Music Therapists: Career Overview
Plan, organize, direct, or assess clinical and evidenced-based music therapy interventions to positively influence individuals' physical, psychological, cognitive, or behavioral status.
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The Daily Work of Music Therapists Take On?
The day-to-day responsibilities of music therapists cover:
- Design or provide music therapy experiences to address client needs, such as using music for self-care, adjusting to life changes, improving cognitive functioning, raising self-esteem, communicating, or controlling impulses.
- Design music therapy experiences, using various musical elements to meet client's goals or objectives.
- Sing or play musical instruments, such as keyboard, guitar, or percussion instruments.
- Communicate with clients to build rapport, acknowledge their progress, or reflect upon their reactions to musical experiences.
- Customize treatment programs for specific areas of music therapy, such as intellectual or developmental disabilities, educational settings, geriatrics, medical settings, mental health, physical disabilities, or wellness.
- Establish client goals or objectives for music therapy treatment, considering client needs, capabilities, interests, overall therapeutic program, coordination of treatment, or length of treatment.
- Document evaluations, treatment plans, case summaries, or progress or other reports related to individual clients or client groups.
- Assess client functioning levels, strengths, and areas of need in terms of perceptual, sensory, affective, communicative, musical, physical, cognitive, social, spiritual, or other abilities.
Skills and Knowledge
Top music therapists combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
These are the skills that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Types of Music Therapists Jobs
This career also goes by job titles like:
- Activity Therapist
- Board Certified Music Therapist (MT-BC)
- Certified Music Therapist
- Community Music Therapist
- Creative Arts Music Therapist
- Creative Music Therapist
- Expressive Music Therapist
- Home Care Music Therapist
Job Outlook
There are about 2,939,478 music therapists working in the United States today. Employment is projected to grow by +4.9% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Music Therapists Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $71,670 |
| Hourly median | $34.46 |
| 10th percentile | $47,484 |
| 25th percentile | $59,577 |
| 75th percentile | $83,764 |
| 90th percentile | $95,857 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
Music Therapists Salary by State
| 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 |
| Minnesota | $73,300 |
| Colorado | $72,440 |
| California | $71,190 |
| West Virginia | $71,180 |
| Illinois | $71,040 |
| Oklahoma | $69,900 |
| Alabama | $69,320 |
| New York | $67,870 |
| North Carolina | $65,310 |
| Massachusetts | $65,190 |
| Georgia | $63,540 |
| Texas | $62,560 |
| Arizona | $61,430 |
| Louisiana | $61,400 |
| Missouri | $60,800 |
| New Hampshire | $60,210 |
| Utah | $59,660 |
| Pennsylvania | $59,540 |
| Indiana | $58,690 |
| Virginia | $58,070 |
| Florida | $57,770 |
| Wisconsin | $57,540 |
| Arkansas | $55,820 |
| Iowa | $53,600 |
| Kansas | $52,690 |
| Michigan | $49,640 |
| Ohio | $49,510 |
| Maryland | $47,520 |
| Tennessee | $45,800 |
| Connecticut | $44,670 |
| Maine | $44,540 |
| Mississippi | $43,150 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Pay for music therapists shift depending on where you work. These regions lead on median pay:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Middle Atlantic | $71,574 | 31.1% | 3.53 |
| New England | $70,164 | 1.7% | 1.35 |
| Plains States | $69,806 | 5.9% | 1.16 |
| Rocky Mountains | $67,882 | 1.5% | 0.49 |
| Southeast | $63,449 | 28.0% | 1.97 |
| Southwest | $63,390 | 10.3% | 0.82 |
| Great Lakes | $59,183 | 11.7% | 0.93 |
| Far Western US | $55,673 | 9.8% | 0.85 |
Top Metro Areas
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | KY | $108,140 | 100 |
| Anchorage, AK | AK | $107,070 | 30 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | NJ | $101,970 | 100 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | NE | $96,080 | |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | OH | $95,930 | 70 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | NJ | $92,000 | 50 |
| Rochester, MN | MN | $91,990 | 60 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | KY | $84,440 | 140 |
Which Industries Hire Music Therapists
The bulk of music therapists are concentrated in the following sectors:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 15,910 | $64,950 |
| Educational Services | 2,140 | $62,560 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 220 | $75,520 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 100 | $64,680 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 40 | $54,100 |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Tools and Technology
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
The Day-to-Day Environment
The on-the-job environment of music therapists reflects the following characteristics:
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Contact With Others
- Freedom to Make Decisions
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
Education and Training
Typical music therapists positions require a bachelor’s degree as the typical entry-level education. This occupation sits in Considerable Preparation Needed (Job Zone 4), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Clinical and Counseling Psychologists (Primary-Short)
- Marriage and Family Therapists (Primary-Long)
- Mental Health Counselors (Primary-Long)
- Healthcare Social Workers (Supplemental)
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers (Supplemental)
- Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary (Supplemental)
- Music Directors and Composers (Supplemental)
- Occupational Therapists (Primary-Short)
Degree Programs
Aspiring music therapists typically earn programs in:
Health Professions and Related Programs
10 programs across 2 majors
About the Data
This profile draws on the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 29-1129.02 (Therapists, All Other).
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