State market profile
California OT job market
Compare California 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 #2$121,920 mean wage13,810 OT jobs0.73 location quotient
Market snapshot
How California 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
California OT market assessment
Why it stands out
- California is one of the five highest-ranked OT job markets in this edition, based on pay, number of jobs, jobs per 1,000 workers, and the state's concentration of OT employment.
- BLS estimates 13,810 OT jobs statewide. That is a deep employment base with substantially more room to change employers or settings than a small market offers.
- 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
- The 0.73 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.
- Mean pay varies by $18,970 across the listed metros. The statewide rank hides a material location decision within the state.
What to compare next
- Compare the highest- and lowest-paying California metros before using the statewide $124,510 median in an offer decision.
- Put California 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 13,810 OT jobs statewide. That is a deep employment base with substantially more room to change employers or settings than a small market offers.
Role concentration
The 0.73 location quotient is below the national baseline, so local role availability can matter more than statewide wage strength.
Metro markets
Best California 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA Score 62.5 | #6 | $136,250 | 1,560 | 0.63 LQ; 0.66 per 1,000 jobs |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA Score 61.8 | #9 | $137,450 | 840 | 0.71 LQ; 0.74 per 1,000 jobs |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA Score 60.3 | #14 | $118,500 | 4,950 | 0.76 LQ; 0.79 per 1,000 jobs |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA Score 59.8 | #17 | $119,390 | 1,620 | 1.01 LQ; 1.06 per 1,000 jobs |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA Score 54.7 | #33 | $123,560 | 810 | 0.72 LQ; 0.75 per 1,000 jobs |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA Score 54.0 | #36 | $131,980 | 100 | 0.98 LQ; 1.02 per 1,000 jobs |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA Score 52.0 | #45 | $118,480 | 1,110 | 0.62 LQ; 0.65 per 1,000 jobs |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA Score 50.8 | #56 | $119,040 | 300 | 0.89 LQ; 0.93 per 1,000 jobs |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA Score 49.3 | #71 | $122,080 | 230 | 0.76 LQ; 0.80 per 1,000 jobs |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA Score 49.0 | #73 | $122,310 | 170 | 0.82 LQ; 0.85 per 1,000 jobs |
Programs
OT and OTA programs in California
Program supply matters for applicants, fieldwork access, and local clinical networks. These rows point to school profiles where available.
| Program | Location | Degree | NBCOT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Keck Graduate Institute Format not listed; next review 2031/2032 | Claremont, CA | OT Doctorate | 100% |
| Loma Linda University Health 1-24% distance; next review 2031/2032 | Loma Linda, CA | OT Doctorate | 100% |
| Southern California University of Health Sciences Bridge (OTA to OT Education); 75-100% distance; next review 2031/2032 | Whittier, CA | OT Doctorate | 100% |
| University of Southern California 1-24% distance; next review 2031/2032 | Los Angeles, CA | OT Doctorate | 100% |
| Clovis Community College 1-24% distance; next review 2028/2029 | Fresno, CA | OTA Associate | 100% |
| California State University, Dominguez Hills Campus-based; next review 2032/2033 | Carson, CA | OT Masters | 98% |
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 #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 Rank #7Texas
$107,630 mean wage; 13,400 OT jobs; 0.91 location quotient.
Open state profile
California deserves serious consideration as a top-2 OT market. The appeal comes mainly from market depth; OT is not unusually concentrated here, but the size of the state still creates employer choice. The $124,510 median is the better anchor for a typical offer than the higher or lower mean. Because the page includes 10 metros, the statewide result should be used to choose a region, not to value a specific offer.