Music Therapists
Plan, organize, direct, or assess clinical and evidenced-based music therapy interventions to positively influence individuals' physical, psychological, cognitive, or behavioral status.
- O*NET-SOC code
29-1129.02 - Preparation Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
Wages
BLS doesn't publish wages for Music Therapists separately. These are the figures for Therapists, All Other (29-1129), its parent occupation.
Median annual wage, U.S.$77,930
Employment, U.S.22,640
Median hourly wage$37.47
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $46,540 | $58,850 | $77,930 | $105,760 | $152,530 |
By state (41)
| State | Employment | Median annual | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 30 | $68,270 | 0.10 |
| Arizona | 360 | $63,750 | 0.76 |
| Arkansas | 460 | $61,920 | 2.40 |
| California | 840 | $81,760 | 0.31 |
| Colorado | 160 | $65,080 | 0.39 |
| Connecticut | 510 | $47,300 | 2.05 |
| Delaware | 30 | $90,120 | 0.48 |
| District of Columbia | 80 | $127,010 | 0.75 |
| Florida | 440 | $64,600 | 0.30 |
| Georgia | 970 | $59,380 | 1.36 |
| Hawaii | 40 | $99,560 | 0.41 |
| Illinois | 1,060 | $116,200 | 1.19 |
| Indiana | 350 | $61,720 | 0.76 |
| Kansas | 170 | $76,740 | 0.81 |
| Kentucky | 190 | $75,060 | 0.66 |
| Louisiana | 690 | $64,530 | 2.45 |
| Maryland | 1,310 | $49,400 | 3.25 |
| Massachusetts | 170 | $69,050 | 0.31 |
| Michigan | 320 | $57,970 | 0.50 |
| Minnesota | 500 | $75,360 | 1.17 |
| Mississippi | 140 | $44,280 | 0.82 |
| Missouri | 340 | $60,990 | 0.79 |
| Nebraska | 40 | $86,900 | 0.25 |
| Nevada | $38,260 | ||
| New Hampshire | 100 | $69,040 | 1.04 |
| New Jersey | 7,090 | $100,250 | 11.36 |
| New York | 1,110 | $77,980 | 0.79 |
| North Carolina | 530 | $60,400 | 0.73 |
| Ohio | 540 | $70,700 | 0.67 |
| Oklahoma | $60,090 | ||
| Oregon | 170 | $81,860 | 0.61 |
| Pennsylvania | 710 | $62,310 | 0.81 |
| Rhode Island | 90 | $86,400 | 1.22 |
| South Carolina | 70 | $90,980 | 0.21 |
| Tennessee | 210 | $56,690 | 0.43 |
| Texas | 1,320 | $74,750 | 0.65 |
| Utah | 70 | $61,770 | 0.27 |
| Virginia | 420 | $70,890 | 0.71 |
| Washington | $98,550 | ||
| West Virginia | $67,580 | ||
| Wisconsin | 280 | $59,420 | 0.66 |
Similar occupations
Similarity is our measure: the cosine of importance x level over all 120 O*NET skills, knowledge areas and abilities. It is not an O*NET finding. More.
Circles are the 20 most similar occupations, coloured by Job Zone. Lines join pairs where one is among the other's 10 most similar; darker lines are pairs O*NET also lists as related. Drag a circle to move it out of the way; select one to open it.
| # | Occupation | Job Zone | Similarity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Art Therapists | 5 | 0.980 |
| 2 | Recreational Therapists | 4 | 0.955 |
| 3 | Occupational Therapists | 5 | 0.945 |
| 4 | Psychiatric Technicians | 3 | 0.942 |
| 5 | Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors | 5 | 0.941 |
| 6 | Healthcare Social Workers | 5 | 0.939 |
| 7 | Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers | 5 | 0.937 |
| 8 | Mental Health Counselors | 5 | 0.935 |
| 9 | Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | 5 | 0.934 |
| 10 | Social and Human Service Assistants | 4 | 0.933 |
One skill away
Among the 50 occupations most similar to Music Therapists, those at the same Job Zone or lower, where exactly one skill rated at least 3 in importance needs a level more than 0.75 points higher (on O*NET's 0-7 level scale). Our definition. Change the thresholds.
| Occupation | Skill to build | Level gap | Similarity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Child, Family, and School Social Workers | Time Management | 0.76 | 0.928 |
| Special Education Teachers, Secondary School | Learning Strategies | 1.00 | 0.916 |
| Registered Nurses | Operations Monitoring | 1.00 | 0.907 |
| Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School | Mathematics | 1.50 | 0.904 |
Software to learn next
Software used by at least 3 of the 20 occupations most similar to Music Therapists, excluding software Music Therapists already lists and any you named. Ranked by how many of them use it, weighted by how much more common it is among them than across all occupations (lift). Our ranking.
