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Community music therapist salary
Average community music therapist salary
$56,574
Average Community Music Therapist Salary
The average community music therapist salary is currently $56,574 per year, equating to about $27 per hour. This figure reflects various factors, including geographical location, years of experience, and specific roles within the field. For instance, community music therapists in urban areas may earn significantly more than their counterparts in rural settings.
Salary by State
Salary levels can fluctuate widely across different states. For example, community music therapists in states like California or New York often report higher salaries due to the cost of living and demand for services. In contrast, therapists in regions with lower living costs may see lower average salaries.
Career Growth
With growing recognition of music therapy’s benefits, job opportunities in this field are expanding. Community music therapists can find roles in hospitals, schools, and private practices, making it a versatile career choice. Investing in your education and gaining experience can lead to higher salaries and more job opportunities in the future.
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Where can a Community Music Therapist earn more?
Average community music therapist salary by state
The average community music therapist salary in Alaska, New York, and California are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average community music therapist salary states are Louisiana, South Carolina, and Kansas.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for community music therapists
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Dakota | $63,589 | $30.57 |
| 2 | New York | $69,518 | $33.42 |
| 3 | Nebraska | $59,037 | $28.38 |
| 4 | Texas | $58,456 | $28.10 |
| 5 | Alaska | $72,361 | $34.79 |
| 6 | California | $65,333 | $31.41 |
| 7 | Indiana | $55,297 | $26.59 |
| 8 | Missouri | $57,276 | $27.54 |
| 9 | Arkansas | $57,154 | $27.48 |
| 10 | Michigan | $57,398 | $27.60 |
| 11 | Utah | $60,219 | $28.95 |
| 12 | New Mexico | $60,028 | $28.86 |
| 13 | Virginia | $62,032 | $29.82 |
| 14 | Delaware | $59,203 | $28.46 |
| 15 | Maryland | $59,487 | $28.60 |
| 16 | Rhode Island | $58,889 | $28.31 |
| 17 | Minnesota | $59,257 | $28.49 |
| 18 | Montana | $53,246 | $25.60 |
| 19 | Ohio | $53,978 | $25.95 |
| 20 | New Hampshire | $58,274 | $28.02 |
| 21 | Vermont | $57,842 | $27.81 |
| 22 | Massachusetts | $58,604 | $28.18 |
| 23 | New Jersey | $56,392 | $27.11 |
| 24 | Nevada | $55,015 | $26.45 |
| 25 | Connecticut | $59,049 | $28.39 |
| 26 | Mississippi | $55,780 | $26.82 |
| 27 | Wyoming | $56,428 | $27.13 |
| 28 | West Virginia | $54,805 | $26.35 |
| 29 | Maine | $49,759 | $23.92 |
| 30 | Oklahoma | $49,272 | $23.69 |
| 31 | Iowa | $49,754 | $23.92 |
| 32 | District of Columbia | $58,457 | $28.10 |
| 33 | South Dakota | $51,709 | $24.86 |
| 34 | Washington | $51,395 | $24.71 |
| 35 | Illinois | $51,162 | $24.60 |
| 36 | Kentucky | $50,436 | $24.25 |
| 37 | Pennsylvania | $50,653 | $24.35 |
| 38 | Tennessee | $48,929 | $23.52 |
| 39 | Oregon | $51,247 | $24.64 |
| 40 | North Carolina | $49,657 | $23.87 |
| 41 | Georgia | $48,048 | $23.10 |
| 42 | Kansas | $47,110 | $22.65 |
| 43 | Colorado | $50,005 | $24.04 |
| 44 | Wisconsin | $47,949 | $23.05 |
| 45 | Hawaii | $52,692 | $25.33 |
| 46 | Idaho | $48,122 | $23.14 |
| 47 | South Carolina | $47,392 | $22.78 |
| 48 | Louisiana | $47,721 | $22.94 |
| 49 | Arizona | $46,645 | $22.43 |
| 50 | Alabama | $41,204 | $19.81 |
| 51 | Florida | $43,743 | $21.03 |
Highest paying cities for community music therapists
The highest-paying cities for community music therapists are New York, NY, San Francisco, CA, and Salt Lake City, UT.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $69,685 | $33.50 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $66,715 | $32.07 |
| 3 | Salt Lake City, UT | $60,154 | $28.92 |
| 4 | Maplewood, MN | $59,278 | $28.50 |
| 5 | Newark, DE | $59,250 | $28.49 |
| 6 | Nashua, NH | $58,471 | $28.11 |
| 7 | Washington, DC | $58,470 | $28.11 |
| 8 | Cherry Hill, NJ | $56,394 | $27.11 |
