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Music Therapists Salary in Chicago, IL

In the 2025 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS dataset, Music Therapists in Chicago, IL have a median annual salary of $157,510. Recorded earnings range from $61,210 at the 10th percentile to $193,760 at the 90th percentile.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · Data year: 2025 · Last updated: 2026-09-22

Salary overview

Median annual salary

$157,510

Data year: 2025

Hourly median

$75.73

Employment

—

Source

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS

Salary distribution

$61,210
10th
$70,810
25th
$157,510
Median
$193,760
75th
$193,760
90th

Local compared with national

Chicago, IL

$157,510

Median annual · 2025

United States

$77,930

Median annual · 2025

The Chicago, IL median is 102.1% above the national median in the available dataset (a difference of $79,580).

Top skills

  1. 1.Social PerceptivenessImportance 4.3
  2. 2.Active ListeningImportance 4.1
  3. 3.Reading ComprehensionImportance 4.0
  4. 4.SpeakingImportance 4.0
  5. 5.Critical ThinkingImportance 4.0
  6. 6.Service OrientationImportance 4.0
  7. 7.Learning StrategiesImportance 3.8
  8. 8.MonitoringImportance 3.8
  9. 9.Judgment and Decision MakingImportance 3.8
  10. 10.WritingImportance 3.3
  11. 11.Active LearningImportance 3.3
  12. 12.CoordinationImportance 3.3

Career information

Education and experience

Typical education
Bachelor's Degree
Experience
Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year
Job zone
4

Technology used

  • 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

Common tasks

  • Confer with professionals on client's treatment team to develop, coordinate, or integrate treatment plans.
  • 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.
  • Observe and document client reactions, progress, or other outcomes related to music therapy.

Related careers

Occupations recorded as related in the dataset. A relationship does not imply a guaranteed transition.

Music Therapists salary in other locations

Other occupations in Chicago, IL