Jobs Similar to Music Therapists
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to music therapists, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Art Therapists, Marriage and Family Therapists and Clinical and Counseling Psychologists.
Music Therapists: $77,930 (broader BLS group) · usual preparation: Bachelor's degree.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Music Therapists) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Art TherapistsSame group | 86% | $77,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 2 | Marriage and Family Therapists | 80% | $66,940 | Graduate degree |
| 3 | Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | 79% | $100,580 | Graduate degree |
| 4 | Recreational TherapistsSame group | 78% | $61,960 | Bachelor's degree |
| 5 | Special Education Teachers, Preschool | 77% | $64,830 | Bachelor's degree |
| 6 | Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers | 77% | $60,280 | Graduate degree |
| 7 | Occupational TherapistsSame group | 76% | $100,330 | Graduate degree |
| 8 | Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education | 76% | $62,680 | Bachelor's degree |
| 9 | School Psychologists | 76% | $95,990 | Graduate degree |
| 10 | Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education | 76% | $38,140 | Training or associate |
| 11 | Special Education Teachers, Secondary School | 76% | $74,260 | Bachelor's degree |
| 12 | Healthcare Social Workers | 76% | $67,880 | Graduate degree |
| 13 | Child, Family, and School Social Workers | 75% | $59,550 | Bachelor's degree |
| 14 | Speech-Language PathologistsSame group | 75% | $97,870 | Graduate degree |
| 15 | Rehabilitation Counselors | 75% | $46,850 | Graduate degree |
| 16 | Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary | 74% | $80,340 | Graduate degree |
| 17 | Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary | 74% | $77,570 | Graduate degree |
| 18 | Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | 74% | $78,620 | Graduate degree |
| 19 | Speech-Language Pathology Assistants | 74% | $48,430Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
| 20 | Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | 74% | $63,970 | Bachelor's degree |
- 1Art Therapists
86% similar · $77,930 (broader group) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 2Marriage and Family Therapists
80% similar · $66,940 · Graduate degree
- 3Clinical and Counseling Psychologists
79% similar · $100,580 · Graduate degree
- 4Recreational Therapists
78% similar · $61,960 · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 5Special Education Teachers, Preschool
77% similar · $64,830 · Bachelor's degree
- 6Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers
77% similar · $60,280 · Graduate degree
- 7Occupational Therapists
76% similar · $100,330 · Graduate degree · Same group
- 8Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education
76% similar · $62,680 · Bachelor's degree
- 9School Psychologists
76% similar · $95,990 · Graduate degree
- 10Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education
76% similar · $38,140 · Training or associate
- 11Special Education Teachers, Secondary School
76% similar · $74,260 · Bachelor's degree
- 12Healthcare Social Workers
76% similar · $67,880 · Graduate degree
- 13Child, Family, and School Social Workers
75% similar · $59,550 · Bachelor's degree
- 14Speech-Language Pathologists
75% similar · $97,870 · Graduate degree · Same group
- 15Rehabilitation Counselors
75% similar · $46,850 · Graduate degree
- 16Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary
74% similar · $80,340 · Graduate degree
- 17Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary
74% similar · $77,570 · Graduate degree
- 18Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary
74% similar · $78,620 · Graduate degree
- 19Speech-Language Pathology Assistants
74% similar · $48,430 (broader group) · Training or associate
- 20Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education
74% similar · $63,970 · 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
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for music therapists also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where music therapists is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Marriage and Family Therapists (77)
- Special Education Teachers, Preschool (77)
- Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education (76)
- Special Education Teachers, Secondary School (76)
- Child, Family, and School Social Workers (75)
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education (74)
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education (74)
- Special Education Teachers, Middle School (74)
- Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education (72)
- Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary (71)
Questions about jobs like music therapists
What jobs are most similar to music therapists?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Art Therapists (86% similar), Marriage and Family Therapists (80% similar), Clinical and Counseling Psychologists (79% similar), Recreational Therapists (78% similar) and Special Education Teachers (Preschool) (77% similar).
Do jobs like music therapists pay more?
None of the 20 most similar careers has a higher BLS median pay than music 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.