State market profile
North Carolina OT job market
Compare North Carolina 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 #39$91,360 mean wage4,490 OT jobs0.87 location quotient
Market snapshot
How North Carolina 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
North Carolina OT market assessment
Why it stands out
- BLS estimates 4,490 OT jobs statewide. That is enough depth to create real employer choice, though the strongest options may still cluster in a few metros.
- 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
- At #39, the state trails more than half of the country on the combined pay, employment, density, and concentration score. A move here needs a specific employer or personal reason.
- The 0.87 location quotient means OT work is less concentrated than it is nationally, so openings may be less common relative to the size of the local workforce.
- Mean pay varies by $13,190 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 North Carolina metros before using the statewide $92,940 median in an offer decision.
- Put North Carolina 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 4,490 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 0.87 location quotient is below the national baseline, so local role availability can matter more than statewide wage strength.
Metro markets
Best North Carolina 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greenville, NC Score 45.1 | #105 | $97,010 | 130 | 1.50 LQ; 1.57 per 1,000 jobs |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC Score 43.4 | #125 | $95,960 | 1,140 | 0.80 LQ; 0.84 per 1,000 jobs |
| Wilmington, NC Score 41.6 | #150 | $89,390 | 260 | 1.33 LQ; 1.38 per 1,000 jobs |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC Score 40.0 | #183 | $90,030 | 390 | 1.08 LQ; 1.13 per 1,000 jobs |
| Fayetteville, NC Score 39.9 | #184 | $83,820 | 200 | 1.48 LQ; 1.55 per 1,000 jobs |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC Score 39.6 | #192 | $90,850 | 680 | 0.87 LQ; 0.91 per 1,000 jobs |
| Winston-Salem, NC Score 37.0 | #226 | $92,460 | 260 | 0.91 LQ; 0.95 per 1,000 jobs |
| Asheville, NC Score 35.8 | #240 | $86,560 | 210 | 1.09 LQ; 1.14 per 1,000 jobs |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC Score 33.9 | #263 | $91,600 | 270 | 0.72 LQ; 0.75 per 1,000 jobs |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC Score 33.3 | #274 | $96,180 | 120 | 0.75 LQ; 0.78 per 1,000 jobs |
Programs
OT and OTA programs in North Carolina
Program supply matters for applicants, fieldwork access, and local clinical networks. These rows point to school profiles where available.
| Program | Location | Degree | NBCOT |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Carolina University Campus-based; next review 2034/2035 | Greenville, NC | OT Masters | 100% |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 1-24% distance; next review 2030/2031 | Chapel Hill, NC | OT Masters | 100% |
| Cabarrus College of Health Sciences 1-24% distance; next review 2028/2029 | Concord, NC | OTA Associate | 100% |
| Cabarrus College of Health Sciences Format not listed; next review 2029/2030 | Concord, NC | OTA Baccalaureate | 100% |
| Cape Fear Community College 1-24% distance; next review 2034/2035 | Wilmington, NC | OTA Associate | 100% |
| Central Piedmont Community College 1-24% distance; next review 2031/2032 | Charlotte, NC | OTA Associate | 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
North Carolina is a fit-driven choice rather than a market-driven one at #39. 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 $92,940 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.