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,428 |
| 50 | Alabama | $61,658 | $48,000 | 4,874,747 | 553 |
| 51 | Michigan | $64,386 | $50,000 | 9,962,311 | 819 |
Highest paying states for occupational therapists
| Rank | State | Avg. Occupational Therapist Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $105,738 |
| 2 | Washington | $89,446 |
| 3 | Hawaii | $94,336 |
| 4 | Alaska | $98,525 |
| 5 | Nevada | $95,125 |
| 6 | Oregon | $92,211 |
| 7 | Louisiana | $82,500 |
| 8 | Idaho | $78,066 |
| 9 | Oklahoma | $75,222 |
| 10 | Arizona | $82,202 |
| 11 | Rhode Island | $77,832 |
| 12 | Wisconsin | $74,823 |
| 13 | Indiana | $70,802 |
| 14 | Montana | $73,788 |
| 15 | New Hampshire | $73,089 |
| 16 | Iowa | $71,008 |
| 17 | Colorado | $76,096 |
| 18 | Tennessee | $73,937 |
| 19 | Texas | $72,237 |
| 20 | Wyoming | $71,018 |
| 21 | New Jersey | $77,339 |
| 22 | Virginia | $77,073 |
| 23 | Arkansas | $70,601 |
| 24 | Ohio | $71,976 |
| 25 | South Carolina | $70,116 |
| 26 | Nebraska | $69,538 |
| 27 | Massachusetts | $77,732 |
| 28 | Kansas | $68,542 |
| 29 | Maryland | $75,468 |
| 30 | District of Columbia | $85,854 |
| 31 | Utah | $73,396 |
| 32 | New Mexico | $71,432 |
| 33 | Maine | $68,992 |
| 34 | West Virginia | $66,843 |
| 35 | Pennsylvania | $69,889 |
| 36 | Georgia | $68,111 |
| 37 | Illinois | $69,303 |
| 38 | North Dakota | $64,816 |
| 39 | New York | $72,340 |
| 40 | Connecticut | $72,671 |
| 41 | North Carolina | $69,228 |
| 42 | Missouri | $67,618 |
| 43 | Minnesota | $70,407 |
| 44 | South Dakota | $65,421 |
| 45 | Vermont | $61,429 |
| 46 | Mississippi | $67,542 |
| 47 | Delaware | $67,769 |
| 48 | Kentucky | $64,160 |
| 49 | Florida | $68,039 |
| 50 | Alabama | $61,658 |
| 51 | Michigan | $64,386 |
Expert opinions on the best states for occupational therapists
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for occupational therapists to find work opportunities?
Jennifer Hughes Ph.D.
Professor and Chair of Psychology Associate Editor, Psi Chi Journal of Psychological Research, Agnes Scott College
Many of our psychology graduates go to graduate school, but those that do not, work for mental health facilities, not-for-profits, education, business consulting, etc. The pandemic is producing a mental health crisis in the United States, and those with psychology backgrounds will be needed more than ever.
Occupational therapist best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025