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Music Therapists in West Virginia

Music Therapists in West Virginia

Want to work as a Music Therapists in West Virginia? Here’s what you need to know. All therapists not listed separately.

What do Music Therapists Make in West Virginia?

For music therapists working in West Virginia, the typical annual salary is $71,180 per year (or about $34.22/hour).Earnings range from $45,300 at the 10th percentile to $93,740 at the 90th percentile.

Wage Statistic Annual Hourly
10th percentile $45,300 $21.78
25th percentile $58,250 $28.00
Median (50th) $71,180 $34.22
75th percentile $85,180 $40.95
90th percentile $93,740 $45.07
Salary ranges for Music Therapists in West Virginia

The location quotient — a measure of how concentrated this occupation is in West Virginia nationwide is 1.11, indicating that music therapists are more concentrated here than the national average.

National Wage Comparison

Nationally, music therapists earn a median of $71,670 per year ($34.46/hour), below the West Virginia median.

Music Therapists earnings in West Virginia vs. the national average

Employment Outlook

National employment for 2,939,478 music therapists across the United States. In West Virginia alone, about 100 people work in this role. That’s fewer than the typical state, which employs around 330 music therapists.

Music Therapists in West Virginia vs. the average state Forecasted number of jobs for Music Therapists

Top States for Music Therapists Employment

View the states that employ the most music therapists work.

State Number Employed
New Jersey 2,530
Georgia 1,580
Maryland 1,540
Texas 1,480
California 1,130
New York 990
Louisiana 900
Pennsylvania 630
Illinois 620
Wisconsin 570
Florida 540
Minnesota 540
North Carolina 440
Kentucky 400
Tennessee 400
Nevada 380
Ohio 370
Missouri 370
Arkansas 350
Indiana 330

Highest-Paying States for Music Therapists

Where music therapists earn the most: music therapists.

State Annual Median Salary
Alaska $107,070
Nebraska $102,680
New Mexico $100,510
South Carolina $99,870
Kentucky $99,060
District of Columbia $90,920
New Jersey $90,280
Montana $82,070
Oregon $80,210
Rhode Island $75,470

Skills

Key music therapists skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Social Perceptiveness  4.2 / 5
0
5
Active Listening  4.1 / 5
0
5
Speaking  4.0 / 5
0
5
Critical Thinking  4.0 / 5
0
5
Reading Comprehension  4.0 / 5
0
5
Service Orientation  4.0 / 5
0
5

Knowledge Areas

Key knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Psychology  4.9 / 5
0
5
Therapy and Counseling  4.9 / 5
0
5
Fine Arts  4.8 / 5
0
5
English Language  4.1 / 5
0
5
Sociology and Anthropology  3.9 / 5
0
5
Customer and Personal Service  3.9 / 5
0
5

Abilities

Key abilities for music therapists, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Problem Sensitivity  4.1 / 5
0
5
Oral Expression  4.1 / 5
0
5
Oral Comprehension  4.0 / 5
0
5
Inductive Reasoning  3.9 / 5
0
5
Speech Recognition  3.9 / 5
0
5
Speech Clarity  3.9 / 5
0
5

Daily Tasks

Day-to-day, music therapists typically:

  • 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.
  • Design music therapy experiences, using various musical elements to meet client's goals or objectives.
  • Sing or play musical instruments, such as keyboard, guitar, or percussion instruments.
  • Communicate with clients to build rapport, acknowledge their progress, or reflect upon their reactions to musical experiences.
  • 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.
  • Establish client goals or objectives for music therapy treatment, considering client needs, capabilities, interests, overall therapeutic program, coordination of treatment, or length of treatment.
  • Document evaluations, treatment plans, case summaries, or progress or other reports related to individual clients or client groups.
  • Assess client functioning levels, strengths, and areas of need in terms of perceptual, sensory, affective, communicative, musical, physical, cognitive, social, spiritual, or other abilities.
  • Observe and document client reactions, progress, or other outcomes related to music therapy.
  • Improvise instrumentally, vocally, or physically to meet client's therapeutic needs.
  • Gather diagnostic data from sources such as case documentation, observations of clients, or interviews with clients or family members.
  • Plan or structure music therapy sessions to achieve appropriate transitions, pacing, sequencing, energy level, or intensity in accordance with treatment plans.

Work Activities

  • Thinking Creatively
  • Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
  • Assisting and Caring for Others
  • Documenting/Recording Information
  • Developing Objectives and Strategies
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems
  • Getting Information
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
  • Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
  • Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
  • Training and Teaching Others
  • Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings

Tools & Technology

Technologies frequently used: Hot technologies: Microsoft Office software

What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?

Related college programs include:

  • Rehabilitation Professions
  • Movement & Mind-Body Therapies

Other careers like music therapists include:

Also Known As

Activity Therapist, Board Certified Music Therapist (MT-BC), Certified Music Therapist, Community Music Therapist, Creative Arts Music Therapist, Creative Music Therapist, Expressive Music Therapist, Home Care Music Therapist, Hospice Music Therapist, LCAT (Licensed Creative Arts Therapist), Music Art Therapist, Music Dance Therapist, Music Rehabilitation Therapist, Music Therapist, Music Therapy Specialist.

References

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