State market profile

Pennsylvania OT job market

Compare Pennsylvania 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 #14$98,460 mean wage6,560 OT jobs1.04 location quotient

Market snapshot

How Pennsylvania 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$98,460BLS OEWS mean annual wage for occupational therapists.

Median wage$98,440Middle wage estimate for statewide OT roles.

Employment6,560Estimated occupational therapist jobs statewide.

Density1.08OT jobs per 1,000 statewide jobs.

Decision snapshot

Is Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania before narrowing to specific metros and employers.
Clinicians who want a meaningful statewide employment base with 6,560 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 Pennsylvania metros have enough openings in the setting you actually want?
How do rent, commute, taxes, and benefits change the value of a $98,460 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 Pennsylvania 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
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD Score 56.8	#25	$103,970	3,410	1.13 LQ; 1.18 per 1,000 jobs
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ Score 48.3	#76	$101,460	470	1.20 LQ; 1.26 per 1,000 jobs
Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA Score 47.4	#85	$99,220	430	1.24 LQ; 1.29 per 1,000 jobs
Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA Score 46.1	#95	$99,370	330	1.22 LQ; 1.27 per 1,000 jobs
Johnstown, PA Score 44.2	#117	$88,770	90	1.83 LQ; 1.91 per 1,000 jobs
Altoona, PA Score 43.6	#121	$88,840	110	1.73 LQ; 1.80 per 1,000 jobs
Pittsburgh, PA Score 42.9	#131	$88,700	1,170	1.01 LQ; 1.05 per 1,000 jobs
Williamsport, PA Score 42.6	#137	$100,450	70	1.39 LQ; 1.45 per 1,000 jobs
Lancaster, PA Score 40.8	#162	$100,830	240	0.90 LQ; 0.94 per 1,000 jobs
York-Hanover, PA Score 38.8	#197	$102,070	160	0.84 LQ; 0.87 per 1,000 jobs

Programs

OT and OTA programs in Pennsylvania

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
Carlow University Campus-based; next review 2031/2032	Pittsburgh, PA	OT Doctorate	100%
Duquesne University 25-49% distance; next review 2032/2033	Pittsburgh, PA	OT Doctorate	100%
Elizabethtown College 1-24% distance; next review 2030/2031	Elizabethtown, PA	OT Doctorate	100%
Misericordia University 25-49% distance; next review 2031/2032	Dallas, PA	OT Doctorate	100%
Saint Joseph's University 1-24% distance; next review 2029/2030	Philadelphia, PA	OT Doctorate	100%
Slippery Rock University Campus-based; next review 2027/2028	Slippery Rock, PA	OT Doctorate	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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