State market profile

Wisconsin OT job market

Compare Wisconsin 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 #26$91,150 mean wage3,710 OT jobs1.21 location quotient

Market snapshot

How Wisconsin 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$91,150BLS OEWS mean annual wage for occupational therapists.

Median wage$92,390Middle wage estimate for statewide OT roles.

Employment3,710Estimated occupational therapist jobs statewide.

Density1.26OT jobs per 1,000 statewide jobs.

Decision snapshot

Is Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin before narrowing to specific metros and employers.
Clinicians who want a meaningful statewide employment base with 3,710 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 city profiles before relocating.
A strong concentration signal still needs employer-level review before accepting an offer.

Ask before deciding

Which Wisconsin metros have enough openings in the setting you actually want?
How do rent, commute, taxes, and benefits change the value of a $91,150 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 Wisconsin 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
Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI Score 51.0	#53	$92,510	1,220	1.42 LQ; 1.48 per 1,000 jobs
Madison, WI Score 49.1	#72	$94,180	610	1.43 LQ; 1.49 per 1,000 jobs
Green Bay, WI Score 41.7	#148	$89,280	250	1.35 LQ; 1.41 per 1,000 jobs
Kenosha, WI Score 38.4	#202	$89,980	110	1.34 LQ; 1.40 per 1,000 jobs
La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN Score 37.7	#213	$87,220	120	1.36 LQ; 1.42 per 1,000 jobs
Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI Score 37.4	#219	$89,510	100	1.31 LQ; 1.37 per 1,000 jobs
Sheboygan, WI Score 36.9	#229	$87,890	90	1.36 LQ; 1.42 per 1,000 jobs
Appleton, WI Score 35.9	#239	$90,130	140	1.09 LQ; 1.14 per 1,000 jobs
Oshkosh-Neenah, WI Score 32.3	#286	$91,420	90	0.93 LQ; 0.97 per 1,000 jobs
Eau Claire, WI Score 32.2	#287	$88,590	90	1.02 LQ; 1.07 per 1,000 jobs

Programs

OT and OTA programs in Wisconsin

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
Concordia University Wisconsin 50-74% distance; next review 2028/2029	Mequon, WI	OT Doctorate	100%
Marquette University 1-24% distance; next review 2029/2030	Milwaukee, WI	OT Doctorate	100%
Mount Mary University 1-24% distance; next review 2029/2030	Milwaukee, WI	OT Doctorate	100%
University of Wisconsin-Madison 1-24% distance; next review 2030/2031	Madison, WI	OT Doctorate	100%
Carroll University 1-24% distance; next review 2030/2031	Waukesha, WI	OT Masters	100%
University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse 1-24% distance; next review 2025/2026	LaCrosse, WI	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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