State market profile
New York OT job market
Compare New York 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 #5$97,650 mean wage11,690 OT jobs1.15 location quotient
Market snapshot
How New York 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.
Decision snapshot
Is New York 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 comparing an upper-tier state market with rank #5 in the current release.
- Clinicians who want a meaningful statewide employment base with 11,690 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 the linked city profiles before relocating.
- A strong concentration signal still needs employer-level review before accepting an offer.
Ask before deciding
- Which New York metros have enough openings in the setting you actually want?
- How do rent, commute, taxes, and benefits change the value of a $97,650 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 deep statewide OT market. More roles usually means more employer choice, but commute patterns and setting mix still matter.
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 New York 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ Score 64.2 | #2 | $107,110 | 11,640 | 1.17 LQ; 1.23 per 1,000 jobs |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY Score 50.2 | #61 | $83,790 | 970 | 1.73 LQ; 1.81 per 1,000 jobs |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY Score 49.6 | #66 | $98,060 | 410 | 1.44 LQ; 1.51 per 1,000 jobs |
| Utica-Rome, NY Score 48.6 | #74 | $85,910 | 240 | 1.94 LQ; 2.03 per 1,000 jobs |
| Syracuse, NY Score 46.8 | #89 | $89,860 | 470 | 1.50 LQ; 1.56 per 1,000 jobs |
| Binghamton, NY Score 46.4 | #92 | $88,650 | 180 | 1.79 LQ; 1.86 per 1,000 jobs |
| Rochester, NY Score 44.9 | #110 | $84,190 | 740 | 1.43 LQ; 1.50 per 1,000 jobs |
| Watertown-Fort Drum, NY Score 44.6 | #113 | $90,540 | 80 | 1.83 LQ; 1.91 per 1,000 jobs |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY Score 41.3 | #156 | $86,910 | 550 | 1.18 LQ; 1.23 per 1,000 jobs |
| Ithaca, NY Score 37.4 | #217 | $99,060 | 60 | 1.13 LQ; 1.18 per 1,000 jobs |
Programs
OT and OTA programs in New York
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Russell Sage College 1-24% distance; next review 2028/2029 | Troy, NY | OT Doctorate | 100% |
| Nazareth University 1-24% distance; next review 2032/2033 | Rochester, NY | OT Masters | 100% |
| University at Buffalo, State University of New York 1-24% distance; next review 2026/2027 | Buffalo, NY | OT Masters | 100% |
| Bryant & Stratton College-Syracuse Campus 1-24% distance; next review 2032/2033 | Syracuse, NY | OTA Associate | 100% |
| Columbia University 1-24% distance; next review 2032/2033 | New York, NY | OT Masters | 94% |
| New York University Campus-based; next review 2027/2028 | New York, NY | OT Masters | 94% |
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
California
$121,920 mean wage; 13,810 OT jobs; 0.73 location quotient.
Open state profile Rank #2Texas
$107,630 mean wage; 13,400 OT jobs; 0.91 location quotient.
Open state profile Rank #3New Jersey
$110,150 mean wage; 6,290 OT jobs; 1.41 location quotient.
Open state profile Rank #4Massachusetts
$99,730 mean wage; 6,510 OT jobs; 1.71 location quotient.
Open state profile Rank #6Connecticut
$102,140 mean wage; 3,150 OT jobs; 1.77 location quotient.
Open state profile Rank #7Colorado
$111,620 mean wage; 3,390 OT jobs; 1.13 location quotient.
Open state profile