U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data released earlier this year indicated that, as of May 2022, there were nearly 135,000 occupational therapists (OTs) at work in the United States.  At that time, occupational therapist employment in the Far West U.S. totaled over 19,100.  BLS data reveals the Far West region to be the best in the nation in terms of OT pay.  Every state in the region had an OT annual mean wage level above the national average of $ 92,800.  Moreover, five of the six states in the Far West U.S. ranked among the top ten states in the nation for occupational therapist annual mean wages.  A deeper dive into the BLS data reveals the following about occupational therapist pay in the Far West U.S. as of May 2022:

Occupational Therapist Pay in the Far West U.S.

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
AK	290	$100,810	4th
CA	13,230	$109,220	1st
HI	380	$96,600	8th
NV	780	$105,020	2nd
OR	1,070	$96,370	9th
WA	3,430	$94,450	15th
U.S.	134,980	$92,800	-------

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

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on October 21, 2023