diff --git a/sqlmesh/cli/project_init.py b/sqlmesh/cli/project_init.py
index 6b4f6c7a83..e3132a6de3 100644
--- a/sqlmesh/cli/project_init.py
+++ b/sqlmesh/cli/project_init.py
@@ -116,7 +116,15 @@ def _gen_config(
     - invalidselectstarexpansion
     - noambiguousprojections
 """,
-        ProjectTemplate.DBT: f"""# --- Virtual Data Environment Mode ---
+        ProjectTemplate.DBT: f"""# --- DBT-specific options ---
+dbt:
+  # This configuration ensures that each dbt target gets its own isolated state.
+  # The inferred state schemas are named "sqlmesh_state_<profile name>_<target schema>", eg "sqlmesh_state_jaffle_shop_dev"
+  # If this is undesirable, you may manually configure the gateway to use a specific state schema name
+  # https://sqlmesh.readthedocs.io/en/stable/integrations/dbt/#selecting-a-different-state-connection
+  infer_state_schema_name: True
+
+# --- Virtual Data Environment Mode ---
 # Enable Virtual Data Environments (VDE) for *development* environments.
 # Note that the production environment in dbt projects is not virtual by default to maintain compatibility with existing tooling.
 # https://sqlmesh.readthedocs.io/en/stable/guides/configuration/#virtual-data-environment-modes
diff --git a/sqlmesh/core/config/__init__.py b/sqlmesh/core/config/__init__.py
index 0dc99c0fd1..42ed82c6e6 100644
--- a/sqlmesh/core/config/__init__.py
+++ b/sqlmesh/core/config/__init__.py
@@ -36,6 +36,6 @@
 from sqlmesh.core.config.naming import NameInferenceConfig as NameInferenceConfig
 from sqlmesh.core.config.linter import LinterConfig as LinterConfig
 from sqlmesh.core.config.plan import PlanConfig as PlanConfig
-from sqlmesh.core.config.root import Config as Config
+from sqlmesh.core.config.root import Config as Config, DbtConfig as DbtConfig
 from sqlmesh.core.config.run import RunConfig as RunConfig
 from sqlmesh.core.config.scheduler import BuiltInSchedulerConfig as BuiltInSchedulerConfig
diff --git a/sqlmesh/core/config/dbt.py b/sqlmesh/core/config/dbt.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e3132c40a4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/sqlmesh/core/config/dbt.py
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+from sqlmesh.core.config.base import BaseConfig
+
+
+class DbtConfig(BaseConfig):
+    """
+    Represents dbt-specific options on the SQLMesh root config.
+
+    These options are only taken into account for dbt projects and are ignored on native projects
+    """
+
+    infer_state_schema_name: bool = False
+    """If set, indicates to the dbt loader that the state schema should be inferred based on the profile/target
+    so that each target gets its own isolated state"""
diff --git a/sqlmesh/core/config/loader.py b/sqlmesh/core/config/loader.py
index 2d202cb276..e05c148b90 100644
--- a/sqlmesh/core/config/loader.py
+++ b/sqlmesh/core/config/loader.py
@@ -172,12 +172,17 @@ def load_config_from_paths(
         if dbt_project_file:
             from sqlmesh.dbt.loader import sqlmesh_config
 
+            infer_state_schema_name = False
+            if dbt := non_python_config.dbt:
+                infer_state_schema_name = dbt.infer_state_schema_name
+
             dbt_python_config = sqlmesh_config(
                 project_root=dbt_project_file.parent,
                 dbt_profile_name=kwargs.pop("profile", None),
                 dbt_target_name=kwargs.pop("target", None),
                 variables=variables,
                 threads=kwargs.pop("threads", None),
+                infer_state_schema_name=infer_state_schema_name,
             )
             if type(dbt_python_config) != config_type:
                 dbt_python_config = convert_config_type(dbt_python_config, config_type)
diff --git a/sqlmesh/core/config/root.py b/sqlmesh/core/config/root.py
index 9b6fae63e3..211d271b01 100644
--- a/sqlmesh/core/config/root.py
+++ b/sqlmesh/core/config/root.py
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@
 from sqlmesh.core.config.linter import LinterConfig as LinterConfig
 from sqlmesh.core.config.plan import PlanConfig
 from sqlmesh.core.config.run import RunConfig
+from sqlmesh.core.config.dbt import DbtConfig
 from sqlmesh.core.config.scheduler import (
     BuiltInSchedulerConfig,
     SchedulerConfig,
@@ -173,6 +174,7 @@ class Config(BaseConfig):
     linter: LinterConfig = LinterConfig()
     janitor: JanitorConfig = JanitorConfig()
     cache_dir: t.Optional[str] = None
+    dbt: t.Optional[DbtConfig] = None
 
