Art Therapists
SOC code 29-1129 · O*NET-SOC 29-1129.01 · Extensive preparation needed · Healthcare
Bright Outlook — O*NET expects rapid growth for this occupation
Art Therapists pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$77,930
a year
Hourly
$37.47
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$90,420
$43.47 per hour
Middle 50%
$58,850 – $105,760
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$46,540 – $152,530
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
22,640
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
These pay and employment figures are for the broader BLS group “Therapists, All Other”, not this job alone.
- 10th percentile
- $46,540
- $22.37/hr
- 25th percentile
- $58,850
- $28.29/hr
- Median percentile
- $77,930
- $37.47/hr
- 75th percentile
- $105,760
- $50.85/hr
- 90th percentile
- $152,530
- $73.33/hr
What does an art therapist do?
Plan or conduct art therapy sessions or programs to improve clients' physical, cognitive, or emotional well-being.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- Conduct art therapy sessions, providing guided self-expression experiences to help clients recover from, or cope with, cognitive, emotional, or physical impairments.
- Talk with clients during art or other therapy sessions to build rapport, acknowledge their progress, or reflect upon their reactions to the artistic process.
- Write treatment plans, case summaries, or progress or other reports related to individual clients or client groups.
- Assess client needs or disorders, using drawing, painting, sculpting, or other artistic processes.
- Design art therapy sessions or programs to meet client's goals or objectives.
- Observe and document client reactions, progress, or other outcomes related to art therapy.
- Develop individualized treatment plans that incorporate studio art therapy, counseling, or psychotherapy techniques.
- Establish goals or objectives for art therapy sessions in consultation with clients or site administrators.
How to become an art therapist
Preparation level: zone 5 — Extensive preparation needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
- Experience
- Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
- Training
- Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
The federal survey did not capture education levels for this specific occupation, so the preparation-level card above is the best guide to the entry route.
Common questions
How much does an art therapist earn?
The national median is $77,930 a year. The full range runs from $46,540 at the 10th percentile to $152,530 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.
Can you become an art therapist without a degree?
Not usually — this occupation sits in preparation zone 5, where the typical entry route is most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree). The education breakdown above shows what people in the role actually reported.
Skills and knowledge you need
Core skills
- Active Listening4.0/5
- Speaking4.0/5
- Monitoring4.0/5
- Critical Thinking3.9/5
- Reading Comprehension3.8/5
- Writing3.8/5
- Active Learning3.6/5
Knowledge areas
- Therapy and Counseling5.0/5
- Psychology5.0/5
- Fine Arts4.5/5
- Sociology and Anthropology4.1/5
- Customer and Personal Service4.0/5
- English Language3.6/5
- Education and Training3.3/5
- Administrative3.2/5
Transferable strengths: Social Perceptiveness, Service Orientation, Judgment and Decision Making.