How to hire a director of music therapy

How to hire a director of music therapy, step by step

Here's a step-by-step director of music therapy hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a director of music therapy job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new director of music therapy
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

Post a director of music therapy job for free, promote it for a fee

Post free

1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your director of music therapy job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a director of music therapy for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect director of music therapy also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   This list shows salaries for various types of directors of music therapy.

   Type of Director Of Music Therapy	Description	Hourly rate
   Director Of Music Therapy	Recreational therapists plan, direct, and coordinate recreation-based treatment programs for people with disabilities, injuries, or illnesses. Recreational therapists use a variety of modalities, including arts and crafts, drama, music, dance, sports, games, and community reintegration field trips to help maintain or improve a patient’s physical, social, and emotional well-being.	$15-33
   Physical Therapy Internship	Physical therapist interns work with patients to determine and improve their function and movement. The interns assist in the rehabilitation process through body system development and storage... Show more	$25-46
   Music Therapy Internship	In a music therapy internship, an intern's duties primarily depend on the directives of a manager or supervising staff. Typically, they are responsible for gaining industry insights and practical experience while performing support tasks such as answering calls and correspondence, preparing and processing documents, conducting research and analysis, setting-up instruments and other devices, and running errands as needed... Show more	$10-29

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Group Sessions
   • Music Therapy Sessions
   • Individual Sessions
   • Interventions
   • Music Therapy
   • Developmental Disabilities

   Responsibilities:

   • Collaborate with rehabilitation team in the planning of music activities in accordance with physical and psychological needs, capabilities and interests.
   • Motivate patients to participate in treatment sessions by educating them on the benefits of early mobility following cardiac and thoracic surgery.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your director of music therapy job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A director of music therapy can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, directors of music therapy' average salary in alabama is 50% less than in alaska.
   • Seniority. Entry-level directors of music therapy 54% less than senior-level directors of music therapy.
   • Certifications. A director of music therapy with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a director of music therapy's salary.

   Average director of music therapy salary

   $47,376yearly

   $22.78 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level director of music therapy salary

   $32,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 13, 2026

4. Writing a director of music therapy job description

   A good director of music therapy job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a director of music therapy job description:

   Director of music therapy job description example

   + Category:
   
   + Shifts: Days
   
   + Company: Howard Head Sports Medicine
   
   + Location: Vail, CO
   
   + Department: HOWARD HEAD OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY
   
   Apply Now Share Back to Job Search
   
   Director Certified Hand Therapy
   
   To us, it's about living life to the fullest while serving our patients, teammates, neighbors and friends. We are dedicated and passionate in everything we do, seeking challenge and appreciating the routes that got us here. Whether our path is clinical or not, we all came to find balance and meaning in our lives within the work we are passionate about and the adventures we live.
   
   Vail Health has become the world's most advanced mountain healthcare system. Our updated 520,000-square-foot hospital opened in December 2020. This state-of-the-art facility provides exceptional care to all of our patients, with the most beautiful views in the area, located centrally in Vail.
   
   Pay Range: Min: $46.99 Max: $87.27. Pay is based upon relevant education and experience .
   
   POSITION PURPOSE:
   
   The Certified Hand Therapy Director (CHT) is an integral member of the Howard Head Sports Medicine Leadership Team supporting CHT services and department/system wide initiatives. This role is responsible for overall leadership of our CHT team, including but not limited to day-to-day operations, staffing/scheduling, employee management, learning and development, financial/budget oversight and fostering MD relationships. The Certified Hand Therapist Director (CHT) can be either an Occupational Therapist or Physical Therapist.
   
   ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
   
   + Manage daily operations of the CHT team ensuring safe and high-quality outcomes are delivered daily. Oversees daily business operations including but not limited to scheduling, billing, vacation requests, sick calls, coordinating clients, and program design. Develop and coordinate quality and performance improvement efforts.
   
