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Music Therapists

Typical education: Bachelor's degreeLower pressure Bright Outlook

What they do

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

Kinds of work

  • Social: Helping, teaching, caring for and supporting other people.
  • Artistic: Creating, designing and expressing ideas through art, writing, music or performance.
  • Investigative: Science, research, figuring out how things work and solving complex problems.

Lower pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $77,930 Median per year · $37.47/hr Most earn $46,540–$152,530

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Establish client goals or objectives for music therapy treatment, considering client needs, capabilities, interests, overall therapeutic program, coordination of treatment, or length of treatment.
  • Gather diagnostic data from sources such as case documentation, observations of clients, or interviews with clients or family members.
  • 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.
  • Improvise instrumentally, vocally, or physically to meet client's therapeutic needs.
  • Gather diagnostic data from sources such as case documentation, observations of clients, or interviews with clients or family members.

Job outlook

Bright Outlook Rapid Growth

United States
13% more jobs by 2035, much faster than average · about 3,600 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Self-employed (their own business)58.8%
  • Offices of mental health practitioners (except physicians)6.5%
  • Offices of physical, occupational and speech therapists, and audiologists6.4%
  • General medical and surgical hospitals4.6%
  • Outpatient mental health and substance abuse centers3.8%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 6 months to 1 year

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: Bachelor's degreeExperience before this job: 6 months to 1 year

Music therapy is an entry-level job for people with a bachelor's degree. Most people finish a bachelor's in music therapy, complete a supervised clinical internship, and then start working, about 4 to 5 years after starting college.

  1. Bachelor's degree in music therapy

    4 years

    You learn music skills along with psychology, anatomy, and clinical methods, and you start working with real clients. Many students choose a degree approved for music therapy so they can qualify for certification later.

  2. Music therapy clinical internship

    6 months to 1 year

    You work under a licensed music therapist in a hospital, school, or care center, planning and leading sessions. This supervised experience is what employers look for when they hire you.

  3. Music Therapist

    Ongoing

    After passing the board certification exam, you plan and lead music-based sessions that help clients with physical, emotional, cognitive, or behavioral goals.

Where it can lead

  1. Lead Music Therapist

    3-5 years of experience first

    You take on more responsibility, such as training interns, mentoring other therapists, and designing programs for a whole unit or site.

  2. Music Therapy Supervisor

    5-8 years of experience first

    You oversee a team of music therapists, manage their caseloads and quality of care, and report to program leaders. Moving up usually means strong clinical results and good leadership skills.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take music and science classesChoir, band, or orchestra builds the music skills you will use every day, and biology or psychology helps you understand how the body and mind respond to music.
  • Volunteer at a nursing home or hospiceSpending time with older adults shows you how music can connect with people who have memory or health challenges.
  • Join a music group outside of schoolCommunity bands, church choirs, or local ensembles let you practice performing with others, which is a key skill for group sessions.
  • Get a job helping children or teensWorking as a camp counselor or tutor gives you practice leading activities and building trust with people who may be shy or struggling.

In college

  • Major in music therapy or pair music with psychologyA music therapy major gives you the required clinical training, and a psychology minor helps if your program does not offer that path.
  • Seek a clinical practicum or internshipHands-on time with clients in a hospital, school, or care center is what makes you ready for your first job.
  • Take anatomy, special education, or gerontology coursesThese classes help you understand the needs of the clients you will likely work with, from children with disabilities to adults in rehabilitation.
  • Perform in campus ensemblesPlaying in ensembles strengthens your musicianship and teaches you to adjust quickly, which helps when you lead live sessions.
  • Work as a peer mentor or activity assistantCampus jobs that involve leading groups or helping others build communication skills you will use with clients.

Tips for getting started

  • Look for a bachelor's program in music therapy that is approved by the American Music Therapy Association, since that is the usual path to board certification.
  • Get comfortable with your instrument and voice early, because you will need to play and sing in a wide range of styles for different clients.
  • Volunteer with people who might be your future clients, such as older adults or children with disabilities, to see if this work fits you.

Related jobs that often lead here

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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