| Software | Similar jobs using it | Lift |
|---|---|---|
| Patient electronic medical record EMR software | 8 of 20 | 28.4x |
| Screen reader software | 4 of 20 | 20.5x |
| BrainTrain Captain's Log | 3 of 20 | 46.2x |
| Scheduling software | 7 of 20 | 4.6x |
| Noldus Information Technology The Observer XT | 3 of 20 | 34.6x |
| Netscape Navigator | 3 of 20 | 23.1x |
| Statistical software | 5 of 20 | 5.8x |
| Screen magnification software | 3 of 20 | 17.3x |
| Zoom | 5 of 20 | 4.4x |
| Database software | 8 of 20 | 2.2x |
Skills
From O*NET data. Importance is rated 1 to 5 and level 0 to 7.
| Skill | Type | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Social Perceptiveness | Transferable skill | 4.25 | 4.50 |
| Active Listening | Essential skill | 4.12 | 4.00 |
| Critical Thinking | Essential skill | 4.00 | 4.00 |
| Reading Comprehension | Essential skill | 4.00 | 4.00 |
| Service Orientation | Transferable skill | 4.00 | 3.88 |
| Speaking | Essential skill | 4.00 | 3.88 |
| Monitoring | Essential skill | 3.75 | 4.00 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | Transferable skill | 3.75 | 3.75 |
| Learning Strategies | Essential skill | 3.75 | 3.75 |
| Active Learning | Essential skill | 3.25 | 3.75 |
| Writing | Essential skill | 3.25 | 3.75 |
| Instructing | Transferable skill | 3.25 | 3.62 |
| Complex Problem Solving | Transferable skill | 3.25 | 3.38 |
| Coordination | Transferable skill | 3.25 | 3.38 |
| Negotiation | Transferable skill | 3.25 | 3.25 |
| Persuasion | Transferable skill | 3.25 | 3.25 |
| Systems Analysis | Transferable skill | 3.12 | 3.12 |
| Time Management | Transferable skill | 3.00 | 3.12 |
| Systems Evaluation | Transferable skill | 2.88 | 3.25 |
| Management of Personnel Resources | Transferable skill | 2.75 | 2.88 |
| Quality Control Analysis | Transferable skill | 2.12 | 1.38 |
| Operations Monitoring | Transferable skill | 2.00 | 1.88 |
| Management of Material Resources | Transferable skill | 2.00 | 1.62 |
| Mathematics | Essential skill | 2.00 | 1.62 |
| Troubleshooting | Transferable skill | 2.00 | 1.12 |
| Management of Financial Resources | Transferable skill | 2.00 | 1.00 |
| Operations Analysis | Transferable skill | 1.88 | 1.25 |
| Technology Design | Transferable skill | 1.88 | 1.25 |
| Science | Essential skill | 1.75 | 0.88 |
| Equipment Selection | Transferable skill | 1.62 | 0.75 |
| Programming | Transferable skill | 1.38 | 0.38 |
| Equipment Maintenance | Transferable skill | 1.00 | not rated |
| Installation | Transferable skill | 1.00 | not rated |
| Operation and Control | Transferable skill | 1.00 | not rated |
| Repairing | Transferable skill | 1.00 | not rated |
Knowledge (33) and abilities (52)
| Name | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology | 4.88 | 6.42 |
| Therapy and Counseling | 4.88 | 6.35 |
| Fine Arts | 4.81 | 5.85 |
| English Language | 4.12 | 4.23 |
| Customer and Personal Service | 3.92 | 5.38 |
| Sociology and Anthropology | 3.92 | 4.77 |
| Education and Training | 3.85 | 4.85 |
| Computers and Electronics | 2.96 | 3.77 |
| Administrative | 2.92 | 3.56 |
| Medicine and Dentistry | 2.92 | 2.73 |
| Philosophy and Theology | 2.85 | 3.50 |
| Communications and Media | 2.85 | 3.15 |
| Administration and Management | 2.62 | 2.88 |
| Sales and Marketing | 2.54 | 3.15 |
| Public Safety and Security | 2.42 | 2.00 |
| Foreign Language | 2.31 | 2.08 |
| Law and Government | 2.27 | 2.20 |
| Personnel and Human Resources | 2.19 | 2.58 |
| Mathematics | 2.08 | 2.50 |
| Biology | 2.04 | 1.77 |
| Telecommunications | 1.92 | 1.12 |
| Economics and Accounting | 1.77 | 1.24 |
| History and Archeology | 1.73 | 1.46 |
| Engineering and Technology | 1.62 | 1.23 |
| Transportation | 1.62 | 1.19 |
