U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data published recently indicated that, as of May 2023, there were about 144,000 occupational therapists (OTs) employed in the United States.  More than 25,000 occupational therapists were employed in the five-state Great Lakes region of the country.  BLS data reveals the Great Lakes region to be a relatively weak one in terms of OT pay, with OT annual mean wage levels in all states but one falling below the national average for occupational therapists.  In fact, two states in the region, Michigan and Wisconsin, ranked among the bottom ten states in the nation for occupational therapist annual mean wages.  A closer look at the BLS data reveals the following about occupational therapist pay in the Great Lakes region of the U.S. as of May 2023:

Occupational Therapist Pay in the Great Lakes Region

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
IL	7,270	$96,160	18th
IN	4,080	$88,700	33rd
MI	4,690	$84,560	48th
OH	6,060	$89,490	32nd
WI	3,160	$85,030	46th
U.S.	144,850	$93,491	-------

(*) annual mean wage ranking among the 50 states and the District of Columbia

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on February 18, 2025