- Music therapists in the US typically earn around $50,000 to $70,000 a year, with an average full-time salary of about $59,000 in AMTA's most recent published workforce analysis.
- Pay varies by setting and region. Government and hospital roles and the New England region tend to pay more.
- Experience, a master's degree, extra credentials and private practice or telehealth work can raise earnings.
- Music therapy is meaningful work, but pay is modest for the training required. Go in with clear eyes.
If you're thinking about becoming a music therapist, you've probably already found the Reddit threads. Some say it's the most rewarding career in the world. Others warn people away because of the pay.
Both can be true. As a music therapy practice, we want you to have honest numbers before you commit years to training. Here's what music therapists actually earn, what moves pay up, and the real tradeoffs.
Average Music Therapist Salary
There's no single perfect data source for music therapy pay, so it helps to look at two.
The profession's own survey. The American Music Therapy Association's 2021 Workforce Analysis, its most recent full public report, found an average full-time salary of about $58,973, up $2,258 from the prior year. Reported salaries ranged widely, from about $28,000 to well over $100,000.
Federal data. The Bureau of Labor Statistics doesn't track music therapists separately. The closest category is recreational therapists, which includes some music therapy roles. BLS reports a median annual wage of $60,280 for recreational therapists as of May 2024.
Together, those sources suggest most full-time music therapists earn somewhere in the $50,000 to $70,000 range, with experienced clinicians, managers and successful private practice owners earning more.
AMTA's workforce survey also found that music therapists reported an average rate of about $119 per hour for individual sessions across the country. That hourly rate is one reason private practice and contract work can raise overall earnings.
Salary by Setting
Where you work has a big effect on pay. BLS publishes median wages for recreational therapists by industry, which gives a useful federal reference point.
| Setting | Pay pattern | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Government (for example, VA facilities) | Among the highest; BLS reports a $77,820 median for recreational therapists in government | Stable roles with strong benefits |
| Hospitals | Above average; BLS reports a $62,050 median for recreational therapists in hospitals | Medical, psychiatric and rehab units; benefits and structured career ladders |
| Schools | Often tied to teacher or district salary scales | School-year schedule; pay varies by district |
| Hospice and senior care | Varies widely by organization | Meaningful work; may involve travel between sites |
| Private practice | Widest range, from part-time income to well above average | You set rates, but you also cover marketing, admin and benefits |
| Telehealth | Similar to private practice or employed rates | Fewer travel costs and a wider client base |
BLS figures are from its recreational therapists profile, the closest federal category to music therapy.
Salary by Region and State
Location matters too, mostly because of cost of living and demand. AMTA's 2021 survey found average salaries ranging from about $52,949 in the Great Lakes region to about $70,789 in New England.
In general, music therapists tend to earn more in:
- The Northeast and West Coast, where wages and living costs are higher
- Large metro areas with major hospital systems
- States that license music therapists, where the profession is more established
Higher pay in expensive regions doesn't always mean more take-home value, so compare salary against local rent and living costs.
Entry-Level vs Experienced Pay
New music therapists usually start toward the lower end of the range, often in the $40,000s to low $50,000s depending on setting and region. Pay generally rises with experience, supervisory roles and advanced degrees. AMTA's survey has consistently found that music therapists with a master's degree report higher average salaries than those with only a bachelor's degree.
How Music Therapists Get Paid
Music therapists earn money in a few different ways, and many combine them:
- Salaried positions in hospitals, schools, government facilities and larger organizations, usually with benefits.
- Hourly or per-session pay for part-time roles or work with individual clients.
- Contracts with schools, senior living communities or hospices to provide a set number of sessions each week.
- Private practice income from clients who pay directly, sometimes with insurance or funding programs covering part of the cost.
A mix of a part-time salaried role plus private clients or contracts is common, especially early in a career. It can add up to a solid income, but it takes planning and some business skills.
Weighing Training Costs Against Earnings
Becoming a music therapist requires a bachelor's degree in music therapy (or an equivalency program), a supervised internship and a national board exam. Before you commit, compare the cost of that training with realistic starting pay in the region where you want to live. Choosing an affordable program, applying for scholarships and limiting student debt can make a big difference in how sustainable the career feels in the first five years.
