State market profile
Arizona OT job market
Compare Arizona using BLS occupational therapist wage, employment, density, and concentration data from the May 2025 OEWS release, then review metro, school, and employer context.
State rank #20$104,960 mean wage2,680 OT jobs0.79 location quotient
Market snapshot
How Arizona compares for occupational therapists
The state score balances pay, role depth, role density, and occupational concentration. BLS wage and job-market measures stay visible so readers can understand the rank.
Our take
Arizona OT market assessment
Why it stands out
- The mean and median wage are close, so the published average is reasonably representative of a typical OT job in the state.
Tradeoffs that matter
- BLS estimates 2,680 OT jobs statewide. That thinner base reduces leverage when changing employers or searching for a narrow specialty.
- The 0.79 location quotient means OT work is less concentrated than it is nationally, so openings may be less common relative to the size of the local workforce.
What to compare next
- Compare the highest- and lowest-paying Arizona metros before using the statewide $103,660 median in an offer decision.
- Put Arizona beside New Jersey on job count and OT concentration; nearby ranks can be built from very different kinds of opportunity.
- Compare settings separately inside the state. A strong hospital market does not automatically mean equally strong school, outpatient, or home-health options.
How to read the numbers
What the state data means in practice
Statewide averages are a useful first comparison, but your decision still depends on the metro area, employer, clinical setting, and cost of living.
Pay shape
The mean and median wage are close, so the published average is reasonably representative of a typical OT job in the state.
Market depth
BLS estimates 2,680 OT jobs statewide. That thinner base makes individual employers, local referral networks, and travel radius unusually important.
Role concentration
The 0.79 location quotient is below the national baseline, so local role availability can matter more than statewide wage strength.
Metro markets
Best Arizona metro markets for OTs
Metro rows help separate statewide strength from the cities where jobs, wages, and OT concentration are actually concentrated.
| Metro | Rank | Mean wage | Employment | Concentration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ Score 51.2 | #51 | $105,650 | 2,070 | 0.83 LQ; 0.87 per 1,000 jobs |
| Tucson, AZ Score 40.7 | #168 | $102,340 | 310 | 0.77 LQ; 0.80 per 1,000 jobs |
| Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ Score 35.3 | #249 | $99,860 | 70 | 0.91 LQ; 0.96 per 1,000 jobs |
| Flagstaff, AZ Score 34.6 | #254 | $106,240 | 50 | 0.74 LQ; 0.78 per 1,000 jobs |
| Yuma, AZ Score 30.5 | #306 | $100,410 | 50 | 0.66 LQ; 0.69 per 1,000 jobs |
| Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ Score 29.6 | #314 | $101,480 | 40 | 0.63 LQ; 0.65 per 1,000 jobs |
Programs
OT and OTA programs in Arizona
Program supply matters for applicants, fieldwork access, and local clinical networks. These rows point to school profiles where available.
| Program | Location | Degree | NBCOT |
|---|---|---|---|
| A.T. Still University, Arizona School of Health Sciences 1-24% distance; next review 2035/2036 | Mesa, AZ | OT Doctorate | 100% |
| Huntington University-Peoria Bridge (OTA to OT Education); 50-74%, 75-100% distance; next review 2029/2030 | Peoria, AZ | OT Doctorate | 100% |
| A.T. Still University, Arizona School of Health Sciences 1-24% distance; next review 2029/2030 | Mesa, AZ | OT Masters | 100% |
| Brookline College-Tucson Campus 75-100% distance; next review 2031/2032 | Tucson, AZ | OTA Associate | 100% |
| GateWay Community College 1-24% distance; next review 2032/2033 | Phoenix, AZ | OTA Associate | 100% |
| Midwestern University-Glendale Campus Campus-based; next review 2034/2035 | Glendale, AZ | OT Masters | 96% |
Compare states
Other strong OT state markets
Use peer states to check whether a relocation, school decision, or salary negotiation is anchored in the right labor-market comparison.
Rank #1
New Jersey
$110,150 mean wage; 6,290 OT jobs; 1.41 location quotient.
Open state profile Rank #2California
$121,920 mean wage; 13,810 OT jobs; 0.73 location quotient.
Open state profile Rank #3Massachusetts
$99,730 mean wage; 6,510 OT jobs; 1.71 location quotient.
Open state profile Rank #4Connecticut
$102,140 mean wage; 3,150 OT jobs; 1.77 location quotient.
Open state profile Rank #5Arkansas
$104,940 mean wage; 2,160 OT jobs; 1.59 location quotient.
Open state profile Rank #6Colorado
$111,620 mean wage; 3,390 OT jobs; 1.13 location quotient.
Open state profile
Arizona is a credible middle-tier OT market, not a destination that wins on labor data alone. This is a selective market rather than an easy one: both the job base and OT concentration make the exact metro and employer unusually important. The $103,660 median is the better anchor for a typical offer than the higher or lower mean. Because the page includes 6 metros, the statewide result should be used to choose a region, not to value a specific offer.