State market profile
Indiana OT job market
Compare Indiana 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 #18$96,090 mean wage3,830 OT jobs1.14 location quotient
Market snapshot
How Indiana 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
Indiana OT market assessment
Why it stands out
- BLS estimates 3,830 OT jobs statewide. That is enough depth to create real employer choice, though the strongest options may still cluster in a few metros.
- The 1.14 location quotient puts OT employment near the national concentration, so pay and employer quality matter more than occupational density alone.
- 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
- Mean pay varies by $13,600 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 Indiana metros before using the statewide $97,020 median in an offer decision.
- Put Indiana 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 3,830 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 1.14 location quotient puts OT employment near the national concentration, so pay and employer quality matter more than occupational density alone.
Metro markets
Best Indiana 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN Score 56.0 | #28 | $99,270 | 1,660 | 1.44 LQ; 1.50 per 1,000 jobs |
| Evansville, IN Score 52.0 | #44 | $89,810 | 280 | 2.00 LQ; 2.09 per 1,000 jobs |
| Fort Wayne, IN Score 40.6 | #170 | $87,360 | 300 | 1.29 LQ; 1.35 per 1,000 jobs |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI Score 35.6 | #242 | $92,340 | 140 | 0.99 LQ; 1.04 per 1,000 jobs |
| Bloomington, IN Score 33.3 | #273 | $96,370 | 70 | 0.90 LQ; 0.94 per 1,000 jobs |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN Score 33.2 | #276 | $88,900 | 110 | 1.02 LQ; 1.06 per 1,000 jobs |
| Muncie, IN Score 30.1 | #310 | $88,800 | 50 | 1.04 LQ; 1.08 per 1,000 jobs |
| Kokomo, IN Score 29.9 | #311 | $91,600 | 40 | 0.99 LQ; 1.04 per 1,000 jobs |
| Terre Haute, IN Score 27.9 | #331 | $88,790 | 60 | 0.84 LQ; 0.88 per 1,000 jobs |
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN Score 19.3 | #362 | $85,670 | 50 | 0.41 LQ; 0.42 per 1,000 jobs |
Programs
OT and OTA programs in Indiana
Program supply matters for applicants, fieldwork access, and local clinical networks. These rows point to school profiles where available.
| Program | Location | Degree | NBCOT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indiana University 1-24% distance; next review 2027/2028 | Indianapolis, IN | OT Doctorate | 100% |
| Indiana Wesleyan University 1-24% distance; next review 2034/2035 | Marion, IN | OT Doctorate | 100% |
| Indiana State University 1-24% distance; next review 2032/2033 | Terre Haute, IN | OT Masters | 100% |
| Huntington University Campus-based; next review 2026/2027 | Huntington, IN | OTA Baccalaureate | 100% |
| Indiana University Kokomo 1-24% distance; next review 2031/2032 | Kokomo, IN | OTA Baccalaureate | 100% |
| Indiana Wesleyan University Campus-based; next review 2027/2028 | Greenwood, IN | OTA Associate | 100% |
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
Indiana is a credible middle-tier OT market, not a destination that wins on labor data alone. This is a selective market rather than an easy one: both the job base and OT concentration make the exact metro and employer unusually important. The $97,020 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.