How to Earn More as a Music Therapist
- Get a master's degree. It's linked to higher pay and opens doors to supervision, teaching and leadership roles.
- Add specialized training. Certifications in areas like Neurologic Music Therapy, the Bonny Method or other advanced approaches can make you more valuable in specific settings.
- Consider a second license. Some music therapists also become licensed counselors or therapists, which can expand insurance billing options.
- Move into leadership. Program directors, clinical supervisors and department heads earn more.
- Build private practice or contract work. Contracting with schools, facilities and individual clients can raise earnings, especially combined with telehealth.
- Teach or supervise interns. University teaching and internship supervision can add income.
Telehealth has changed the math for many music therapists. You can serve clients across a wider area, cut travel time between sessions, and fit more sessions into a week. If you're curious about the skills that help in any setting, read what skills you need to be a music therapist.
What the Work Week Really Looks Like
Salary is only part of the picture. A full-time music therapist's week often includes direct sessions with clients, plus time for documentation, treatment planning, team meetings, travel between sites and preparing materials. In private practice, add marketing, billing and scheduling.
Many music therapists find that a sustainable caseload, rather than the highest possible number of sessions, is what keeps the work rewarding over the long term. When you compare job offers, ask how many sessions a week are expected, how much paid time is set aside for documentation, and whether travel time is paid.
Where to Find Music Therapy Jobs
- AMTA job listings and regional music therapy association job boards
- Hospital and health system career pages, including VA facilities
- School districts and special education programs
- Hospice and senior care organizations
- Telehealth and private music therapy practices
- Your internship site and professors, who often hear about openings first
Is Music Therapy Worth It? An Honest Look
The rewards:
- Deeply meaningful work that combines music and helping people
- Variety, from hospitals to schools to telehealth
- A growing research base and increasing recognition of the field
- Flexibility for those who build private practice or contract work
The tradeoffs:
- Pay is modest compared with the training required, which includes a degree and a long internship
- Many jobs are part time or contract, especially early on
- Some regions have few full-time positions
- Burnout is real in any helping profession. Our guide to stress management for demanding health careers can help.
Job growth for the closest federal category is steady but not fast. BLS projects recreational therapist employment to grow about 3% from 2024 to 2034, about as fast as average.
If you're seriously considering the field, our guide on how to become a music therapist walks through the training path, and our overview of what music therapy is explains the work itself.
FAQ
How much does a music therapist make?
Most full-time music therapists in the United States earn about $50,000 to $70,000 a year. The American Music Therapy Association's 2021 Workforce Analysis reported an average full-time salary of about $58,973, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a $60,280 median wage for recreational therapists, the closest federal category, as of May 2024.
What is the highest-paying music therapy setting?
Government roles, such as positions at VA facilities, and hospitals tend to pay among the highest. BLS reports median wages of $77,820 for recreational therapists in government and $62,050 in hospitals as of May 2024. Successful private practice owners and clinical leaders can also earn well above average.
Do music therapists make more in private practice?
They can. Private practice lets music therapists set their own rates, and AMTA reported an average individual session rate of about $119 per hour. However, private practice owners also pay for marketing, administration, insurance and their own benefits, and income can be less predictable, especially in the early years.
Which states pay music therapists the most?
According to AMTA's 2021 Workforce Analysis, the New England region had the highest average music therapist salary, at about $70,789, while the Great Lakes region had the lowest, at about $52,949. In general, the Northeast, West Coast and large metro areas with major hospital systems tend to pay more, though living costs are also higher.
Is music therapy a good career?
Music therapy can be a very rewarding career for people who love music and want to help others, with work in hospitals, schools, hospices, private practice and telehealth. The tradeoffs are modest pay relative to the required training, many part-time or contract roles early on, and the emotional demands common to helping professions.
How do you find music therapy jobs?
Music therapy jobs are listed on AMTA and regional music therapy association job boards, hospital and VA career pages, school district job sites, and hospice and senior care organizations. Telehealth and private music therapy practices also hire. Internship sites and university faculty are often good sources of leads for new graduates.
One Last Thing
Music therapy won't make most people rich, and it's better to know that up front. What it offers is a career where your music genuinely helps people, with real room to grow through experience, credentials and smart choices about where and how you work.
If you're exploring the field, or you're curious what music therapy could do for you or someone you love, we'd be happy to talk.
