Music therapist | Average UK Salary & Outlook

Music therapists use music and sound to help improve people's emotional well-being, relieve stress and build confidence.

Typical task
Working hours
Attractive values

Design or provide music therapy experiences to address client needs, such as using music for self-care, adjusting to life changes, improving cognitive functioning, raising self-esteem, communicating, or controlling impulses.
Assess client functioning levels, strengths, and areas of need in terms of perceptual, sensory, affective, communicative, musical,

Design or provide music therapy experiences to address client needs, such as using music for self-care, adjusting to life changes, improving cognitive functioning, raising self-esteem, communicating, or controlling impulses.
Assess client functioning levels, strengths, and areas of need in terms of perceptual, sensory, affective, communicative, musical, physical, cognitive, social, spiritual, or other abilities.
Sing or play musical instruments, such as keyboard, guitar, or percussion instruments.
Design music therapy experiences, using various musical elements to meet client's goals or objectives.
Document evaluations, treatment plans, case summaries, or progress or other reports related to individual clients or client groups.
Communicate with clients to build rapport, acknowledge their progress, or reflect upon their reactions to musical experiences.
Observe and document client reactions, progress, or other outcomes related to music therapy.
Establish client goals or objectives for music therapy treatment, considering client needs, capabilities, interests, overall therapeutic program, coordination of treatment, or length of treatment.
Engage clients in music experiences to identify client responses to different styles of music, types of musical experiences, such as improvising or listening, or elements of music, such as tempo or harmony.
Customize treatment programs for specific areas of music therapy, such as intellectual or developmental disabilities, educational settings, geriatrics, medical settings, mental health, physical disabilities, or wellness.
Plan or structure music therapy sessions to achieve appropriate transitions, pacing, sequencing, energy level, or intensity in accordance with treatment plans.
Improvise instrumentally, vocally, or physically to meet client's therapeutic needs.
Confer with professionals on client's treatment team to develop, coordinate, or integrate treatment plans.
Integrate behavioral, developmental, improvisational, medical, or neurological approaches into music therapy treatments.
Communicate client assessment findings and recommendations in oral, written, audio, video, or other forms.
Select or adapt musical instruments, musical equipment, or non-musical materials, such as adaptive devices or visual aids, to meet treatment objectives.
Analyze or synthesize client data to draw conclusions or make recommendations for therapy.
Participate in continuing education.
Analyze data to determine the effectiveness of specific treatments or therapy approaches.
Compose, arrange, or adapt music for music therapy treatments.
Collaborate with others to design or implement interdisciplinary treatment programs.
Assess the risks and benefits of treatment termination for clients.
Supervise staff, volunteers, practicum students, or interns engaged in music therapy activities.
Identify and respond to emergency physical or mental health situations.
Gather diagnostic data from sources such as case documentation, observations of clients, or interviews with clients or family members.
Conduct, or assist in the conduct of, music therapy research.
Conduct information sharing sessions, such as in-service workshops for other professionals, potential client groups, or the general community.
Adapt existing or develop new music therapy assessment instruments or procedures to meet an individual client's needs.
Apply current technology to music therapy practices.
Apply selected research findings to practice.

Average salary
33,410 GBP *
per year

Average salary for Music therapist

33,280 GBP
33,436 GBP

Average salary for part-time Music therapist

Average salary for full-time Music therapist

Showing:

21,950 GBP
21,950 GBP

33,410 GBP
33,436 GBP
33,280 GBP

Salary over time for Music therapist

Salary for this role has increased over time

30,609 GBP
30,855 GBP
30,796 GBP
31,665 GBP
31,142 GBP
31,580 GBP
33,410 GBP
33,440 GBP
34,194 GBP

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Future outlook for Music therapists

Very good outlook

32 000+ jobs available

Balanced outlook

1% yearly wage growth (on average)

Very good outlook

21% chance of automation in the future

Which qualifications do I need?

Find out what you need to know in order to become a Music therapist and the highest average level of education for people in this role.

In terms of people already doing this job:

92% of people in this role have a Bachelor's degree
4% of people in this role have GCSEs or equivalent
1% of people in this role have a post-secondary qualification such as a Higher National Diploma

You'll need:

counselling skills including active listening and a non-judgemental approach
knowledge of psychology
knowledge of the fine arts
sensitivity and understanding
the ability to work well with others
patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
to be flexible and open to change
customer service skills
to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

Get the right qualification to begin your journey to becoming a Music therapist

Music

Cooperation Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude. Attention to Detail Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks. Adaptability/Flexibility Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace. Stress Tolerance Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations. Dependability Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.

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Music therapist | Average UK Salary & Outlook

Salary statistics

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Future outlook for Music therapists

Music therapist - Your future job?

Which qualifications do I need?

Things to highlight for your Music therapist interview

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