Best cities for a music therapist
The best cities for music therapists are Oakland, CA, Sacramento, CA, and Arlington, TX, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for music therapists vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for music therapists in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a music therapist or considering a move, this list of the best cities for music therapists to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for music therapists. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a music therapist. While the absolute best city for music therapists is Oakland, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for music therapists in 2024.
If you're looking for a music therapist job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for music therapists in 2026
1. Oakland, CA
Total music therapist jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $86,107 Lowest 10 percent warn: $54,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $134,000 Location quotient: 2.40 2. Sacramento, CA
Total music therapist jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $85,514 Lowest 10 percent warn: $54,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $134,000 Location quotient: 2.21 3. Arlington, TX
Total music therapist jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $62,247 Lowest 10 percent warn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $94,000 Location quotient: 3.19 4. San Diego, CA
Total music therapist jobs: 16 Average annual salary: $78,947 Lowest 10 percent warn: $51,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $120,000 Location quotient: 2.02 5. Irvine, CA
Total music therapist jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $81,027 Lowest 10 percent warn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $124,000 Location quotient: 0.84 6. Omaha, NE
Total music therapist jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $57,829 Lowest 10 percent warn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $83,000 Location quotient: 2.52 7. Fort Wayne, IN
Total music therapist jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $54,020 Lowest 10 percent warn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $82,000 Location quotient: 10.53 8. Fremont, CA
Total music therapist jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $86,005 Lowest 10 percent warn: $54,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $134,000 Location quotient: 0.00 9. San Jose, CA
Total music therapist jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $85,962 Lowest 10 percent warn: $54,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $134,000 Location quotient: 0.00 10. Stockton, CA
Total music therapist jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $85,616 Lowest 10 percent warn: $54,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $134,000 Location quotient: 0.00
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Best cities for music therapists
- Oakland, CA
- Sacramento, CA
- Arlington, TX
- San Diego, CA
- Irvine, CA
- Omaha, NE
- Fort Wayne, IN
- Fremont, CA
- San Jose, CA
- Stockton, CA
- (3 music therapist jobs)
- (6 music therapist jobs)
- (2 music therapist jobs)
- (16 music therapist jobs)
- (3 music therapist jobs)
- (7 music therapist jobs)
- (8 music therapist jobs)
- (0 music therapist jobs)
- (0 music therapist jobs)
- (0 music therapist jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a music therapist
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oakland, CA | $86,107 | $54,000 | 420,005 | 3 |
| 2 | Sacramento, CA | $85,514 | $54,000 | 495,234 | 6 |
| 3 | Arlington, TX | $62,247 | $41,000 | 392,772 | 2 |
| 4 | San Diego, CA | $78,947 | $51,000 | 1,406,630 | 16 |
| 5 | Irvine, CA | $81,027 | $52,000 | 266,122 | 3 |
| 6 | Omaha, NE | $57,829 | $40,000 | 446,970 | 7 |
| 7 | Fort Wayne, IN | $54,020 | $35,000 | 264,488 | 8 |
| 8 | Fremont, CA | $86,005 | $54,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 9 | San Jose, CA | $85,962 | $54,000 | 1,025,350 | - |
| 10 | Stockton, CA | $85,616 | $54,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 11 | San Francisco, CA | $86,206 | $55,000 | 870,887 | - |
| 12 | Fresno, CA | $84,798 | $54,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 13 | Austin, TX | $62,378 | $40,000 | 947,890 | 6 |
| 14 | San Antonio, TX | $62,459 | $40,000 | 1,492,510 | 2 |
| 15 | Bakersfield, CA | $83,803 | $53,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 16 | Long Beach, CA | $81,383 | $52,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 17 | Kansas City, MO | $57,869 | $40,000 | 481,420 | 3 |
| 18 | Anaheim, CA | $81,346 | $52,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 19 | Albuquerque, NM | $67,099 | $44,000 | 559,277 | - |
| 20 | Reno, NV | $66,654 | $42,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 21 | Irving, TX | $62,206 | $41,000 | 238,289 | 3 |
| 22 | Los Angeles, CA | $81,883 | $53,000 | 3,976,322 | - |
| 23 | Riverside, CA | $81,226 | $52,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 24 | Las Vegas, NV | $64,396 | $41,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 25 | Cleveland, OH | $50,850 | $32,000 | 385,809 | 5 |
| 26 | Santa Ana, CA | $81,180 | $52,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 27 | Henderson, NV | $64,235 | $41,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 28 | Indianapolis, IN | $53,162 | $35,000 | 855,164 | 10 |
| 29 | North Las Vegas, NV | $64,221 | $41,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 30 | Dallas, TX | $62,154 | $41,000 | 1,317,929 | 4 |
| 31 | El Paso, TX | $65,708 | $43,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 32 | Laredo, TX | $62,338 | $40,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 33 | Plano, TX | $62,119 | $41,000 | 286,057 | 1 |
| 34 | Lubbock, TX | $64,211 | $42,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 35 | Fort Worth, TX | $62,324 | $41,000 | 854,113 | - |
| 36 | Minneapolis, MN | $56,232 | $38,000 | 413,651 | 11 |
| 37 | Mesa, AZ | $52,797 | $34,000 | 484,587 | 7 |
| 38 | Chula Vista, CA | $78,500 | $51,000 | 267,172 | - |
| 39 | Gilbert, AZ | $52,724 | $34,000 | 237,133 | 4 |
| 40 | Saint Paul, MN | $56,248 | $38,000 | 302,398 | 4 |
| 41 | Anchorage, AK | $67,744 | $56,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 42 | Garland, TX | $62,098 | $41,000 | 234,943 | - |
| 43 | Corpus Christi, TX | $62,064 | $40,000 | 325,733 | - |
| 44 | Houston, TX | $61,919 | $40,000 | 2,303,482 | 2 |
| 45 | Lexington, KY | $49,926 | $33,000 | 318,449 | 1 |
| 46 | Lincoln, NE | $57,894 | $40,000 | 280,364 | - |
| 47 | Nashville, TN | $50,098 | $33,000 | 660,388 | 2 |
| 48 | New York, NY | $65,620 | $39,000 | 8,537,673 | 18 |
| 49 | New Orleans, LA | $50,250 | $32,000 | 391,495 | 3 |
| 50 | Saint Louis, MO | $57,803 | $39,000 | 311,404 | - |
Highest paying cities for music therapists
| Rank | City | Avg. music therapist salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Woodland, CA | $85,607 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $65,620 |
| 3 | Fort Worth, TX | $62,324 |
| 4 | Alexandria, VA | $60,202 |
| 5 | Kansas City, MO | $57,869 |
| 6 | Salisbury, MD | $57,509 |
| 7 | Minneapolis, MN | $56,232 |
| 8 | Lake Havasu City, AZ | $55,370 |
| 9 | Quincy, MA | $54,917 |
| 10 | Fort Wayne, IN | $54,020 |
| 11 | Portland, OR | $53,639 |
| 12 | Ann Arbor, MI | $53,075 |
| 13 | Oklahoma City, OK | $52,227 |
| 14 | Tallahassee, FL | $51,278 |
| 15 | Aurora, CO | $51,106 |
| 16 | Cleveland, OH | $50,850 |
| 17 | New Orleans, LA | $50,250 |
| 18 | Evanston, IL | $48,935 |
| 19 | Chapel Hill, NC | $48,287 |
| 20 | Des Moines, IA | $47,751 |
Music therapist best cities FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025