Music therapist vs director of music therapy

The differences between music therapists and directors of music therapy can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a music therapist and a director of music therapy. Additionally, a music therapist has an average salary of $57,096, which is higher than the $47,376 average annual salary of a director of music therapy.

The top three skills for a music therapist include patients, interdisciplinary and rehabilitation. The most important skills for a director of music therapy are group sessions, music therapy sessions, and individual sessions.

Music therapist vs director of music therapy overview

	Music Therapist	Director Of Music Therapy
Yearly salary	$57,096	$47,376
Hourly rate	$27.45	$22.78
Growth rate	4%	4%
Number of jobs	25,771	17,478
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 74%	Bachelor's Degree, 74%
Average age	43	43
Years of experience	12	12

Music therapist vs director of music therapy salary

Music therapists and directors of music therapy have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Music Therapist	Director Of Music Therapy
Average salary	$57,096	$47,376
Salary range	Between $38,000 And $84,000	Between $32,000 And $69,000
Highest paying City	Woodland, CA	-
Highest paying state	California	-
Best paying company	Childhelp	-
Best paying industry	Health Care	-

Differences between music therapist and director of music therapy education

There are a few differences between a music therapist and a director of music therapy in terms of educational background:

	Music Therapist	Director Of Music Therapy
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 74%	Bachelor's Degree, 74%
Most common major	Rehabilitation Science	Rehabilitation Science
Most common college	Duke University	Duke University

Music therapist vs director of music therapy demographics

Here are the differences between music therapists' and directors of music therapy' demographics:

	Music Therapist	Director Of Music Therapy
Average age	43	43
Gender ratio	Male, 21.9% Female, 78.1%	Male, 22.2% Female, 77.8%
Race ratio	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%	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	9%	9%

Differences between music therapist and director of music therapy duties and responsibilities

Music therapist example responsibilities.

Manage the entire SNF and Alzheimer's unit caseload.
Provide individual music therapy services in coordination with in-house hospice organization and participate in hospice interdisciplinary team meetings.
Provide individual music interventions for patients on sub-acute, rehabilitation to meet specific needs during short term hospital stay.
Develop and implement music therapy interventions to patients of all ages and abilities in an ever-changing behavioral health setting.
Design interventions to stimulate cognition, empower emotional expression, and promote engagement in group activities for clients diagnose with dementia.
Participate in IEP meetings and quarterly evaluation meetings with parents.

Director of music therapy example 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.

Music therapist vs director of music therapy skills

Common music therapist skills

Patients, 32%
Interdisciplinary, 15%
Rehabilitation, 10%
Music Therapy, 5%
Mental Health, 5%
Adolescents, 3%

Common director of music therapy skills

Group Sessions, 22%
Music Therapy Sessions, 21%
Individual Sessions, 17%
Interventions, 16%
Music Therapy, 14%
Developmental Disabilities, 9%

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Music Therapist
Music Therapist vs Director Of Music Therapy

Updated January 8, 2025

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