Jobs Similar to Art Therapists
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to art therapists, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Music Therapists, Marriage and Family Therapists and Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers.
Art Therapists: $77,930 (broader BLS group) · usual preparation: Graduate degree.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
- 1Music Therapists
86% similar · $77,930 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 2Marriage and Family Therapists
79% similar · $66,940 · Graduate degree
- 3Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers
77% similar · $60,280 · Graduate degree
- 4Clinical and Counseling Psychologists
76% similar · $100,580 · Graduate degree
- 5Special Education Teachers, Preschool
76% similar · $64,830 · Bachelor's degree
- 6Recreational Therapists
76% similar · $61,960 · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 7Healthcare Social Workers
75% similar · $67,880 · Graduate degree
- 8School Psychologists
75% similar · $95,990 · Graduate degree
- 9Child, Family, and School Social Workers
75% similar · $59,550 · Bachelor's degree
- 10Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary
75% similar · $78,620 · Graduate degree
- 11Special Education Teachers, Secondary School
75% similar · $74,260 · Bachelor's degree
- 12Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education
75% similar · $62,680 · Bachelor's degree
- 13Rehabilitation Counselors
74% similar · $46,850 · Graduate degree
- 14Occupational Therapists
74% similar · $100,330 · Graduate degree · Same group
- 15Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education
73% similar · $63,970 · Bachelor's degree
- 16Special Education Teachers, Middle School
73% similar · $66,810 · Bachelor's degree
- 17Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary
73% similar · $77,570 · Graduate degree
- 18Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education
73% similar · $38,140 · Training or associate
- 19Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary
73% similar · $80,340 · Graduate degree
- 20Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
73% similar · $72,040 · Bachelor's degree
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that need less preparation
- Music Therapists86% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Special Education Teachers, Preschool76% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Recreational Therapists76% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Child, Family, and School Social Workers75% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Special Education Teachers, Secondary School75% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education75% similar · Bachelor's degree
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for art therapists also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where art therapists is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Marriage and Family Therapists (83)
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers (77)
- Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary (75)
- Healthcare Social Workers (75)
- Rehabilitation Counselors (74)
- Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary (73)
- Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary (73)
- English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary (72)
- Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary (69)
- Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary (68)
Questions about jobs like art therapists
What jobs are most similar to art therapists?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Music Therapists (86% similar), Marriage and Family Therapists (79% similar), Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers (77% similar), Clinical and Counseling Psychologists (76% similar) and Special Education Teachers (Preschool) (76% similar).
Do jobs like art therapists pay more?
None of the 20 most similar careers has a higher BLS median pay than art therapists where a direct comparison is possible.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.