Music Therapists
Overview
Introduction
Music therapists treat and rehabilitate people with mental, physical, and emotional disabilities. They use the creative process of music in their therapy sessions to determine the underlying causes of problems and to help patients achieve therapeutic goals. The specific objectives of the therapeutic activities vary according to the needs of the patient and the setting of the therapy program. There are approximately 19,800 recreational therapists, including music therapists, employed in the United States.
Quick Facts
Median Salary
Employment Prospects
Minimum Education Level
Experience
Skills
Personality Traits
Earnings
Salaries for music therapists vary based on experience, level of training, and education. The Department of Labor reports that recreational therapists, a group that includes music therapists, earned a median of $47,860 in May 2018, with the lowest 10 percent earning less than $29,590 and the highest 10 percent earning more than $77,050.
The American Music Therapy Association reports that...
Work Environment
Music therapists work a typical 40-hour, five-day workweek; at times, however, they may have to work extra hours. The number of patients under a therapist's care depends on their specific employment setting. Although many therapists work in hospitals, they may also be employed in such facilities as clinics, rehabilitation centers, children's homes, schools, and nursing homes. Some therapists ma...
Outlook
The American Music Therapy Association predicts a promising future for the field of music therapy, and the U.S. Department of Labor forecasts that employment of recreational therapists will grow 7 percent through 2028, faster than the average for all occupations. Demand for music therapists will increase as medical professionals and the general public become aware of the benefits gained through...
