State market profile
Illinois OT job market
Compare Illinois 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 #8$99,570 mean wage7,710 OT jobs1.21 location quotient
Market snapshot
How Illinois 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
Illinois OT market assessment
Why it stands out
- Illinois ranks in the upper tier of published state markets. The state is competitive, but readers should still compare metro-level wages and local employer mix.
- BLS estimates 7,710 OT jobs statewide. That is enough depth to create real employer choice, though the strongest options may still cluster in a few metros.
- The 1.21 location quotient puts OT employment near the national concentration, so pay and employer quality matter more than occupational density alone.
Tradeoffs that matter
- Mean pay varies by $15,050 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 Illinois metros before using the statewide $99,700 median in an offer decision.
- Put Illinois 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 7,710 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 1.21 location quotient puts OT employment near the national concentration, so pay and employer quality matter more than occupational density alone.
Metro markets
Best Illinois 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN Score 59.8 | #16 | $101,400 | 5,960 | 1.26 LQ; 1.32 per 1,000 jobs |
| Peoria, IL Score 40.2 | #180 | $95,490 | 190 | 1.11 LQ; 1.16 per 1,000 jobs |
| Springfield, IL Score 38.1 | #207 | $102,250 | 100 | 0.92 LQ; 0.96 per 1,000 jobs |
| Rockford, IL Score 35.4 | #247 | $95,530 | 130 | 0.89 LQ; 0.93 per 1,000 jobs |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL Score 33.4 | #269 | $87,710 | 120 | 1.05 LQ; 1.10 per 1,000 jobs |
| Bloomington, IL Score 30.7 | #302 | $90,070 | 80 | 0.90 LQ; 0.94 per 1,000 jobs |
| Kankakee, IL Score 26.5 | #339 | $87,200 | 40 | 0.91 LQ; 0.95 per 1,000 jobs |
Programs
OT and OTA programs in Illinois
Program supply matters for applicants, fieldwork access, and local clinical networks. These rows point to school profiles where available.
| Program | Location | Degree | NBCOT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rush University 1-24% distance; next review 2026/2027 | Chicago, IL | OT Doctorate | 100% |
| Southern Illinois University Carbondale Format not listed; next review 2031/2032 | Carbondale, IL | OT Doctorate | 100% |
| Lewis University-Romeoville Campus-based; next review 2027/2028 | Romeoville, IL | OT Masters | 100% |
| Fox College Campus-based; next review 2033/2034 | Tinley Park, IL | OTA Associate | 93% |
| Chicago State University 1-24% distance; next review 2032/2033 | Chicago, IL | OT Masters | 92% |
| McHenry County College 1-24% distance; next review 2034/2035 | Crystal Lake, IL | OTA Associate | 92% |
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
Illinois deserves serious consideration as a top-8 OT market. The appeal is broad rather than salary-only: it combines a substantial employer base with at least average OT concentration. The $99,700 median is the better anchor for a typical offer than the higher or lower mean. Because the page includes 7 metros, the statewide result should be used to choose a region, not to value a specific offer.