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The differences between art instructors and art therapy specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both an art instructor and an art therapy specialist. Additionally, an art therapy specialist has an average salary of $47,464, which is higher than the $36,539 average annual salary of an art instructor.
The top three skills for an art instructor include classroom management, kids and professional development. The most important skills for an art therapy specialist are patients, mental health, and art therapy sessions.
| Art Instructor | Art Therapy Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $36,539 | $47,464 |
| Hourly rate | $17.57 | $22.82 |
| Growth rate | 12% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 27,158 | 13,226 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Average age | 46 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
An art instructor is responsible for providing instructions on art activities, as well as preparing lectures about the art industry. Art instructors share techniques and keep a sufficient amount of art materials for practical use. They also evaluate students' art outputs and give them constructive feedback for development. An art instructor must encourage the students to boost their self-confidence about their craft and guide them to achieve their maximum potential. Art instructors must have excellent knowledge of the art industry, including its importance and history for the students' easy comprehension.
An Art Therapy Specialist uses visual art media for helping patients surpass their emotional and behavioral issues. They assess the needs of clients through listening and providing guidance, as well as evaluate and understand their feelings or temperament.
Art instructors and art therapy specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Art Instructor | Art Therapy Specialist | |
| Average salary | $36,539 | $47,464 |
| Salary range | Between $21,000 And $61,000 | Between $34,000 And $65,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | Los Angeles, CA |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Kern Community College District | Activision Blizzard |
| Best paying industry | Education | Education |
There are a few differences between an art instructor and an art therapy specialist in terms of educational background:
| Art Instructor | Art Therapy Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Most common major | Fine Arts | Rehabilitation Science |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Duke University |
Here are the differences between art instructors' and art therapy specialists' demographics:
| Art Instructor | Art Therapy Specialist | |
| Average age | 46 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 32.3% Female, 67.7% | Male, 17.5% Female, 82.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.3% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 10.3% Asian, 11.2% White, 65.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 6.5% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 10.2% Asian, 3.3% White, 74.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 16% | 9% |