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The differences between music therapists and music therapy specialists 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 music therapy specialist. Additionally, a music therapist has an average salary of $57,096, which is higher than the $50,810 average annual salary of a music therapy specialist.
The top three skills for a music therapist include patients, interdisciplinary and rehabilitation. The most important skills for a music therapy specialist are music program, music education, and chorus.
| Music Therapist | Music Therapy Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $57,096 | $50,810 |
| Hourly rate | $27.45 | $24.43 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 25,771 | 13,163 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
Music therapists and music therapy specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Music Therapist | Music Therapy Specialist | |
| Average salary | $57,096 | $50,810 |
| Salary range | Between $38,000 And $84,000 | Between $34,000 And $73,000 |
| Highest paying City | Woodland, CA | - |
| Highest paying state | California | - |
| Best paying company | Childhelp | - |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | - |
There are a few differences between a music therapist and a music therapy specialist in terms of educational background:
| Music Therapist | Music Therapy Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Most common major | Rehabilitation Science | Music |
| Most common college | Duke University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between music therapists' and music therapy specialists' demographics:
| Music Therapist | Music Therapy Specialist | |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 21.9% Female, 78.1% | Male, 36.8% Female, 63.2% |
| 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% |