Data released earlier this year by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) indicated that almost 135,000 occupational therapists (OTs) were employed in the U.S. as of May 2022.  Over 29,600 occupational therapists were employed in the twelve-state Southeast region of the country at that time.  BLS data revealed the region to be a generally subpar one in terms of OT pay, with only two Southeastern states,  Georgia and Virginia, recording an occupational therapist annual mean wage level that was above the national average for the profession.  A closer examination of the BLS data revealed the following details about occupational therapist pay in the Southeast as of May 2022:

Occupational Therapist Pay in the Southeast

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
AL	1,180	$86,860	34th
AR	1,360	$82,920	44th
FL	7,760	$88,910	27th
GA	3,270	$95,060	14th
KY	2,030	$83,960	40th
LA	1,800	$91,790	19th
MS	1,160	$89,590	25th
NC	3,340	$86,270	35th
SC	1,710	$88,090	30th
TN	2,290	$91,040	21st
VA	3,250	$97,980	5th
WV	460	$78,410	48th
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