State market profile
South Dakota OT job market
Compare South Dakota 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 #50$88,150 mean wage490 OT jobs1.02 location quotient
Market snapshot
How South Dakota 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
South Dakota OT market assessment
Why it stands out
- The 1.02 location quotient puts OT employment near the national concentration, so pay and employer quality matter more than occupational density alone.
- 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 #50, 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.
- BLS estimates 490 OT jobs statewide. That thinner base reduces leverage when changing employers or searching for a narrow specialty.
- Mean pay varies by $10,600 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 South Dakota metros before using the statewide $85,050 median in an offer decision.
- Put South Dakota 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 490 OT jobs statewide. That thinner base makes individual employers, local referral networks, and travel radius unusually important.
Role concentration
The 1.02 location quotient puts OT employment near the national concentration, so pay and employer quality matter more than occupational density alone.
Metro markets
Best South Dakota 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN Score 40.4 | #176 | $85,400 | 260 | 1.38 LQ; 1.44 per 1,000 jobs |
| Rapid City, SD Score 36.1 | #237 | $96,000 | 80 | 1.06 LQ; 1.11 per 1,000 jobs |
Programs
OT and OTA programs in South Dakota
Program supply matters for applicants, fieldwork access, and local clinical networks. These rows point to school profiles where available.
| Program | Location | Degree | NBCOT |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of South Dakota 1-24% distance; next review 2032/2033 | Vermillion, SD | OT Doctorate | 96% |
| Lake Area Technical College 1-24% distance; next review 2032/2033 | Watertown, SD | OTA Associate | 88% |
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
South Dakota is a fit-driven choice rather than a market-driven one at #50. 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 $85,050 median is the better anchor for a typical offer than the higher or lower mean. Because the page includes 2 metros, the statewide result should be used to choose a region, not to value a specific offer.