| Geography | 1.36 | not rated |
| Production and Processing | 1.36 | 0.76 |
| Design | 1.35 | not rated |
| Physics | 1.35 | not rated |
| Mechanical | 1.32 | not rated |
| Chemistry | 1.27 | not rated |
| Building and Construction | 1.15 | not rated |
| Food Production | 1.12 | not rated |
| Name | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Oral Expression | 4.12 | 4.12 |
| Problem Sensitivity | 4.12 | 4.00 |
| Oral Comprehension | 4.00 | 4.00 |
| Deductive Reasoning | 3.88 | 4.00 |
| Inductive Reasoning | 3.88 | 4.00 |
| Speech Clarity | 3.88 | 4.00 |
| Written Comprehension | 3.88 | 4.00 |
| Written Expression | 3.88 | 4.00 |
| Speech Recognition | 3.88 | 3.88 |
| Fluency of Ideas | 3.75 | 3.88 |
| Information Ordering | 3.75 | 3.75 |
| Selective Attention | 3.75 | 3.75 |
| Originality | 3.62 | 3.88 |
| Hearing Sensitivity | 3.12 | 3.50 |
| Auditory Attention | 3.12 | 3.12 |
| Category Flexibility | 3.12 | 3.12 |
| Near Vision | 3.12 | 3.12 |
| Flexibility of Closure | 3.00 | 2.88 |
| Arm-Hand Steadiness | 2.88 | 3.00 |
| Time Sharing | 2.88 | 3.00 |
| Far Vision | 2.88 | 2.88 |
| Finger Dexterity | 2.88 | 2.88 |
| Perceptual Speed | 2.75 | 3.00 |
| Memorization | 2.75 | 2.75 |
| Manual Dexterity | 2.62 | 2.75 |
| Visualization | 2.62 | 2.75 |
| Control Precision | 2.62 | 2.62 |
| Speed of Closure | 2.50 | 2.75 |
| Visual Color Discrimination | 2.50 | 2.12 |
| Trunk Strength | 2.12 | 1.88 |
| Wrist-Finger Speed | 2.12 | 1.38 |
| Mathematical Reasoning | 2.00 | 2.00 |
| Multilimb Coordination | 2.00 | 2.00 |
| Number Facility | 2.00 | 2.00 |
| Static Strength | 2.00 | 2.00 |
| Explosive Strength | 2.00 | 1.88 |
| Stamina | 2.00 | 1.75 |
| Depth Perception | 2.00 | 1.62 |
| Dynamic Strength | 2.00 | 1.50 |
| Response Orientation | 2.00 | 1.38 |
| Extent Flexibility | 2.00 | 1.25 |
| Gross Body Coordination | 2.00 | 1.25 |
| Gross Body Equilibrium | 2.00 | 1.12 |
| Reaction Time | 2.00 | 1.00 |
| Sound Localization | 1.88 | 1.12 |
| Speed of Limb Movement | 1.50 | 0.50 |
| Dynamic Flexibility | 1.00 | not rated |
| Glare Sensitivity | 1.00 | not rated |
| Night Vision | 1.00 | not rated |
| Peripheral Vision | 1.00 | not rated |
| Rate Control | 1.00 | not rated |
| Spatial Orientation | 1.00 | not rated |
Software used
Examples from O*NET data. "Hot" and "in demand" are O*NET flags for technologies often listed in job postings.
- Microsoft Office software hot
- Avid Technology Pro Tools
- Electronic health record EHR software
- Email software
- Musical instrument digital interface MIDI software
- Virtual instrument software
- Web browser software
Where it concentrates
BLS doesn't publish wages for Music Therapists separately. These are the figures for Therapists, All Other (29-1129), its parent occupation.
Metro areas ranked by BLS location quotient: the occupation's share of the area's jobs divided by its share of all US jobs. Above 1 means more concentrated than the nation. Metros employing fewer than 100 are left out.
| Metro area | Employment | Location quotient | Median annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | 220 | 6.16 | $83,200 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | 100 | 4.14 | $108,650 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 740 | 3.73 | $46,540 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 1,330 | 3.16 | $81,170 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | 140 | 2.78 | $60,750 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | 130 | 2.24 | $100,390 |
| Tucson, AZ | 110 | 1.89 | $59,250 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 740 | 1.75 | $62,450 |
| Rochester, NY | 120 | 1.68 | $68,620 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 370 | 1.31 | $75,350 |