The average salary for a music therapist in the United States is around $50,558 per year.
Avg Salary
Music therapists earn an average yearly salary of $50,558.
Wages typically start from $33,599 and go up to $76,077.
19% below national average Updated in 2023
Music therapist earnings by seniority
Top-level music therapist earnings begin at:
$36.58 per hour
$76,077 per year
Senior-level music therapist earnings begin at:
$30.14 per hour
$62,689 per year
Mid-level music therapist earnings begin at:
$24.31 per hour
$50,558 per year
Junior-level music therapist earnings begin at:
$19.60 per hour
$40,775 per year
Starting level music therapist earnings begin at:
$16.15 per hour
$33,599 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Music therapist salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| California | $78,610 |
| District of Columbia | $76,230 |
| New Jersey | $61,160 |
| Oregon | $60,190 |
| Connecticut | $59,770 |
| New York | $59,770 |
| Washington | $59,080 |
| Illinois | $57,970 |
| Hawaii | $55,000 |
| Texas | $54,410 |
| New Hampshire | $54,040 |
| Nebraska | $50,000 |
| Pennsylvania | $48,660 |
| Arizona | $48,380 |
| Maine | $48,350 |
| Wyoming | $48,170 |
| Minnesota | $47,940 |
| Rhode Island | $47,870 |
| Massachusetts | $47,850 |
| Idaho | $47,670 |
| Maryland | $47,610 |
| Michigan | $47,610 |
| Kentucky | $47,570 |
| Ohio | $47,360 |
| Nevada | $47,010 |
| Arkansas | $47,000 |
| Wisconsin | $47,000 |
| Virginia | $46,910 |
| North Carolina | $46,870 |
| Iowa | $46,730 |
| Missouri | $46,690 |
| South Carolina | $46,690 |
| Alabama | $46,660 |
| Colorado | $46,660 |
| Florida | $46,660 |
| Georgia | $46,640 |
| Louisiana | $46,640 |
| South Dakota | $46,330 |
| North Dakota | $42,090 |
| Montana | $41,900 |
| Tennessee | $38,840 |
| Vermont | $38,500 |
| Utah | $37,850 |
| Indiana | $37,840 |
| New Mexico | $37,240 |
| Oklahoma | $37,020 |
| Delaware | $36,990 |
| West Virginia | $36,710 |
| Mississippi | $29,730 |
| Kansas | $29,680 |
| Puerto Rico | $28,360 |
How do music therapist salaries compare to similar careers?
Music therapists earn about the same as related careers in the United States. On average, they make less than exercise physiologists but more than healthcare social workers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Exercise physiologist salary | $57K |
| Registered dietitian salary | $53K |
| Speech language pathologist salary | $52K |
| Ophthalmic medical technologist salary | $53K |
| Occupational therapist assistant salary | $52K |
| Music therapist salary | $51K |
| Substance abuse social worker salary | $51K |
| Mental health counselor salary | $48K |
| Art therapist salary | $48K |
| Healthcare social worker salary | $47K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)