| 9 | Akron, OH | $55,569 | $26.72 |
| 10 | Chicago, IL | $51,486 | $24.75 |
| 11 | Reading, PA | $50,710 | $24.38 |
| 12 | Des Moines, IA | $49,338 | $23.72 |
| 13 | Tulsa, OK | $49,159 | $23.63 |
| 14 | Atlanta, GA | $48,102 | $23.13 |
| 15 | Prescott, AZ | $47,120 | $22.65 |
| 16 | Largo, FL | $43,818 | $21.07 |
Community music therapist salary details
A community music therapist's salary ranges from $41,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $76,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a community music therapist's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $76,000 | $6,333 | $37 |
| 75th Percentile | $66,000 | $5,500 | $32 |
| Average | $56,574 | $4,715 | $27 |
| 25th Percentile | $48,000 | $4,000 | $23 |
| 10th Percentile | $41,000 | $3,417 | $20 |
Highest paying community music therapist jobs
The highest paying types of community music therapists are counselor/art therapist, lead therapist, and outpatient physical therapist.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clinical Social Worker | $63,056 | $5,255 | $30.32 | 124,816 |
| Marriage And Family Therapist | $57,856 | $4,821 | $27.82 | 114,361 |
| Therapist | $55,943 | $4,662 | $26.90 | 159,770 |
| Mental Health Therapist | $50,259 | $4,188 | $24.16 | 114,386 |
| Staff Therapist | $52,147 | $4,346 | $25.07 | 101,575 |
| Primary Therapist | $59,826 | $4,985 | $28.76 | 85,127 |
Top companies hiring community music therapists now:
Which companies pay community music therapists the most?
Community music therapist salaries at Delaware Guidance Services and Terros Health are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average community music therapist salary at companies like Acadia Healthcare and Washington County are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Delaware Guidance Services | $84,062 | $40.41 |
| 2 | Terros Health | $77,334 | $37.18 |
| 3 | Acadia Healthcare | $67,969 | $32.68 |
| 4 | Washington County | $65,099 | $31.30 |
| 5 | Center for Life Management | $62,434 | $30.02 |
| 6 | Advanced Behavioral Health | $60,566 | $29.12 |
| 7 | Child Guidance & Family Solutions | $56,874 | $27.34 |
| 8 | Volunteers of America, Utah | $56,588 | $27.21 |
| 9 | Seneca Companies | $55,986 | $26.92 |
| 10 | Unity House of Troy | $55,634 | $26.75 |
| 11 | Astor Services | $54,224 | $26.07 |
| 12 | Nationwide Children's Hospital | $53,946 | $25.94 |
| 13 | Seneca Resources | $53,687 | $25.81 |
| 14 | Sycamore Services | $53,525 | $25.73 |
| 15 | Devereux Arizona | $53,474 | $25.71 |
| 16 | Lawrence Hall | $53,246 | $25.60 |
| 17 | Lutheran Services in Iowa | $53,088 | $25.52 |
| 18 | CHRIS Kids | $52,960 | $25.46 |
| 19 | Professional | $52,137 | $25.07 |
| 20 | Family & Children's Service | $51,918 | $24.96 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Community music therapist salary trends
The average community music therapist salary has risen by $7,885 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average community music therapist earned $48,689 annually, but today, they earn $56,574 a year. That works out to a 3% change in pay for community music therapists over the last decade.
Compare community music therapist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average community music therapist salary over time
Compare community music therapist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Community music therapist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $56,600 | $27.20 | -1.1% |
| 2025 | $57,200 | $27.49 | +0.7% |
| 2024 | $56,800 | $27.28 | +0.4% |
| 2023 | $56,500 | $27.18 | +2.7% |
| 2022 | $55,000 | $26.46 | +1.1% |
Recently added community music therapist salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Center for Life Management | Therapist, Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) Children's Department ! | Salem, NH | 04/06/2025 | $67,000 |
| Evidence Based Associates | Adolescent Community Therapist | New York, NY | 05/08/2024 | $55,000 |
| Hope Community Services, Inc. | Therapist-Community Support Program-4 Days/Week! | Oklahoma City, OK | 01/17/2024 | $50,000 |
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