State market profile
Utah OT job market
Compare Utah 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 #47$97,210 mean wage1,030 OT jobs0.57 location quotient
Market snapshot
How Utah 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
Utah OT market assessment
Why it stands out
- 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 #47, 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 1,030 OT jobs statewide. That thinner base reduces leverage when changing employers or searching for a narrow specialty.
- The 0.57 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.
What to compare next
- Compare the highest- and lowest-paying Utah metros before using the statewide $97,150 median in an offer decision.
- Put Utah 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 1,030 OT jobs statewide. That thinner base makes individual employers, local referral networks, and travel radius unusually important.
Role concentration
The 0.57 location quotient is below the national baseline, so local role availability can matter more than statewide wage strength.
Metro markets
Best Utah 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT Score 37.9 | #209 | $98,020 | 510 | 0.59 LQ; 0.62 per 1,000 jobs |
| Ogden, UT Score 34.5 | #256 | $94,130 | 210 | 0.74 LQ; 0.78 per 1,000 jobs |
| St. George, UT Score 32.0 | #291 | $106,010 | 50 | 0.58 LQ; 0.60 per 1,000 jobs |
| Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT Score 31.3 | #299 | $96,550 | 160 | 0.52 LQ; 0.54 per 1,000 jobs |
| Logan, UT-ID Score 26.1 | #342 | $101,870 | 30 | 0.46 LQ; 0.48 per 1,000 jobs |
Programs
OT and OTA programs in Utah
Program supply matters for applicants, fieldwork access, and local clinical networks. These rows point to school profiles where available.
| Program | Location | Degree | NBCOT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salt Lake Community College Campus-based; next review 2032/2033 | West Jordan, UT | OTA Associate | 100% |
| University of Utah Campus-based; next review 2027/2028 | Salt Lake City, UT | OT Masters | 96% |
| Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions Format not listed; next review 2032/2033 | Provo, UT | OT Doctorate | NBCOT outcome unavailable |
| University of Utah Format not listed; next review 2032/2033 | Salt Lake City, UT | OT Doctorate | NBCOT outcome unavailable |
| Utah Tech University Format not listed; next review 2026/2027 | St. George, UT | OT Doctorate | NBCOT outcome unavailable |
| Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions Bridge (OTA to OT Education); next review 2032/2033 | Provo, UT | OT Masters | NBCOT outcome unavailable |
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
Utah is a fit-driven choice rather than a market-driven one at #47. 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 $97,150 median is the better anchor for a typical offer than the higher or lower mean. Because the page includes 5 metros, the statewide result should be used to choose a region, not to value a specific offer.