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First, some facts. Of the Music Therapy-Therapist graduates we've analyzed , here's how many have used (or NOT used) their degree in their career:
These are estimates based on AI analysis of 66 LinkedIn profiles (see below).
The verdict? Significantly above average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 85%, Music Therapy-Therapist graduates have a much higher likelihood (+18%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:
And for comparison, here's the chart for all profiles we've looked at across all degrees.
Also, after graduating, only 30% of these graduates have pursued further education other than another Bachelor's degree (such as a Masters degree or other), compared to the average across all profiles of 35%. This suggests a Bachelors degree is enough for most Music Therapy-Therapist graduates, and it's normal to look for work straight after graduation.
See the details:
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Relevance score: 100% We think this person has gone into a career highly relevant to their degree.
DEGREE INFOGraduated in 2018 from Pacific University with a Bachelor's degree in Music Therapy-Therapist. Also pursued further education since (see below). JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATIONBoard Certified Music Therapist Rainier Springs May 2019 - Dec 2020 Interim Associate Director of Creative Arts and Recreation Therapies Oregon State Hospital Jan 2023 - Jul 2023 Board-Certified Music Therapist Oregon State Hospital Jun 2021 - Present FURTHER DEGREES DONE SINCE GRADUATINGMasters of Music Therapy and CounselingSlippery Rock University of Pennsylvania 2020 - 2023 ABOUTNo information provided. |
The top 10 most common jobs done by the graduates we've analyzed (ranked most common to least) are:
When looking through the job history of individuals who have graduated with a degree in Music Therapy, it’s clear that there are several common career paths they tend to follow. A sizable number of these graduates land firmly in roles directly related to music therapy, such as Music Therapist positions across various healthcare settings, including hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and hospice care. Many graduates also take on internships immediately after their studies, which serve as critical stepping stones into professional music therapy roles. These positions involve using music to aid in therapeutic treatments, directly employing the skills and knowledge obtained from their degrees.
However, it’s also notable that some graduates explore other job titles that aren’t strictly music therapy roles but still involve therapeutic practices, such as Activity Coordinators, Recreation Therapists, or Mental Health Workers. While these jobs can utilize related skills—like empathy, communication, and insight into client needs—they don’t always require the specialized music therapy knowledge that comes from a dedicated degree in the field. For instance, roles like "Behavior Technician" or "Customer Operations Manager" appear in the mix but are less relevant to music therapy core practices, suggesting a degree of divergence from the expected career path. Overall, while many graduates successfully transition into directly relevant Music Therapist roles, there is also a prevalence of job titles that only partially involve their specialized training, indicating that the transition from education to employment can be quite variable.
Here is a visual representation of the most common words in job titles for Music Therapy-Therapist graduates:
Analyzing the career trajectories of graduates with a degree in Music Therapy reveals some interesting patterns. These individuals typically begin their careers in roles that allow them to gain practical experience and apply their skills in real-world settings. For instance, many graduates started with internships that provide hands-on experience in music therapy, often taking positions as music therapy interns immediately after graduation. This initial job helps them build a foundational understanding of how music therapy works in different environments, such as healthcare or educational settings, and often leads to employment as a fully certified Music Therapist shortly thereafter. In general, the first jobs are quite closely aligned with their education, helping them to use their degree effectively.
As we look further down the timeline, say five to ten years later, the picture becomes somewhat mixed. Many graduates do manage to secure and maintain jobs as Music Therapists, which signifies a successful path. However, there are also numerous cases of career shifts where individuals veer away from traditional music therapy roles. Some pursue additional certifications or diverge into related fields such as education, recreation, or even administrative roles. Others take on positions that stray particularly far from music therapy, entering areas such as management or completely different healthcare roles. This variability suggests that while a solid number of Music Therapy graduates thrive in careers directly relevant to their degree, others find alternative paths that may not fully utilize their music therapy training. Thus, the degree can serve as a springboard into various realms, albeit not all in direct alignment with music therapy goals.
In conclusion, graduates in Music Therapy experience a reasonable amount of initial success in finding jobs relevant to their fields right after graduation, primarily through internships leading to certified roles. However, the longer-term outcomes reveal a mix of sustained career relevance and some deviation from the expected paths. While many do remain within the music therapy niche, it's clear that some individuals pivot, demonstrating both adaptability and the broad applicability of their skill sets. Overall, this degree does provide meaningful job opportunities, but the professional landscape can be quite varied depending on individual choices and circumstances.
Getting a Bachelor’s degree in Music Therapy can be pretty challenging, but it also depends on your background and interests. If you love music and have a passion for helping people, you'll probably find it super rewarding, although it involves a lot of studying and practice. You'll need to juggle music courses, psychology classes, and hands-on internships, which can sometimes feel overwhelming. It's definitely not the easiest degree out there, but if you're dedicated and willing to put in the effort, it can be an enjoyable and fulfilling journey!
Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 4 years to finish a Bachelor degree in Music Therapy-Therapist.
Looking at this group of music therapy grads, it's a mixed bag when it comes to their earning potential. Graduates from bigger universities or those who quickly landed full-time positions after internships, like those from the University of Minnesota or Temple University, seem to have steadier job paths and are likely making a decent income now. However, a lot of the others have a lot of gig work or part-time roles, which can make it tough to piece together a solid paycheck. You also see quite a few in roles that could be low-paying, like teaching or therapy positions in non-profits. So while some are probably doing well, others might struggle a bit financially right now.
It’s worth noting that many in this field hustle across different roles or even start their own businesses, which might boost their income in the long run. Still, those early career stages can be tough until they secure more stable and higher-paying positions. Overall, while there's good potential for higher earnings in music therapy, it really depends on each individual’s choices and the jobs they’ve landed so far.
Here is a visual representation of the most common words seen in the "about" section of LinkedIn profiles who have a Bachelor degree in Music Therapy-Therapist. This may or may not be useful:
Here are all colleges offering a Bachelor degree in Music Therapy-Therapist (ordered by the average relevance score of their Music Therapy-Therapist graduates, best to worst) where we have analyzed at least 10 of their graduates: