The average salary for a music therapist in California is around $78,610 per year.
Avg Salary
Music therapists earn an average yearly salary of $78,610.
Wages typically start from $38,180 and go up to $95,370.
8% below national average Updated in 2021
Music therapist earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level music therapist earnings begin at:
$45.85 per hour
$95,370 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level music therapist earnings begin at:
$43.43 per hour
$90,330 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level music therapist earnings begin at:
$37.80 per hour
$78,610 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level music therapist earnings begin at:
$23.43 per hour
$48,740 per year
10th percentile
Starting level music therapist earnings begin at:
$18.36 per hour
$38,180 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 California. On average, they make less than substance abuse social workers but more than midwives.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Substance abuse social worker salary | $78K |
| Insurance sales agent salary | $61K |
| Audio engineer salary | $63K |
| Exercise physiologist salary | $76K |
| Occupational therapist assistant salary | $77K |
| Recreational therapist salary | $79K |
| Music therapist salary | $79K |
| Art therapist salary | $79K |
| Health educator salary | $61K |
| Midwife salary | $61K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)