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. Raw BLS measures stay visible so readers can audit the ranking.
Decision snapshot
Is Arizona a strong OT market for your next move?
Use the state rank as a starting point, then validate the metro, setting, employer, and school context that will shape the actual decision.
Best for
- OTs who want a source-backed read on Arizona before narrowing to specific metros and employers.
- Readers comparing a smaller statewide market where individual employers and commute radius matter more.
- Readers who want metro-level comparisons instead of relying on one statewide wage number.
Watch closely
- Statewide wage data does not adjust for rent, taxes, benefits, commute time, productivity model, or setting mix.
- Large states can hide major metro-to-metro differences, so compare city profiles before relocating.
- The OT concentration signal is below the national baseline; confirm local role availability in your setting.
Ask before deciding
- Which Arizona metros have enough openings in the setting you actually want?
- How do rent, commute, taxes, and benefits change the value of a $104,960 mean wage?
- Which employers offer mentorship, manageable documentation, and a caseload mix that fits your goals?
Decision signals
What the state data means in practice
Statewide numbers are useful for screening, but the decision still depends on metros, employers, schools, and the specific setting you want.
Pay shape
The mean and median wage are close, which makes the published wage signal easier to interpret for typical OT roles.
Market depth
This is a thinner statewide employment base. Individual employers, local referral networks, and travel radius can matter more than the statewide rank.
Role concentration
The location quotient is below the national baseline, so readers should verify local role availability before relying on 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 source-backed 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 1-24%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.
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