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Music therapy internship vs occupational therapist

The differences between music therapy interns and occupational therapists 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 therapy internship and an occupational therapist. Additionally, an occupational therapist has an average salary of $75,707, which is higher than the $36,844 average annual salary of a music therapy internship.

The top three skills for a music therapy internship include patients, occupational therapy and mental health. The most important skills for an occupational therapist are patients, rehabilitation, and home health.

Music therapy internship vs occupational therapist overview

Music Therapy InternshipOccupational Therapist
Yearly salary$36,844$75,707
Hourly rate$17.71$36.40
Growth rate14%14%
Number of jobs111,84678,315
Job satisfaction-4
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 72%Bachelor's Degree, 55%
Average age4040
Years of experience1212

What does a music therapy internship do?

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. They may also assist and work with clients under the supervision of a therapist. Moreover, they must understand and adhere to the facility's policies and regulations, including its vision and mission.

What does an occupational therapist do?

An occupational therapist specializes in treating patients who are recovering from illnesses or disabilities to help them adapt and overcome the physical and mental difficulties they face in their daily lives. The responsibilities of an occupational therapist revolve around examining a patient's medical history and conducting different kinds of assessments to determine what type of treatment a patient should receive. Furthermore, an occupational therapist must build rapport with a patient to make them feel at ease and coordinate with their guardian or family to discuss the recommended ways to help the patient adjust and recuperate.

Music therapy internship vs occupational therapist salary

Music therapy interns and occupational therapists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Music Therapy InternshipOccupational Therapist
Average salary$36,844$75,707
Salary rangeBetween $22,000 And $61,000Between $58,000 And $97,000
Highest paying City-Salinas, CA
Highest paying state-California
Best paying company-Waters
Best paying industry-Professional

Differences between music therapy internship and occupational therapist education

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

Music Therapy InternshipOccupational Therapist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 72%Bachelor's Degree, 55%
Most common majorPsychologyOccupational Therapy
Most common collegeDuke UniversityDuke University

Music therapy internship vs occupational therapist demographics

Here are the differences between music therapy interns' and occupational therapists' demographics:

Music Therapy InternshipOccupational Therapist
Average age4040
Gender ratioMale, 20.0% Female, 80.0%Male, 16.8% Female, 83.2%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 4.7% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 6.0% Asian, 9.6% White, 75.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%Black or African American, 4.8% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 6.2% Asian, 9.6% White, 75.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage14%14%

Differences between music therapy internship and occupational therapist duties and responsibilities

Music therapy internship example responsibilities.

  • Customize recreational therapy interventions with patients who have acquired either a traumatic brain injury or spinal cord injury.
  • Help with casting limbs and making splints.
  • Assist occupational therapists with fabricating splints for orthopedic conditions involving the upper extremities.
  • Develop and implement therapeutic activities for individuals, groups under direction of OTR/L.
  • Document all patient interactions through skil observation and coordinate information both verbally and electronically to supervising OTR/L.
  • Conduct initial assessments, document patient progress in group activities; discuss patients' progress in multidisciplinary therapy meetings.
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Occupational therapist example responsibilities.

  • Achieve advance clinical competency in UE splinting.
  • Manage outpatient occupational therapy rehabilitation program.
  • Provide home assessment and recommend adaptive equipment and/or home modification needs to maximize safety of patients in their own environment.
  • General debility, CVA, joint replacement, upper extremity weakness, ADL 's
  • Founder of TLC program to educate patients, staff and family about CVA.
  • Complete evaluations and IEP's for home school children and perform on-going therapy for the kids.
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Music therapy internship vs occupational therapist skills

Common music therapy internship skills
  • Patients, 26%
  • Occupational Therapy, 8%
  • Mental Health, 7%
  • Individual Therapy Sessions, 6%
  • Group Therapy Sessions, 4%
  • Substance Abuse, 4%
Common occupational therapist skills
  • Patients, 23%
  • Rehabilitation, 12%
  • Home Health, 12%
  • Patient Care, 9%
  • COTA, 7%
  • Occupational Therapy, 4%

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