Music Therapy Salaries from 2012-2022

The purpose of this study was to descriptively analyze the salaries of music therapists from 2012-2021, and compare salaries of related helping professions in the year 2021. Research questions included 1) How do music therapists' salaries compare to other related helping professions by state in the year 2021? and 2) How have music therapists' salaries changed between 2012 and 2021? Data were collected using the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics' online database and yearly Workforce Analyses published from the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA). Results indicated that music therapists' salaries have increased in the past nine years, with a difference of $9,577 from 2012 to 2021, however, the increase has not been consistent from year-to-year. The reported overall average of music therapists' salaries in the year 2021 (M = $58,973) was higher than that of recreational therapists (M = $53,900), but lower than the other related professions: occupational therapists (M = $89,470), middle school special educators (M = $68,860), healthcare social workers (M = $62,310), and registered nurses (M = $82,750). According to data from 2012-2021, annual wages show the most variance when compared by years served or degree earned. Data indicated that music therapists tend to see an increase in salary based on years in the profession and by level of degree earned.