How much does a therapist make?
Answer: A typical therapist in the United States makes $77,930 a year (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Line up 100 people; this is the one in the middle (median). about 23,000 people work in this job. Well above the US-wide typical pay ($50,980).
If 100 people had this job
Lowest at bottom-left, highest at top-rightHover over a person to see their yearly pay
Therapist pay in the United States (May 2025, median and spread)
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $46,540 | $77,930 | $152,530 | about 23,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | $100,250 | about 7,000 |
| California | $81,760 | about 840 |
| New York | $77,980 | about 1,000 |
| Minnesota | $75,360 | about 500 |
| Texas | $74,750 | about 1,000 |
Why does pay differ?
In the United States, pay can differ with experience and in-demand licenses or certifications, plus a therapist’s specialty and responsibilities. Hospitals, schools, and private practices may pay differently, and location and local demand matter too.
What if you lived in a different state?
Pay varies a lot by state in the USTop 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
What does a therapist do?
All therapists not listed separately.
What's a typical day like?
The routine depends on the specialty: a music therapist may assess a client, then use singing or instruments to work toward goals. They track responses, write progress notes, and coordinate plans with the care team.
How to get this job
After high school, art therapists usually earn a master’s and complete supervised placements; music therapists complete an approved music-therapy degree with clinical training. Music therapists pass a national exam, and state license rules vary.
Did you know?
Art therapy does not require artistic skill: therapists may use clay—or even tree branches and leaves—to help people express themselves.
Similar jobs
Jobs using similar skills (O*NET)Earn more in the same field
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical jobs that pay a bit moreSources and data
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/29-1129.00
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/29-1129.02
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- arttherapy.org/becoming-art-therapist
- www.musictherapy.org/about/requirements
- arttherapy.org/what-is-art-therapy
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY