Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz
.jpg)
Music Therapists
Music Therapists plan, organize, or direct medically prescribed music therapy activities designed to positively influence patients' psychological or behavioral status.
Table of contents
What they do
Music Therapists plan, organize, or direct medically prescribed music therapy activities designed to positively influence patients' psychological or behavioral status.
- 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.
- Assess client functioning levels, strengths, and areas of need in terms of perceptual, sensory, affective, communicative, musical, physical, cognitive, social, spiritual, or other abilities.
- Sing or play musical instruments, such as keyboard, guitar, or percussion instruments.
- Design music therapy experiences, using various musical elements to meet the client’s goals or objectives.
Typical day
On a daily basis, Music Therapists sing or play musical instruments, such as keyboard, guitar, or percussion instruments. They observe and document client reactions, progress, or other outcomes related to music therapy.
A typical day for a Music Therapist will also include:
- Assess client functioning levels, strengths, and areas of need in terms of perceptual, sensory, affective, communicative, musical, physical, cognitive, social, spiritual, or other abilities.
- Integrate behavioral, developmental, improvisational, medical, or neurological approaches into music therapy treatments.
- Communicate with clients to build rapport, acknowledge their progress, or reflect upon their reactions to musical experiences.
- 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.
- Engage clients in music experiences to identify client responses to different styles of music, types of musical experiences, such as improvising or listening, or elements of music, such as tempo or harmony.
Other responsibilities
Besides their typical day, Music Therapists also assess the risks and benefits of treatment termination for clients. They may also analyze or synthesize client data to draw conclusions or make recommendations for therapy.
On a weekly to monthly basis, Music Therapists apply selected research findings to practice. They might also 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.
In addition, they confer with professionals on the client’s treatment team to develop, coordinate, or integrate treatment plans.
Although specific duties may vary, many of them communicate client assessment findings and recommendations in oral, written, audio, video, or other forms.
To some Music Therapists, it is also their responsibility to analyze data to determine the effectiveness of specific treatments or therapy approaches.
Featured Schools
What is the job like
Job satisfaction
Is this job meaningful
74% said they were satisfied with their job and 82% said they found their job meaningful.
My name is Kimberly O’Connell and I own Joyful Counseling in Indianapolis, IN. My titles are Music Therapist, MT-BC and Marriage and Family Therapist Resident. My Typical Day Right now I’m working 100% virtually to help families and couples find peace, mutual respect, and cultivate love with their most important people. That can mean a … Read More
As music therapists, we love any opportunities to advocate for our field! My name is Marjorie, I have been at Bridgewater State Hospital since September 2019, and absolutely love my job here! Being a music therapist is a truly humbling experience. As a music therapist, we have the opportunity to hold a musical space for … Read More
I’m one of the music therapists on staff at Bridgewater State Hospital. I’ve only been here for a few weeks but I really enjoy it so far. When I tell the guys here that I’m a music therapist, they often will try to connect with me by talking about the music they enjoy or I … Read More
My experience of music therapy changes everyday. Because I work with people, and every person is different, every day and every session is different. Music therapists are trained in music and psychology and how the two intersect. We learn different techniques to use music to address various needs and my job is to figure out, … Read More
Pros
Suitable for people who like to work with designs.
Suitable for people who value relationships between co-workers and customers and want to work in a friendly non-competitive environment.
This career is perfect for people who love to work indoors.
Demand for this career is growing fast.
Cons
Not suitable for people who like practical and hands-on work.
Salary is below average.
It is hard to get into this career. A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for this career.
How much do they make
Average salary
Average hourly wage
Entry-level Music Therapists with little to no experience can expect to make anywhere between $31,450 to $37,570 per year or $15 to $18 per hour.
| Salary by experience | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Highest (Top 10%) | $79,250 | $38 |
| Senior (Top 25%) | $62,440 | $30 |
| Median | $47,710 | $23 |
| Junior (Bottom 25%) | $37,570 | $18 |
| No experience (Bottom 10%) | $31,450 | $15 |
.jpg)
What is the work day like
Working hours
Working schedule
How often do you use email in this job?
Telephone
How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
Group discussions
How often do you have group discussions in this job?
Public speaking
How often does this job require you to do public speaking?
Level of competition
How much competitive pressure is in this job?
What is the work environment like
Office-style environment
Indoors in an environmentally controlled condition
Warehouse-style environment
Indoors in a non-controlled environmental condition such as a warehouse
Outdoors
Outdoors exposed to all weather conditions
Outdoors – Under Cover
Outdoors but under cover (e.g. structure with roof but no walls)
How to become one
Difficulty to become one
Required level of education
What level of education do you need to perform the job?
Relevant majors
Relevant work experience
How much related work experience do you need to get hired for the job?
On The Job Training
How much on the job training do you need to perform the job?
Should you become one
Best personality type for this career
People with this personality likes to work with designs and patterns. They prefer activities that require self-expression and prefer work that can be done without following a clear set of rules.
People with The Builder personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
People with The Thinker personality likes to work with ideas that require an extensive amount of thinking. They prefer work that requires them to solve problems mentally.
People with The Artist personality likes to work with designs and patterns. They prefer activities that require self-expression and prefer work that can be done without following a clear set of rules.
People with The Helper personality type likes to work with people and in teams. They prefer work that allows them to build relationships with others.
People with The Leader personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.
People with The Organizer personality type likes to follow set procedures and routines. They prefer working with data and details more than with ideas.
You can read more about these career personality types here.
People who are suitable for this job tend to like working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.
They also like working with, communicating with, and teaching people. They like helping or providing service to others.
Take this quiz to see if this is the right career for you.
Work Values
Which values are the most important to a person’s satisfaction for this job?
You are someone who is results oriented. You prefer work that allows you to utilize your skills and abilities while at the same time giving you a sense of accomplishment.
You are someone who values job security, steady employment, and good working conditions. You also prefer work that keeps you busy all the time with something different to do every day.
You are someone who values job advancement and leadership roles. You prefer work that receives recognition for the work you do and jobs that are looked up to by others in the company and your community.
You are someone who likes to provide a service to others. You prefer a work environment where you can work with your co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment.
You are someone who values a company that stands behind their employees. You prefer a work environment where everyone is treated fairly and is being supported by the company.
You are someone who likes to work on your own and make your own decisions. You prefer work that requires little supervision and are allowed to try out your own ideas.
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
Don’t know which career to pursue?
Take the career quiz to find careers that match your personality type.
Take The Career Quiz
