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Healthcare

Music Therapists

Plan, organize, direct, or assess clinical and evidenced-based music therapy interventions to positively influence individuals' physical, psychological, cognitive, or behavioral status.

Median salary (BLS)

$77,930

10th–90th percentile (BLS)

$47k – $153k

Job outlook

+12% (much faster than average)

AI exposure

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports one wage for this occupational group, which covers 2 related roles — so read the median as an approximate group figure, and the range as the truer picture for this specific title. BLS source.

Early-career check: graduates of the matching programs below typically earn $93,000 ten years after starting college — an early-career figure, vs. the all-experience BLS median above. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard.

Plan a path to Music Therapists

Qualification costsStack incomeBest cities/statesSchool ROIJob-posting fitTailored resume

Education

Typical entry: Bachelor's degree

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Typical progression

  1. Junior Music Therapists

    Entry / Junior

    $46,540

    ~2 yrs to advance

  2. Music Therapists

    Established

    $77,930

    ~3 yrs to advance

  3. Senior Music Therapists

    Senior

    $115,230

Key skills

A typical day

  • •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.

Fields of study

Any field

Top colleges for Healthcare

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Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.