     _FIELD_UPDATE_STRATEGY: t.ClassVar[t.Dict[str, UpdateStrategy]] = {
         "gateways": UpdateStrategy.NESTED_UPDATE,
@@ -191,6 +193,7 @@ class Config(BaseConfig):
         "before_all": UpdateStrategy.EXTEND,
         "after_all": UpdateStrategy.EXTEND,
         "linter": UpdateStrategy.NESTED_UPDATE,
+        "dbt": UpdateStrategy.NESTED_UPDATE,
     }
 
     _connection_config_validator = connection_config_validator
diff --git a/sqlmesh/dbt/loader.py b/sqlmesh/dbt/loader.py
index 39973776a8..049c761ed1 100644
--- a/sqlmesh/dbt/loader.py
+++ b/sqlmesh/dbt/loader.py
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
     ConnectionConfig,
     GatewayConfig,
     ModelDefaultsConfig,
+    DbtConfig as RootDbtConfig,
 )
 from sqlmesh.core.environment import EnvironmentStatements
 from sqlmesh.core.loader import CacheBase, LoadedProject, Loader
@@ -51,6 +52,7 @@ def sqlmesh_config(
     variables: t.Optional[t.Dict[str, t.Any]] = None,
     threads: t.Optional[int] = None,
     register_comments: t.Optional[bool] = None,
+    infer_state_schema_name: bool = False,
     **kwargs: t.Any,
 ) -> Config:
     project_root = project_root or Path()
@@ -72,16 +74,40 @@ def sqlmesh_config(
         # the to_sqlmesh() function on TargetConfig maps self.threads -> concurrent_tasks
         profile.target.threads = threads
 
+    gateway_kwargs = {}
+    if infer_state_schema_name:
+        profile_name = context.profile_name
+
+        # Note: we deliberately isolate state based on the target *schema* and not the target name.
+        # It is assumed that the project will define a target, eg 'dev', and then in each users own ~/.dbt/profiles.yml the schema
+        # for the 'dev' target is overriden to something user-specific, rather than making the target name itself user-specific.
+        # This means that the schema name is the indicator of isolated state, not the target name which may be re-used across multiple schemas.
+        target_schema = profile.target.schema_
+
+        # dbt-core doesnt allow schema to be undefined, but it does allow an empty string, and then just
+        # fails at runtime when `CREATE SCHEMA ""` doesnt work
+        if not target_schema:
+            raise ConfigError(
+                f"Target '{profile.target_name}' does not specify a schema.\n"
+                "A schema is required in order to infer where to store SQLMesh state"
+            )
+
+        inferred_state_schema_name = f"sqlmesh_state_{profile_name}_{target_schema}"
+        logger.info("Inferring state schema: %s", inferred_state_schema_name)
+        gateway_kwargs["state_schema"] = inferred_state_schema_name
+
     return Config(
         loader=loader,
         model_defaults=model_defaults,
         variables=variables or {},
+        dbt=RootDbtConfig(infer_state_schema_name=infer_state_schema_name),
         **{
             "default_gateway": profile.target_name if "gateways" not in kwargs else "",
             "gateways": {
                 profile.target_name: GatewayConfig(
                     connection=profile.target.to_sqlmesh(**target_to_sqlmesh_args),
                     state_connection=state_connection,
+                    **gateway_kwargs,
                 )
             },  # type: ignore
             **kwargs,
diff --git a/tests/dbt/test_config.py b/tests/dbt/test_config.py
index b3ee0c422a..5dccd90ed2 100644
--- a/tests/dbt/test_config.py
+++ b/tests/dbt/test_config.py
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 from sqlmesh.core.dialect import jinja_query
 from sqlmesh.core.model import SqlModel
 from sqlmesh.core.model.kind import OnDestructiveChange, OnAdditiveChange
+from sqlmesh.core.state_sync import CachingStateSync, EngineAdapterStateSync
 from sqlmesh.dbt.builtin import Api
 from sqlmesh.dbt.column import ColumnConfig
 from sqlmesh.dbt.common import Dependencies
@@ -46,7 +47,8 @@
 )
 from sqlmesh.dbt.test import TestConfig
 from sqlmesh.utils.errors import ConfigError
-from sqlmesh.utils.yaml import load as yaml_load
+from sqlmesh.utils.yaml import load as yaml_load, dump as yaml_dump
+from tests.dbt.conftest import EmptyProjectCreator
 