   + Develop and foster positive team culture. Hire, onboard, oversee, mentor, and evaluate performance of staff to provide world class patient experience. Displays and promotes professional, courteous, and collaborative interaction with patients, families, providers, staff, other Vail Health departments, and leadership in meeting patient care needs and promoting teamwork.
   
   + Ensure communication and alignment with HHSM and Vail Health leadership, community members and referral sources. Collaborate with Risk, Compliance, Quality, and other areas of the health system.
   
   + Develop and monitor budget, provide efficient and cost-effective coordination of services. Support and promote marketing and business growth initiatives that are in-line with the strategic plan and vision of both HHSM and Vail Health
   
   + Develop/Maintain/Update hand therapy protocols and programs in collaboration with CHT team and MD partners as necessary.
   
   + Provide leadership oversight for the CHT Fellowship program, CHT clinical affiliations, and internal education courses.
   
   + Evaluate, plan, and provide treatment to patients with upper extremity conditions to help patients develop or regain upper extremity function or adjust to disabilities. Possess necessary skills to fabricate custom thermoplastic orthoses and instruct patient in the proper use, wear, and care.
   
   + Provide quality care relating to the needs and goals of the patient by assessing and interpreting evaluations and test results; coordinate occupational/physical therapy treatment plans in consultation with physician, physician's assistant, or physician's athletic trainer, or by prescription.
   
   + Evaluate results of therapy by observing and evaluating patient's progress and consulting with physicians; recommend and implement therapy adjustments and modifications; and document patient evaluations, treatment, goals, and progress in compliance with facility standards.
   
   + Comply with federal, state and local legal and certification requirements. Perform other duties as assigned. Must be HIPAA compliant.
   
   This description is not intended and should not be construed to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, skills and efforts or work conditions associated with the job. It is intended to be an accurate reflection of the general nature and level of the job.
   
   MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
   
   Experience:
   
   + 5 years of experience in leadership role
   
   License(s):
   
   + Licensed as an Occupational Therapist in the state of Colorado; OR Licensed as a Physical Therapist in the state of Colorado or valid Compact Privilege, with a Certified Hand Therapist (CHT) by the Hand Therapy Certification Commission (HTCC) required.
   
   Certification(s):
   
   + Basic Life Support (BLS) required.
   
   Computer / Typing:
   
   + Must possess, or be able to obtain within 90 days, the computers skills necessary to complete online learning requirements for job-specific competencies, access online forms and policies, complete online benefits enrollment, etc. Must possess the computer skills necessary to perform all required patient care documentation.
   
   Must have working knowledge of the English language, including reading, writing, and speaking English.
   
   Education:
   
   + NA
   
   Benefits at Vail Health
   
   + Competitive Wages & Family Benefits: Competitive wages, parental leave, housing programs and childcare reimbursement to support the cost of living in a mountain community.
   
   + Comprehensive Health Benefits: Top-quality health care package including vision, dental and medical with options of flexible spending and health savings accounts.
   
   + Education Assistance: We are proud to offer tuition and student loan assistance programs.
   
   + Paid Time Off: Roughly five weeks in your first year of employment and continues to grow each year.
   
   + Retirement & Supplemental Insurance: 403(b) Retirement plan with matching potential, life insurance, short and long-term disability, and more.
   
   + Recreation Benefits, Wellness & More: Recreation discounts, pet insurance and a $1,000 annual wellness reimbursement program.
   
   As a condition of employment, Vail Health requires COVID-19 vaccination of all clinical and non-clinical staff.
   
   Apply Now

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find directors of music therapy for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your director of music therapy job on Zippia to find and recruit director of music therapy candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites such as healthcarejobsite, health jobs nationwide, hospitalcareers, medreps.com.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit directors of music therapy, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new director of music therapy

   Once you've selected the best director of music therapy candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new director of music therapy. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

   Sign up to download full list

   Sign up

How much does it cost to hire a director of music therapy?