State market profile
Connecticut OT job market
Compare Connecticut 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 #4$102,140 mean wage3,150 OT jobs1.77 location quotient
Market snapshot
How Connecticut 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
Connecticut OT market assessment
Why it stands out
- Connecticut 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 3,150 OT jobs statewide. That is enough depth to create real employer choice, though the strongest options may still cluster in a few metros.
- The 1.77 location quotient is well above the national baseline, so OT roles have an unusually strong presence in the state's labor market.
What to compare next
- Compare the highest- and lowest-paying Connecticut metros before using the statewide $102,440 median in an offer decision.
- Put Connecticut 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 3,150 OT jobs statewide. That is enough depth to create real employer choice, though the strongest options may still cluster in a few metros.
Role concentration
The 1.77 location quotient is well above the national baseline, so OT roles have an unusually strong presence in the state's labor market.
Metro markets
Best Connecticut 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waterbury-Shelton, CT Score 63.2 | #5 | $102,190 | 380 | 2.25 LQ; 2.35 per 1,000 jobs |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT Score 61.8 | #8 | $107,180 | 750 | 1.79 LQ; 1.87 per 1,000 jobs |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT Score 59.9 | #15 | $99,070 | 1,140 | 1.82 LQ; 1.90 per 1,000 jobs |
| New Haven, CT Score 51.4 | #49 | $103,530 | 410 | 1.38 LQ; 1.44 per 1,000 jobs |
| Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT Score 50.5 | #60 | $101,180 | 210 | 1.59 LQ; 1.66 per 1,000 jobs |
Programs
OT and OTA programs in Connecticut
Program supply matters for applicants, fieldwork access, and local clinical networks. These rows point to school profiles where available.
| Program | Location | Degree | NBCOT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quinnipiac University 1-24% distance; next review 2029/2030 | Hamden, CT | OT Doctorate | 100% |
| University of Hartford Format not listed; next review 2030/2031 | West Hartford, CT | OT Masters | 100% |
| Quinnipiac University 1-24% distance; next review 2028/2029 | Hamden, CT | OT Masters | 95% |
| Sacred Heart University Campus-based; next review 2026/2027 | Fairfield, CT | OT Masters | 94% |
| Connecticut State Community College 1-24% distance; next review 2028/2029 | Manchester, CT | OTA Associate | 87% |
| Goodwin University 1-24% distance; next review 2030/2031 | East Hartford, CT | OTA Associate | 63% |
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 #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
Connecticut deserves serious consideration as a top-4 OT market. This is a smaller but OT-heavy market, so the profession has a meaningful local presence even without a huge number of jobs. The $102,440 median is the better anchor for a typical offer than the higher or lower mean. Because the page includes 5 metros, the statewide result should be used to choose a region, not to value a specific offer.