State market profile

Nebraska OT job market

Compare Nebraska 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 #25$91,620 mean wage1,500 OT jobs1.40 location quotient

Market snapshot

How Nebraska 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$91,620BLS OEWS mean annual wage for occupational therapists.

Median wage$93,740Middle wage estimate for statewide OT roles.

Employment1,500Estimated occupational therapist jobs statewide.

Density1.47OT jobs per 1,000 statewide jobs.

Decision snapshot

Is Nebraska 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 Nebraska before narrowing to specific metros and employers.
Readers comparing a smaller statewide market where individual employers and commute radius matter more.
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 Nebraska metros have enough openings in the setting you actually want?
How do rent, commute, taxes, and benefits change the value of a $91,620 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 thinner statewide employment base. Individual employers, local referral networks, and travel radius can matter more than the statewide rank.

Role concentration

The location quotient is above the national baseline, suggesting OT roles are more concentrated here than in the U.S. labor market overall.

Metro markets

Best Nebraska 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
Omaha, NE-IA Score 50.8	#55	$90,670	820	1.58 LQ; 1.65 per 1,000 jobs
Lincoln, NE Score 44.4	#115	$95,480	250	1.32 LQ; 1.38 per 1,000 jobs
Grand Island, NE Score 35.5	#244	$84,330	60	1.51 LQ; 1.57 per 1,000 jobs

Programs

OT and OTA programs in Nebraska

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 Nebraska Medical Center 50-74% distance; next review 2030/2031	Omaha, NE	OT Doctorate	100%
Nebraska Methodist College 50-74% distance; next review 2032/2033	Omaha, NE	OT Masters	100%
Union Adventist University 1-24% distance; next review 2027/2028	Lincoln, NE	OTA Associate	100%
Creighton University 1-24% distance; next review 2030/2031	Omaha, NE	OT Doctorate	97%
Central Community College, Grand Island Campus 1-24% distance; next review 2025/2026	Grand Island, NE	OTA Associate	85%
College of Saint Mary 1-24% distance; next review 2028/2029	Omaha, NE	OT Doctorate	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.

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