State market profile

Michigan OT job market

Compare Michigan 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 #30$89,150 mean wage5,120 OT jobs1.11 location quotient

Market snapshot

How Michigan 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.

Mean wage$89,150BLS OEWS mean annual wage for occupational therapists.

Median wage$89,910Middle wage estimate for statewide OT roles.

Employment5,120Estimated occupational therapist jobs statewide.

Density1.16OT jobs per 1,000 statewide jobs.

Decision snapshot

Is Michigan 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 Michigan before narrowing to specific metros and employers.
Clinicians who want a meaningful statewide employment base with 5,120 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.
A strong concentration signal still needs employer-level review before accepting an offer.

Ask before deciding

Which Michigan metros have enough openings in the setting you actually want?
How do rent, commute, taxes, and benefits change the value of a $89,150 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 concentration signal is near the national baseline, so wage and employer quality may matter more than raw occupational density.

Metro markets

Best Michigan 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
Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI Score 51.5	#47	$90,510	990	1.58 LQ; 1.65 per 1,000 jobs
Battle Creek, MI Score 49.9	#63	$95,060	110	1.94 LQ; 2.03 per 1,000 jobs
Bay City, MI Score 47.0	#87	$79,550	80	2.37 LQ; 2.48 per 1,000 jobs
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI Score 46.0	#97	$90,000	2,030	1.02 LQ; 1.06 per 1,000 jobs
Traverse City, MI Score 43.6	#124	$88,760	120	1.70 LQ; 1.78 per 1,000 jobs
Ann Arbor, MI Score 41.8	#146	$92,050	280	1.23 LQ; 1.28 per 1,000 jobs
Saginaw, MI Score 40.7	#166	$103,380	90	1.09 LQ; 1.14 per 1,000 jobs
Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI Score 37.2	#224	$83,490	100	1.50 LQ; 1.57 per 1,000 jobs
Flint, MI Score 35.3	#248	$85,680	160	1.16 LQ; 1.22 per 1,000 jobs
Midland, MI Score 34.0	#262	$77,950	60	1.62 LQ; 1.70 per 1,000 jobs

Programs

OT and OTA programs in Michigan

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
Concordia University Ann Arbor 50-74% distance; next review 2031/2032	Ann Arbor, MI	OT Doctorate	100%
Saginaw Valley State University 1-24% distance; next review 2031/2032	University Center, MI	OT Masters	100%
Baker College of Owosso Campus-based; next review 2027/2028	Owosso, MI	OTA Associate	100%
Grand Rapids Community College 25-49% distance; next review 2033/2034	Grand Rapids, MI	OTA Associate	100%
Mott Community College 1-24% distance; next review 2026/2027	Fenton, MI	OTA Associate	100%
Western Michigan University Campus-based; next review 2030/2031	Kalamazoo, MI	OTA Baccalaureate	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.

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