 pytestmark = pytest.mark.dbt
 
@@ -1211,3 +1213,37 @@ def test_empty_vars_config(tmp_path):
     # Verify the variables are empty (not causing any issues)
     assert project.packages["test_empty_vars"].variables == {}
     assert project.context.variables == {}
+
+
+def test_infer_state_schema_name(create_empty_project: EmptyProjectCreator):
+    project_dir, _ = create_empty_project("test_foo", "dev")
+
+    # infer_state_schema_name defaults to False if omitted
+    config = sqlmesh_config(project_root=project_dir)
+    assert config.dbt
+    assert not config.dbt.infer_state_schema_name
+    assert config.get_state_schema() == "sqlmesh"
+
+    # create_empty_project() uses the default dbt template for sqlmesh yaml config which
+    # sets infer_state_schema_name=True
+    ctx = Context(paths=[project_dir])
+    assert ctx.config.dbt
+    assert ctx.config.dbt.infer_state_schema_name
+    assert ctx.config.get_state_schema() == "sqlmesh_state_test_foo_main"
+    assert isinstance(ctx.state_sync, CachingStateSync)
+    assert isinstance(ctx.state_sync.state_sync, EngineAdapterStateSync)
+    assert ctx.state_sync.state_sync.schema == "sqlmesh_state_test_foo_main"
+
+    # If the user delberately overrides state_schema then we should respect this choice
+    config_file = project_dir / "sqlmesh.yaml"
+    config_yaml = yaml_load(config_file)
+    config_yaml["gateways"] = {"dev": {"state_schema": "state_override"}}
+    config_file.write_text(yaml_dump(config_yaml))
+
+    ctx = Context(paths=[project_dir])
+    assert ctx.config.dbt
+    assert ctx.config.dbt.infer_state_schema_name
+    assert ctx.config.get_state_schema() == "state_override"
+    assert isinstance(ctx.state_sync, CachingStateSync)
+    assert isinstance(ctx.state_sync.state_sync, EngineAdapterStateSync)
+    assert ctx.state_sync.state_sync.schema == "state_override"
diff --git a/tests/dbt/test_integration.py b/tests/dbt/test_integration.py
index e1f051dbcf..ab22bf7826 100644
--- a/tests/dbt/test_integration.py
+++ b/tests/dbt/test_integration.py
@@ -19,7 +19,8 @@
 from sqlmesh.core.config.connection import DuckDBConnectionConfig
 from sqlmesh.core.engine_adapter import DuckDBEngineAdapter
 from sqlmesh.utils.pandas import columns_to_types_from_df
-from sqlmesh.utils.yaml import YAML
+from sqlmesh.utils.yaml import YAML, load as yaml_load, dump as yaml_dump
+from sqlmesh_dbt.operations import init_project_if_required
 from tests.utils.pandas import compare_dataframes, create_df
 
