Music Therapists Career, Salary and Skills
Music Therapists have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $77,930 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 22,640. Wage data is published for 119 locations.
Occupation description
Plan, organize, direct, or assess clinical and evidenced-based music therapy interventions to positively influence individuals' physical, psychological, cognitive, or behavioral status.
O*NET code
29-1129.02
Job zone
4
Typical education
Bachelor's Degree
Experience
Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year
National salary and employment
Median annual
$77,930
Hourly median
$37.47
Employment
22,640
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Social Perceptiveness | 4.25 | 4.50 |
| Active Listening | 4.12 | 4.00 |
| Reading Comprehension | 4.00 | 4.00 |
| Service Orientation | 4.00 | 3.88 |
| Speaking | 4.00 | 3.88 |
| Critical Thinking | 4.00 | 4.00 |
| Monitoring | 3.75 | 4.00 |
| Learning Strategies | 3.75 | 3.75 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.75 | 3.75 |
| Active Learning | 3.25 | 3.75 |
Typical tasks
- 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.
- Confer with professionals on client's treatment team to develop, coordinate, or integrate treatment plans.
Technology
- Avid Technology Pro Tools
- Electronic health record EHR software
- Email software
- Microsoft Office software
- Musical instrument digital interface MIDI software
- Virtual instrument software
- Web browser software
Music Therapists salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Music Therapists Salary in NJMedian $100,250 · Employment 7,090
- Music Therapists Salary in Philadelphia, PAMedian $81,170 · Employment 1,330
- Music Therapists Salary in TXMedian $74,750 · Employment 1,320
- Music Therapists Salary in MDMedian $49,400 · Employment 1,310
- Music Therapists Salary in NYMedian $77,980 · Employment 1,110
- Music Therapists Salary in ILMedian $116,200 · Employment 1,060
- Music Therapists Salary in GAMedian $59,380 · Employment 970
- Music Therapists Salary in CAMedian $81,760 · Employment 840
- Music Therapists Salary in Baltimore, MDMedian $46,540 · Employment 740
- Music Therapists Salary in Atlanta, GAMedian $62,450 · Employment 740
- Music Therapists Salary in PAMedian $62,310 · Employment 710
- Music Therapists Salary in LAMedian $64,530 · Employment 690
Related careers
- Healthcare Social WorkersNational median $67,880
- Music Directors and ComposersNational median $73,710
- Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation PhysiciansNational median $265,930
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social WorkersNational median $60,280
- Physical Therapist AssistantsNational median $68,380
- Speech-Language Pathology AssistantsNational median $48,430
- Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, PostsecondaryNational median $78,620
- Occupational Therapy AidesNational median $39,160
Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.