State market profile
Iowa OT job market
Compare Iowa 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 #48$89,720 mean wage1,290 OT jobs0.79 location quotient
Market snapshot
How Iowa 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
Iowa OT market assessment
Why it stands out
- 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
- At #48, the state trails more than half of the country on the combined pay, employment, density, and concentration score. A move here needs a specific employer or personal reason.
- BLS estimates 1,290 OT jobs statewide. That thinner base reduces leverage when changing employers or searching for a narrow specialty.
- The 0.79 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.
What to compare next
- Compare the highest- and lowest-paying Iowa metros before using the statewide $89,910 median in an offer decision.
- Put Iowa 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 1,290 OT jobs statewide. That thinner base makes individual employers, local referral networks, and travel radius unusually important.
Role concentration
The 0.79 location quotient is below the national baseline, so local role availability can matter more than statewide wage strength.
Metro markets
Best Iowa 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL Score 36.0 | #238 | $94,360 | 170 | 0.90 LQ; 0.94 per 1,000 jobs |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA Score 33.8 | #265 | $87,030 | 340 | 0.80 LQ; 0.84 per 1,000 jobs |
| Iowa City, IA Score 33.4 | #270 | $89,330 | 100 | 1.05 LQ; 1.09 per 1,000 jobs |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA Score 31.5 | #297 | $92,850 | 80 | 0.86 LQ; 0.90 per 1,000 jobs |
| Cedar Rapids, IA Score 30.5 | #304 | $91,920 | 110 | 0.73 LQ; 0.76 per 1,000 jobs |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD Score 25.7 | #345 | $90,240 | 50 | 0.69 LQ; 0.72 per 1,000 jobs |
| Dubuque, IA Score 23.3 | #354 | $93,160 | 30 | 0.57 LQ; 0.60 per 1,000 jobs |
| Ames, IA Score 18.6 | #363 | $77,820 | 40 | 0.70 LQ; 0.73 per 1,000 jobs |
Programs
OT and OTA programs in Iowa
Program supply matters for applicants, fieldwork access, and local clinical networks. These rows point to school profiles where available.
| Program | Location | Degree | NBCOT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allen College Campus-based; next review 2030/2031 | Waterloo, IA | OT Masters | 100% |
| Indian Hills Community College 1-24% distance; next review 2028/2029 | Ottumwa, IA | OTA Associate | 100% |
| Drake University 1-24% distance; next review 2025/2026 | Des Moines, IA | OT Doctorate | 98% |
| St. Ambrose University 1-24% distance; next review 2034/2035 | Davenport, IA | OT Doctorate | 92% |
| Kirkwood Community College-Linn County Regional Center 1-24% distance; next review 2033/2034 | Hiawatha, IA | OTA Associate | 88% |
| Hawkeye Community College 50-74% distance; next review 2031/2032 | Waterloo, IA | OTA Associate | 67% |
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
Iowa is a fit-driven choice rather than a market-driven one at #48. 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 $89,910 median is the better anchor for a typical offer than the higher or lower mean. Because the page includes 8 metros, the statewide result should be used to choose a region, not to value a specific offer.