State market profile
Kentucky OT job market
Compare Kentucky 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 #31$95,450 mean wage2,190 OT jobs1.05 location quotient
Market snapshot
How Kentucky 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
Kentucky OT market assessment
Why it stands out
- The 1.05 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
- At #31, 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 2,190 OT jobs statewide. That thinner base reduces leverage when changing employers or searching for a narrow specialty.
- Mean pay varies by $10,760 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 Kentucky metros before using the statewide $97,650 median in an offer decision.
- Put Kentucky 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 2,190 OT jobs statewide. That thinner base makes individual employers, local referral networks, and travel radius unusually important.
Role concentration
The 1.05 location quotient puts OT employment near the national concentration, so pay and employer quality matter more than occupational density alone.
Metro markets
Best Kentucky 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN Score 46.0 | #98 | $99,670 | 710 | 0.99 LQ; 1.03 per 1,000 jobs |
| Bowling Green, KY Score 42.7 | #132 | $88,910 | 140 | 1.59 LQ; 1.67 per 1,000 jobs |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY Score 40.7 | #165 | $93,310 | 320 | 1.07 LQ; 1.12 per 1,000 jobs |
| Owensboro, KY Score 34.1 | #261 | $90,960 | 60 | 1.18 LQ; 1.24 per 1,000 jobs |
| Paducah, KY-IL Score 31.1 | #301 | $92,530 | 50 | 0.98 LQ; 1.02 per 1,000 jobs |
| Elizabethtown, KY Score 29.0 | #319 | $97,900 | 40 | 0.71 LQ; 0.74 per 1,000 jobs |
Programs
OT and OTA programs in Kentucky
Program supply matters for applicants, fieldwork access, and local clinical networks. These rows point to school profiles where available.
| Program | Location | Degree | NBCOT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Kentucky University 1-24% distance; next review 2031/2032 | Highland Heights, KY | OT Doctorate | 100% |
| Murray State University-Paducah Regional Campus 1-24% distance; next review 2034/2035 | Paducah, KY | OT Masters | 100% |
| Eastern Kentucky University 1-24% distance; next review 2030/2031 | Richmond, KY | OT Doctorate | 97% |
| Jefferson Community and Technical College 1-24% distance; next review 2029/2030 | Louisville, KY | OTA Associate | 94% |
| Madisonville Community College 1-24% distance; next review 2027/2028 | Madisonville, KY | OTA Associate | 80% |
| Ross College in Hopkinsville Campus-based; next review 2030/2031 | Hopkinsville, KY | OTA Associate | 78% |
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
Kentucky is a fit-driven choice rather than a market-driven one at #31. 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 $97,650 median is the better anchor for a typical offer than the higher or lower mean. Because the page includes 6 metros, the statewide result should be used to choose a region, not to value a specific offer.