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. BLS wage and job-market measures stay visible so readers can understand the rank.
Our take
Missouri OT market assessment
Why it stands out
- BLS estimates 3,400 OT jobs statewide. That is enough depth to create real employer choice, though the strongest options may still cluster in a few metros.
- The 1.11 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 $10,540 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 Missouri metros before using the statewide $97,290 median in an offer decision.
- Put Missouri 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 3,400 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 1.11 location quotient puts OT employment near the national concentration, so pay and employer quality matter more than occupational density alone.
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 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.
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
Missouri 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 $97,290 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.