State market profile
Washington OT job market
Compare Washington 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 #10$110,100 mean wage3,340 OT jobs0.90 location quotient
Market snapshot
How Washington 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
Washington OT market assessment
Why it stands out
- Washington ranks in the upper tier of published state markets. The state is competitive, but readers should still compare metro-level wages and local employer mix.
- BLS estimates 3,340 OT jobs statewide. That is enough depth to create real employer choice, though the strongest options may still cluster in a few metros.
- The 0.90 location quotient puts OT employment near the national concentration, so pay and employer quality matter more than occupational density alone.
Tradeoffs that matter
- Mean pay varies by $12,290 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 Washington metros before using the statewide $107,670 median in an offer decision.
- Put Washington 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 3,340 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 0.90 location quotient puts OT employment near the national concentration, so pay and employer quality matter more than occupational density alone.
Metro markets
Best Washington 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA Score 56.4 | #26 | $113,270 | 2,020 | 0.93 LQ; 0.97 per 1,000 jobs |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA Score 46.6 | #91 | $100,980 | 320 | 1.21 LQ; 1.26 per 1,000 jobs |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA Score 42.2 | #143 | $108,570 | 100 | 0.98 LQ; 1.03 per 1,000 jobs |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA Score 41.4 | #155 | $107,830 | 120 | 0.90 LQ; 0.94 per 1,000 jobs |
| Bellingham, WA Score 41.2 | #159 | $105,090 | 100 | 1.03 LQ; 1.08 per 1,000 jobs |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA Score 37.5 | #215 | $101,500 | 60 | 1.05 LQ; 1.10 per 1,000 jobs |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA Score 36.9 | #228 | $104,760 | 100 | 0.75 LQ; 0.79 per 1,000 jobs |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA Score 35.4 | #246 | $102,630 | 50 | 0.92 LQ; 0.96 per 1,000 jobs |
| Yakima, WA Score 29.1 | #318 | $106,410 | 40 | 0.43 LQ; 0.45 per 1,000 jobs |
Programs
OT and OTA programs in Washington
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 Puget Sound 1-24% distance; next review 2029/2030 | Tacoma, WA | OT Doctorate | 100% |
| Whitworth University Format not listed; next review 2031/2032 | Spokane, WA | OT Doctorate | 100% |
| Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences Bridge (OTA to OT Education); 1-24% distance; next review 2031/2032 | Yakima, WA | OT Masters | 100% |
| Lake Washington Institute of Technology 1-24% distance; next review 2025/2026 | Kirkland, WA | OTA Associate | 100% |
| Spokane Falls Community College 1-24% distance; next review 2029/2030 | Spokane, WA | OTA Associate | 100% |
| University of Washington 1-24% distance; next review 2031/2032 | Seattle, WA | OT Masters | 96% |
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
Washington deserves serious consideration as a top-10 OT market. 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 $107,670 median is the better anchor for a typical offer than the higher or lower mean. Because the page includes 9 metros, the statewide result should be used to choose a region, not to value a specific offer.