 # Some developers had issues with this test freezing locally so we mark it as cicdonly
@@ -604,3 +605,50 @@ def test_dbt_node_info(jaffle_shop_duckdb_context: Context):
         relationship_audit.node.dbt_node_info.name
         == "relationships_orders_customer_id__customer_id__ref_customers_"
     )
+
+
+def test_state_schema_isolation_per_target(jaffle_shop_duckdb: Path):
+    profiles_file = jaffle_shop_duckdb / "profiles.yml"
+
+    profiles_yml = yaml_load(profiles_file)
+
+    # make prod / dev config identical with the exception of a different default schema to simulate using the same warehouse
+    profiles_yml["jaffle_shop"]["outputs"]["prod"] = {
+        **profiles_yml["jaffle_shop"]["outputs"]["dev"]
+    }
+    profiles_yml["jaffle_shop"]["outputs"]["prod"]["schema"] = "prod_schema"
+    profiles_yml["jaffle_shop"]["outputs"]["dev"]["schema"] = "dev_schema"
+
+    profiles_file.write_text(yaml_dump(profiles_yml))
+
+    init_project_if_required(jaffle_shop_duckdb)
+
+    # start off with the prod target
+    prod_ctx = Context(paths=[jaffle_shop_duckdb], config_loader_kwargs={"target": "prod"})
+    assert prod_ctx.config.get_state_schema() == "sqlmesh_state_jaffle_shop_prod_schema"
+    assert all("prod_schema" in fqn for fqn in prod_ctx.models)
+    assert prod_ctx.plan(auto_apply=True).has_changes
+    assert not prod_ctx.plan(auto_apply=True).has_changes
+
+    # dev target should have changes - new state separate from prod
+    dev_ctx = Context(paths=[jaffle_shop_duckdb], config_loader_kwargs={"target": "dev"})
+    assert dev_ctx.config.get_state_schema() == "sqlmesh_state_jaffle_shop_dev_schema"
+    assert all("dev_schema" in fqn for fqn in dev_ctx.models)
+    assert dev_ctx.plan(auto_apply=True).has_changes
+    assert not dev_ctx.plan(auto_apply=True).has_changes
+
+    # no explicitly specified target should use dev because that's what's set for the default in the profiles.yml
+    assert profiles_yml["jaffle_shop"]["target"] == "dev"
+    default_ctx = Context(paths=[jaffle_shop_duckdb])
+    assert default_ctx.config.get_state_schema() == "sqlmesh_state_jaffle_shop_dev_schema"
+    assert all("dev_schema" in fqn for fqn in default_ctx.models)
+    assert not default_ctx.plan(auto_apply=True).has_changes
+
+    # an explicit state schema override set in `sqlmesh.yaml` should use that
+    sqlmesh_yaml_file = jaffle_shop_duckdb / "sqlmesh.yaml"
+    sqlmesh_yaml = yaml_load(sqlmesh_yaml_file)
+    sqlmesh_yaml["gateways"] = {"dev": {"state_schema": "sqlmesh_dev_state_override"}}
+    sqlmesh_yaml_file.write_text(yaml_dump(sqlmesh_yaml))
+    default_ctx = Context(paths=[jaffle_shop_duckdb])
+    assert default_ctx.config.get_state_schema() == "sqlmesh_dev_state_override"
+    assert all("dev_schema" in fqn for fqn in default_ctx.models)
diff --git a/tests/fixtures/dbt/empty_project/profiles.yml b/tests/fixtures/dbt/empty_project/profiles.yml
index b352fc5792..adae09e9c6 100644
--- a/tests/fixtures/dbt/empty_project/profiles.yml
+++ b/tests/fixtures/dbt/empty_project/profiles.yml
@@ -3,7 +3,11 @@ empty_project:
   target: __DEFAULT_TARGET__
 
   outputs:
-    duckdb:
+    __DEFAULT_TARGET__:
       type: duckdb
+      # database is required for dbt < 1.5 where our adapter deliberately doesnt infer the database from the path and
+      # defaults it to "main", which raises a "project catalog doesnt match context catalog" error
+      # ref: https://github.com/TobikoData/sqlmesh/pull/1109
+      database: empty_project
       path: 'empty_project.duckdb'
       threads: 4