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 #9$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. BLS wage and job-market measures stay visible so readers can understand the rank.
Our take
New York OT market assessment
Why it stands out
- New York ranks in the upper tier of published state markets. The state is competitive, but readers should still compare metro-level wages and local employer mix.
- BLS estimates 11,690 OT jobs statewide. That is a deep employment base with substantially more room to change employers or settings than a small market offers.
- The 1.15 location quotient puts OT employment near the national concentration, so pay and employer quality matter more than occupational density alone.
Tradeoffs that matter
- Mean pay varies by $23,320 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 New York metros before using the statewide $96,390 median in an offer decision.
- Put New York 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 11,690 OT jobs statewide. That is a deep employment base with substantially more room to change employers or settings than a small market offers.
Role concentration
The 1.15 location quotient puts OT employment near the national concentration, so pay and employer quality matter more than occupational density alone.
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 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% |
| Villa Maria College 1-24% distance; next review 2026/2027 | Buffalo, NY | OTA Associate | 100% |
| Columbia University 1-24% distance; next review 2032/2033 | 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
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
New York deserves serious consideration as a top-9 OT market. The appeal is broad rather than salary-only: it combines a substantial employer base with at least average OT concentration. The $96,390 median is the better anchor for a typical offer than the higher or lower mean. Because the page includes 10 metros, the statewide result should be used to choose a region, not to value a specific offer.