Music Therapists: Job Description
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 Perform?
Typical responsibilities of music therapists include:
- 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.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Effective music therapists combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Top Skills
The competencies most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Types of Music Therapists Jobs
Common job titles for this role include:
- 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
How Many Music Therapists Are There?
There are about 2,939,478 music therapists working in the United States today. This occupation is expected 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 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Music Therapists Make in Different U.S. States?
| 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 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Earnings for music therapists differ across the country. The following regions pay the most:
| 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 |
Industry Breakdown
The largest employers of music therapists are found across these industries:
| 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 |
Below are examples of industries where music therapists work:
Software Music Therapists Use
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
The work environment for music therapists is shaped by 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
Most music therapists positions require a bachelor’s degree as the typical entry-level education. The role falls in Considerable Preparation Needed (Job Zone 4), indicating the level of preparation typically expected.
Similar Occupations
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)
Top Programs to Study For This Career
Students preparing for music therapists commonly pursue programs in:
Health Professions and Related Programs
10 programs across 2 majors
Sources
Statistics shown above are sourced from 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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