State market profile

Missouri OT job market

Compare Missouri 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 #23$95,200 mean wage3,400 OT jobs1.11 location quotient

Market snapshot

How Missouri 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$95,200BLS OEWS mean annual wage for occupational therapists.

Median wage$97,290Middle wage estimate for statewide OT roles.

Employment3,400Estimated occupational therapist jobs statewide.

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

Decision snapshot

Is Missouri 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 Missouri before narrowing to specific metros and employers.
Clinicians who want a meaningful statewide employment base with 3,400 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 Missouri metros have enough openings in the setting you actually want?
How do rent, commute, taxes, and benefits change the value of a $95,200 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 Missouri 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
St. Louis, MO-IL Score 52.2	#43	$93,910	1,860	1.33 LQ; 1.39 per 1,000 jobs
Kansas City, MO-KS Score 50.8	#54	$97,980	1,360	1.19 LQ; 1.24 per 1,000 jobs
Columbia, MO Score 44.5	#114	$96,740	160	1.41 LQ; 1.48 per 1,000 jobs
Springfield, MO Score 41.8	#147	$94,050	270	1.17 LQ; 1.22 per 1,000 jobs
Cape Girardeau, MO-IL Score 40.5	#172	$95,930	70	1.40 LQ; 1.47 per 1,000 jobs
St. Joseph, MO-KS Score 30.4	#308	$89,020	60	1.00 LQ; 1.04 per 1,000 jobs
Joplin, MO-KS Score 29.0	#321	$92,180	70	0.75 LQ; 0.78 per 1,000 jobs
Jefferson City, MO Score 22.8	#359	$87,440	50	0.59 LQ; 0.62 per 1,000 jobs

Programs

OT and OTA programs in Missouri

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
University of Missouri 1-24% distance; next review 2030/2031	Columbia, MO	OT Doctorate	100%
Washington University Campus-based; next review 2034/2035	St. Louis, MO	OT Doctorate	100%
Missouri State University Campus-based; next review 2033/2034	Springfield, MO	OT Masters	100%
Rockhurst University Campus-based; next review 2027/2028	Kansas City, MO	OT Masters	100%
St. Louis University Campus-based; next review 2027/2028	St. Louis, MO	OT Masters	100%
Central Methodist University 1-24% distance; next review 2029/2030	Fayette, MO	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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