State market profile

Ohio OT job market

Compare Ohio 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 #13$97,390 mean wage6,760 OT jobs1.17 location quotient

Market snapshot

How Ohio 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$97,390BLS OEWS mean annual wage for occupational therapists.

Median wage$99,390Middle wage estimate for statewide OT roles.

Employment6,760Estimated occupational therapist jobs statewide.

Density1.22OT jobs per 1,000 statewide jobs.

Decision snapshot

Is Ohio 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 Ohio before narrowing to specific metros and employers.
Clinicians who want a meaningful statewide employment base with 6,760 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 Ohio metros have enough openings in the setting you actually want?
How do rent, commute, taxes, and benefits change the value of a $97,390 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 meaningful statewide employment base. Applicants and clinicians should compare the strongest metros rather than treating the state as one uniform market.

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 Ohio 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
Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN Score 52.8	#39	$101,830	1,360	1.19 LQ; 1.24 per 1,000 jobs
Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH Score 51.1	#52	$101,560	530	1.35 LQ; 1.42 per 1,000 jobs
Cleveland, OH Score 50.7	#58	$100,700	1,200	1.12 LQ; 1.17 per 1,000 jobs
Canton-Massillon, OH Score 50.5	#59	$95,360	290	1.70 LQ; 1.77 per 1,000 jobs
Columbus, OH Score 49.9	#64	$96,290	1,370	1.18 LQ; 1.24 per 1,000 jobs
Akron, OH Score 46.9	#88	$97,350	430	1.27 LQ; 1.33 per 1,000 jobs
Toledo, OH Score 45.1	#107	$95,750	380	1.24 LQ; 1.30 per 1,000 jobs
Youngstown-Warren, OH Score 42.5	#138	$89,670	240	1.40 LQ; 1.47 per 1,000 jobs
Lima, OH Score 40.1	#181	$90,690	80	1.52 LQ; 1.59 per 1,000 jobs
Springfield, OH Score 29.9	#312	$95,690	40	0.85 LQ; 0.89 per 1,000 jobs

Programs

OT and OTA programs in Ohio

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
Kettering College 1-24% distance; next review 2034/2035	Beavercreek, OH	OT Doctorate	100%
Ohio State University 1-24% distance; next review 2032/2033	Columbus, OH	OT Doctorate	100%
University of Findlay 1-24% distance; next review 2028/2029	Findlay, OH	OT Doctorate	100%
University of Toledo 1-24% distance; next review 2028/2029	Toledo, OH	OT Doctorate	100%
Xavier University Campus-based; next review 2029/2030	Cincinnati, OH	OT Doctorate	100%
Shawnee State University 50-74% distance; next review 2026/2027	Portsmouth, OH	OT Masters	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.

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