Occupational Therapist Pay in the Southeast

Data released earlier this year by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) indicated that there were just over 126,600 occupational therapists (OTs) employed in the U.S. as of May 2020.  Nearly 26,800 occupational therapists were employed in the twelve-state Southeast region of the country at that time.  BLS data revealed the Southeast to be a generally subpar one in terms of OT pay, with about 69% of the region's employed occupational therapists working in states where the OT annual mean wage level was below the national average.  Among the four states where the OT annual mean wage level topped the national average was Virginia, which rated among the ten best states in the national for occupational therapist annual mean wages.  A closer examination of the BLS data revealed the following details about occupational therapist pay in the Southeast as of May 2020:

Occupational Therapist Pay in the Southeast

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
AL	1,140	$85,740	24th
AR	1,200	$82,710	32nd
FL	6,820	$85,670	25th
GA	2,960	$88,910	14th
KY	1,550	$79,900	41st
LA	1,610	$88,370	15th
MS	830	$87,640	16th
NC	3,390	$81,820	37th
SC	1,630	$79,840	42nd
TN	2,250	$85,220	26th
VA	2,940	$95,170	6th
WV	450	$82,750	31st
U.S.	126,610	$87,480	-------

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

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on April 26, 2021