State market profile
New Jersey OT job market
Compare New Jersey 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 #1$110,150 mean wage6,290 OT jobs1.41 location quotient
Market snapshot
How New Jersey 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
New Jersey OT market assessment
Why it stands out
- New Jersey is one of the five highest-ranked OT job markets in this edition, based on pay, number of jobs, jobs per 1,000 workers, and the state's concentration of OT employment.
- BLS estimates 6,290 OT jobs statewide. That is enough depth to create real employer choice, though the strongest options may still cluster in a few metros.
- The 1.41 location quotient is well above the national baseline, so OT roles have an unusually strong presence in the state's labor market.
Tradeoffs that matter
- The mean wage is $110,150, but the median is $103,410. That gap suggests high earners lift the average, so a typical offer may land closer to the median.
What to compare next
- Compare the highest- and lowest-paying New Jersey metros before using the statewide $103,410 median in an offer decision.
- Put New Jersey beside California 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 wage is noticeably higher than the median. A smaller group of high-paying jobs may be pulling up the average, so the median is the safer number for a typical offer.
Market depth
BLS estimates 6,290 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 1.41 location quotient is well above the national baseline, so OT roles have an unusually strong presence in the state's labor market.
Metro markets
Best New Jersey 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ Score 40.7 | #167 | $103,660 | 210 | 0.84 LQ; 0.88 per 1,000 jobs |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ Score 33.3 | #272 | $99,930 | 110 | 0.65 LQ; 0.68 per 1,000 jobs |
| Vineland, NJ Score 33.0 | #279 | $97,620 | 60 | 0.88 LQ; 0.92 per 1,000 jobs |
Programs
OT and OTA programs in New Jersey
Program supply matters for applicants, fieldwork access, and local clinical networks. These rows point to school profiles where available.
| Program | Location | Degree | NBCOT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Felician University Campus-based; next review 2028/2029 | Rutherford, NJ | OTA Associate | 100% |
| Kean University 1-24% distance; next review 2033/2034 | Hillside, NJ | OT Masters | 96% |
| Seton Hall University 1-24% distance; next review 2034/2035 | Nutley, NJ | OT Masters | 91% |
| Stockton University 1-24% distance; next review 2035/2036 | Galloway, NJ | OT Masters | 91% |
| Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey Format not listed; next review 2032/2033 | Piscataway, NJ | OTA Baccalaureate | 90% |
| Monmouth University 1-24% distance; next review 2030/2031 | West Long Branch, NJ | OT Doctorate | 89% |
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 #2
California
$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 Rank #7Texas
$107,630 mean wage; 13,400 OT jobs; 0.91 location quotient.
Open state profile
New Jersey deserves serious consideration as a top-1 OT market. The appeal is broad rather than salary-only: it combines a substantial employer base with at least average OT concentration. The $103,410 median is the better anchor for a typical offer than the higher or lower mean. Because the page includes 3 metros, the statewide result should be used to choose a region, not to value a specific offer.