State market profile
Georgia OT job market
Compare Georgia 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 #29$101,460 mean wage3,650 OT jobs0.72 location quotient
Market snapshot
How Georgia 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 Georgia 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 Georgia before narrowing to specific metros and employers.
- Clinicians who want a meaningful statewide employment base with 3,650 estimated OT jobs.
- 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 Georgia metros have enough openings in the setting you actually want?
- How do rent, commute, taxes, and benefits change the value of a $101,460 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 meaningful statewide employment base. Applicants and clinicians should compare the strongest metros rather than treating the state as one uniform market.
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 Georgia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA Score 49.7 | #65 | $106,200 | 2,120 | 0.70 LQ; 0.73 per 1,000 jobs |
| Rome, GA Score 47.9 | #80 | $98,910 | 80 | 1.77 LQ; 1.84 per 1,000 jobs |
| Columbus, GA-AL Score 41.4 | #154 | $93,480 | 160 | 1.31 LQ; 1.37 per 1,000 jobs |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC Score 41.1 | #161 | $96,070 | 260 | 1.06 LQ; 1.11 per 1,000 jobs |
| Macon-Bibb County, GA Score 36.2 | #232 | $99,500 | 90 | 0.92 LQ; 0.96 per 1,000 jobs |
| Athens-Clarke County, GA Score 32.8 | #280 | $93,820 | 90 | 0.88 LQ; 0.92 per 1,000 jobs |
| Savannah, GA Score 31.2 | #300 | $94,340 | 130 | 0.65 LQ; 0.68 per 1,000 jobs |
| Gainesville, GA Score 28.9 | #322 | $98,480 | 60 | 0.57 LQ; 0.60 per 1,000 jobs |
| Brunswick-St. Simons, GA Score 27.8 | #333 | $99,730 | 30 | 0.65 LQ; 0.68 per 1,000 jobs |
| Dalton, GA Score 26.6 | #338 | $103,410 | 30 | 0.44 LQ; 0.46 per 1,000 jobs |
Programs
OT and OTA programs in Georgia
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia State University 1-24% distance; next review 2030/2031 | Atlanta, GA | OT Doctorate | 100% |
| Augusta University 1-24% distance; next review 2030/2031 | Augusta, GA | OT Masters | 100% |
| Augusta Technical College 1-24% distance; next review 2029/2030 | Augusta, GA | OTA Associate | 100% |
| Chattahoochee Technical College 25-49% distance; next review 2026/2027 | Acworth, GA | OTA Associate | 100% |
| Brenau University, North Atlanta-Norcross Campus 1-24% distance; next review 2029/2030 | Norcross, GA | OT Doctorate | 95% |
| Middle Georgia State University Campus-based; next review 2031/2032 | Cochran, GA | OTA Associate | 89% |
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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