Art Therapists in Illinois
Thinking about a career as an Art Therapists in Illinois? Here’s what you need to know. All therapists not listed separately.
What do Art Therapists Make in Illinois?
For a art therapists working in Illinois, the median annual wage is $71,040 per year (or roughly $34.15/hour).Pay can range from $46,520 at the 10th percentile to $120,110 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $46,520 | $22.37 |
| 25th percentile | $55,990 | $26.92 |
| Median (50th) | $71,040 | $34.15 |
| 75th percentile | $96,900 | $46.59 |
| 90th percentile | $120,110 | $57.75 |
Location quotient — how concentrated this career is in Illinois relative to the national average — is 0.81, indicating fewer art therapists per worker than the national average.
National Wage Comparison
Nationally, art therapists earn a median of $40,748 per year ($19.59/hour), exceeding the Illinois median.
Employment Outlook
Nationally, total employment in this occupation is 704,548 art therapists nationwide. In Illinois alone, approximately 620 people work in this role. That’s higher than the typical state, which employs around 330 art therapists.
Top Illinois Metros for Art Therapists
The largest metro-area employers of art therapists in Illinois.
| Metro Area | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 480 | $71,250 |
Top States for Art Therapists Employment
View the states that employ the most art therapists work.
| State | Number Employed |
|---|---|
| New Jersey | 2,530 |
| Georgia | 1,580 |
| Maryland | 1,540 |
| Texas | 1,480 |
| California | 1,130 |
| New York | 990 |
| Louisiana | 900 |
| Pennsylvania | 630 |
| Illinois | 620 |
| Wisconsin | 570 |
| Florida | 540 |
| Minnesota | 540 |
| North Carolina | 440 |
| Kentucky | 400 |
| Tennessee | 400 |
| Nevada | 380 |
| Ohio | 370 |
| Missouri | 370 |
| Arkansas | 350 |
| Indiana | 330 |
Highest-Paying States for Art Therapists
These states pay the most for art therapists.
| State | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $107,070 |
| Nebraska | $102,680 |
| New Mexico | $100,510 |
| South Carolina | $99,870 |
| Kentucky | $99,060 |
| District of Columbia | $90,920 |
| New Jersey | $90,280 |
| Montana | $82,070 |
| Oregon | $80,210 |
| Rhode Island | $75,470 |
Skills
The most important art therapists skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Core knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Abilities
The abilities that matter most for art therapists, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Daily Tasks
Art Therapists typically:
- Observe and document client reactions, progress, or other outcomes related to art therapy.
- Design art therapy sessions or programs to meet client's goals or objectives.
- Conduct art therapy sessions, providing guided self-expression experiences to help clients recover from, or cope with, cognitive, emotional, or physical impairments.
- Confer with other professionals on client's treatment team to develop, coordinate, or integrate treatment plans.
- Assess client needs or disorders, using drawing, painting, sculpting, or other artistic processes.
- Talk with clients during art or other therapy sessions to build rapport, acknowledge their progress, or reflect upon their reactions to the artistic process.
- Develop individualized treatment plans that incorporate studio art therapy, counseling, or psychotherapy techniques.
- Write treatment plans, case summaries, or progress or other reports related to individual clients or client groups.
- Select or prepare artistic media or related equipment or devices to accomplish therapy session objectives.
- Analyze or synthesize client data to draw conclusions or make recommendations for art therapy.
- Interpret the artistic creations of clients to assess their functioning, needs, or progress.
- Customize art therapy programs for specific client populations, such as those in schools, nursing homes, wellness centers, prisons, shelters, or hospitals.
Work Activities
- Thinking Creatively
- Assisting and Caring for Others
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
- Documenting/Recording Information
- Getting Information
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
- Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others
- Coaching and Developing Others
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
Tools & Technology
Software and systems commonly involved: Hot technologies: Adobe Acrobat, Adobe After Effects
What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?
Several college majors map to this occupation:
- Rehabilitation Professions
- Movement & Mind-Body Therapies
Featured schools near , edit
Related Careers
Related occupations to art therapists include:
- Clinical and Counseling Psychologists
- School Psychologists
- Marriage and Family Therapists
- Mental Health Counselors
- Rehabilitation Counselors
- Healthcare Social Workers
Also Known As
Art Psychotherapist, Art Therapist, Art Therapy Specialist, Arts Therapist, Board Certified Art Therapist (ATR-BC), Board Certified Arts Therapist (ATR-BC), Certified Art Therapist, Clinical Therapist, Cognitive Therapist, Creative Art Therapist, Creative Arts Therapist, Creative Therapist, Expressive Art Therapist, Expressive Therapist, Group Therapist.
References
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
- O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
- BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
- O*NET-SOC code: 29-1129.01