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Music therapist vs teacher

The differences between music therapists and teachers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a music therapist has an average salary of $57,096, which is higher than the $47,989 average annual salary of a teacher.

The top three skills for a music therapist include patients, interdisciplinary and rehabilitation. The most important skills for a teacher are ESL, handle scheduling, and kids.

Music therapist vs teacher overview

Music TherapistTeacher
Yearly salary$57,096$47,989
Hourly rate$27.45$23.07
Growth rate4%4%
Number of jobs25,77171,918
Job satisfaction-4.14
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 74%Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Average age4342
Years of experience12-

What does a music therapist do?

A Music Therapist uses music within a therapeutic environment to treat those suffering from a variety of issues. They help clients develop an increased self-awareness and report their progress to families, bosses, or relevant agencies.

What does a teacher do?

Being a teacher is one of the most passionate professions, among others. Teachers educate, motivate, and guide every generation of learners to prepare them for the real world. Every teacher is unique and has their own teaching styles and methods depending on the subject they teach and the age of their students. Oftentimes they also function as a parent, counselor, coach, friend, and even a lawmaker. There is essentially no limit to the roles a teacher portrays.

Music therapist vs teacher salary

Music therapists and teachers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Music TherapistTeacher
Average salary$57,096$47,989
Salary rangeBetween $38,000 And $84,000Between $32,000 And $70,000
Highest paying CityWoodland, CABaltimore, MD
Highest paying stateCaliforniaMaryland
Best paying companyChildhelpKing Low Heywood Thomas
Best paying industryHealth CareEducation

Differences between music therapist and teacher education

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

Music TherapistTeacher
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 74%Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Most common majorRehabilitation ScienceElementary Education
Most common collegeDuke UniversityUniversity of Pennsylvania

Music therapist vs teacher demographics

Here are the differences between music therapists' and teachers' demographics:

Music TherapistTeacher
Average age4342
Gender ratioMale, 21.9% Female, 78.1%Male, 25.7% Female, 74.3%
Race ratioBlack 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, 10.1% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 12.9% Asian, 3.7% White, 68.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between music therapist and teacher 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.
  • Show more

Teacher example responsibilities.

  • Work closely with co-teacher to manage and co-teach curriculum to a large group.
  • Target at risk and high achieving students using levele readers and DRA strategies.
  • Lead debates with advance students on topics including globalization, economics, and political history.
  • Develop social studies and geography curriculum.
  • Provide kindergarten readiness in approaching phonemic awareness, phonics, and introductory math skills.
  • Attend and participate in ESL professional development activities, conferences/workshops, curriculum/program planning, & special events and activities.
  • Show more

Music therapist vs teacher skills

Common music therapist skills
  • Patients, 32%
  • Interdisciplinary, 15%
  • Rehabilitation, 10%
  • Music Therapy, 5%
  • Mental Health, 5%
  • Adolescents, 3%
Common teacher skills
  • ESL, 17%
  • Handle Scheduling, 15%
  • Kids, 12%
  • Classroom Management, 7%
  • CPR, 5%
  • Curriculum Development, 4%

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