Sometimes, words alone fail to help client express some of their most difficult and painful emotions and memories. This is where art therapists come in – they use the creative process to help clients break through their difficult emotions. If you want to pursue a career in art therapy,, one of the questions you may have will be, “How much does an art therapist make?” This article answers all you need to know about an art therapy salary.
Art therapy can be a fun and rewarding career as it offers you the opportunity to help people from the different walks of life in their healing processes and earn highly while at it. Read on to learn more about art therapy and how you can get started.
Let’s dive right in!
Who is an Art Therapist?
An art therapist is a mental health expert who specializes in treating patients and in facilitating healing through artistic expressions by coordinating recreation-based treatment programs for people with illnesses, disabilities or injuries.
Art therapists use therapeutic techniques that involves a blend of healthcare science and psychology, and the allow patients to channel as well as process their feelings and emotions through creativity.
Basically, art therapists combines psychotherapy with the visual as well as the physical experiences of creating art to express person issues.
Art therapists work with a variety of patients – from children to adults, with different needs and disorders, using a variety of modalties including drama, music, sports, games and community outings – all to help patients to improve their social, physical and emotional well-being.
Art therapists can work with patients including:
- Recovering addicts in rehabilitation facility
- Children in assisted living
- Inmatesin a prison or jail setting
- Seniors in assisted livin
- Individuals with mental health disorders.
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What Do Art Therapists Do?
The responsibilities of an art therapist are too numerous to mention. However, an art therapist may:
- Conduct information-sharing sessions
- Study data to determine the effectiveness of client treatment and therapy approaches.
- Conduct art therapy programs
- Inspect staff, practicum students, volunteers, or interns.
- Provide personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
- Develop , design , or create new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
- Develop constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintain them over time.
- Enter , transcribe, record, store, or maintain information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
- Provide information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
- Translate or explain what information means and how it can be used.
- Observe, receive, and otherwise obtain information from all relevant sources.
- Perform for people or deal directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, as well as receiving clients or guests.
Where Do Art Therapists Work?
Art therapists may work in:
- Schools
- Hospitals
- Mental health clinics
- Private practice
- Nursing homes
- Residential treatment homes
- Crisis centers
- Domestic abuse clinics
- Halfway houses
Also, see: Children’s Therapist Salary in 2022 | How Much Does Children’s Therapist Make?
What is the Average Art Therapist Salary?
Basically, your income as an art therapist may vary widely based on factors like job title, location, years of experience and some others. However, below are some salary reports from verified sources that can help you determine how much you can expect to earn as an art therapist.
- According to Ziprecruiter, the average art therapist salary is $65,553 per year and $32 per hour.
- According to Recruiter, an average art therapist salary is $70,260 per year.
- Zippia reports the average art therapist salary at $50,000 per year and $24.44 per year.
- Salary.com reports an average art therapist salary of $43,793 per year.
- According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average art therapist salary is $62,090 per year.
Having known these reports, it is safe to conclude that the average art therapist salary is between $43,793 – $70,260 per year.
What are the Top Highest Paying Cities for Art Therapists?
Typically, location is one of the factors that affect your income as an art therapist. We have carefully researched and compiled a list of the 10 top highest paying cities for Art Therapists in the US. See the table below:
| CITY | SALARY |
| San Mateo, CA | $77,353 |
| Boston, MA | $76,803 |
| Daly City, CA | $75,972 |
| Berkeley, CA | $75,930 |
| Renton, WA | $75,736 |
| Santa Monica, CA | $75,727 |
| Lowell, MA | $74,875 |
| Green River, WY | $74,549 |
| Irvine, CA | $73,496 |
| Newark, NJ | $73,066 |
How Can I Become an Art Therapist?
To become an art therapist, you must be a licensed mental health counselor and must have obtained a master’s degree in majors such as therapy, counselling, psychology, leisure studies or other relevant subject in the field.
Depeneding on your location, you may need to complete clinical hours to earn a license and you must possess an artistic and empathetic nature as well as a strong familiarity with visual art forms and materials.
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What are the Requirements to Become an Art Therapist?
To become an art therapist, there are certain requirements you will need to fulfil. Let’s look at them:
- Bachelor’s degree in art, art therapy, counseling, social science, or psychology
- Master’s degree in art, art therapy, counseling, social science, psychology, leisure studies or other relevant subject in the field.
Skills
- Social perceptiveness
- Active Listening
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Excellent communicating skills
- Critical Thinking
- Service Orientation
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
- Patience
- Resourcefulness
- Leadership skills
- Compassion
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Career Prospects for Art Therapists
According to Recruiter, openings for art therapists have increased by 32.76% nationwide with an average growth of 2.05% per year. On the hand, the source predicts that the demand for art therapists is expected to rise with an expected 26,660 new jobs filled by 2029.
Conclusion
Not everyone responds well to every form of therapy such as talk therapy. For some people, they may lack the ability to express how they feel through words, and the only alternative form to begin their healing is art therapy. If you are considering pursuing a career in art therapy, we hope you found this article helpful.
FAQs Art Therapist Salary 2022
An art therapist is a mental health expert who specializes in treating patients and in facilitating healing through artistic expressions by coordinating recreation-based treatment programs for people with illnesses, disabilities, or injuries.
- Schools
- Hospitals
- Mental health clinics
- Private practice
- Nursing homes
- Residential treatment homes
- Crisis centers
- Domestic abuse clinics
- Halfway houses
Auriculotherapist, Educational Therapist, Hydrotherapist, Music Therapist, Peripatologist
- Conduct information-sharing sessions
- Study data to determine the effectiveness of client treatment and therapy approaches.
- Conduct art therapy programs
- Inspect staff, practicum students, volunteers, or interns.
- Provide personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
- Develop, design, or create new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
- Develop constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintain them over time.
- Enter, transcribe, record, store, or maintain information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
- