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Hospitals and Health Systems
Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, Kaiser Permanente
Therapists, All Other
These therapists use guided activities, conversation, and creative expression to help people cope with emotional, cognitive, or physical challenges. What makes the work distinct is the mix of clinical judgment and hands-on creativity: one session might involve art materials, while the next involves coordinating with a care team and documenting progress. The tradeoff is that the work can be deeply personal and rewarding, but it also depends heavily on client needs, facility budgets, and whether there is enough funding for specialized therapy services.
Also known as Art TherapistCreative Arts TherapistExpressive Arts TherapistLicensed Creative Arts TherapistClinical Art Therapist
Median Salary
$65,010
Mean $73,800
U.S. Workforce
~19K
4.1K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+11.5%
56.1K to 62.5K
Entry Education
Bachelor's degree
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Therapists, All Other sits in the Healthcare category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~19K workers, with a median annual pay of $65,010 and roughly 4.1K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to grow from 56.1 K in 2024 to 62.5K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with Master's degree in art therapy, counseling, or a related field, and employers typically expect none of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Graduate Intern and can progress toward Program Director. High-value skills usually include Art Therapy Assessment & Treatment Planning, Electronic Health Records (EHR) & Clinical Documentation, and Outcome Tracking & Progress Evaluation, paired with soft skills such as Social Perceptiveness, Active Listening, and Speaking.
Core Responsibilities
- Explain assessment results and treatment recommendations to clients and to other people involved in their care.
- Lead workshops or information sessions for colleagues, client groups, or members of the public.
- Review client progress data to see whether a therapy approach is helping.
- Use drawing, painting, sculpting, or other art activities to understand a client's needs and responses.
Keep exploring: more Healthcare careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Explain assessment results and treatment recommendations to clients and to other people involved in their care.
02 Lead workshops or information sessions for colleagues, client groups, or members of the public.
03 Review client progress data to see whether a therapy approach is helping.
04 Use drawing, painting, sculpting, or other art activities to understand a client's needs and responses.
05 Run therapy sessions that use creative expression to help clients cope with injury, illness, trauma, or emotional stress.
06 Work with doctors, counselors, teachers, or other professionals to build and adjust treatment plans.
Industries That Hire
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Mental Health and Behavioral Care
Acadia Healthcare, Rogers Behavioral Health, The Meadows
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Schools and Youth Services
NYC Public Schools, Chicago Public Schools, KIPP
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Rehabilitation and Long-Term Care
Encompass Health, Select Medical, Brooks Rehabilitation
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Community Nonprofits and Social Services
Easterseals, YMCA, The Salvation Army
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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The pay is decent for a specialized helping role, with a mean annual salary of $73,800 and a median of $65,010.
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BLS lists no required work experience and no on-the-job training, so once the education is in place, the path is relatively direct.
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Projected growth of 11.5% and about 4.1K annual openings point to steady demand.
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The work is varied: you may assess needs, run sessions, review results, and adapt programs for schools, hospitals, shelters, or nursing homes.
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It combines creativity with care, which can make the work feel more personal and engaging than a standard talk-only therapy job.
Challenges
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The occupation is small, with only 19,320 current jobs, so openings can be limited in some regions.
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The pay ceiling is not especially high for a role that often favors graduate training, and the median stays at $65,010.
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Remote work is limited because many sessions depend on in-person materials, client observation, and a controlled setting.
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The job can be emotionally heavy, since you work with people dealing with trauma, disability, illness, or major life stress.
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Funding and reimbursement rules can shape what gets offered, which is a structural limit on pay, session length, and program growth.
Career Progression
Graduate Intern
0-2 years
$35K-$45K
This stage is usually supervised work, observation, and basic session support while the person builds clinical judgment and confidence.
Therapist
2-5 years
$58K-$72K
This is the core role, with independent client sessions, documentation, progress tracking, and regular coordination with other professionals.
Senior Therapist THIS ROLE
5-8 years
$73K-$88K
At this level, therapists handle more complex cases, help shape treatment plans, and may mentor newer staff.
Clinical Supervisor
8-12 years
$89K-$108K
Supervisors review cases, support quality control, and make sure services are consistent across clients and settings.
Program Director
12+ years
$109K-$135K
Directors manage staff, budgets, service design, and partnerships with schools, hospitals, or community organizations.
Education Paths
Master's degree in art therapy, counseling, or a related field
The most common route, used by 53% of workers, and it aligns with the strong preference for graduate-level training in this specialty.
Bachelor's degree in a related field
A major entry route, used by 36.54% of workers, and it can be a starting point before supervised specialty training or graduate school.
Post-baccalaureate certificate
A smaller pathway, used by 5.77% of workers, often for people who already hold a bachelor's degree and need focused specialty training.
Post-master's certificate
A niche option, used by 3.12% of workers, usually for licensed clinicians who want to add a specialty without earning another full degree.
Key Skills
Technical
Art Therapy Assessment & Treatment Planning 86%
Electronic Health Records (EHR) & Clinical Documentation 82%
Outcome Tracking & Progress Evaluation 80%
Telehealth Platforms (Zoom, Doxy.me) & Virtual Sessions 77%
Creative Materials, Studio Setup & Session Tools 75%
Soft Skills
Social PerceptivenessActive ListeningSpeakingCritical ThinkingReading ComprehensionService Orientation Job Outlook and Trends
+11.5%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
4.1K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 56.1K to 62.5 K over the next decade, representing 11.5% growth. Around 4.1 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Limited. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.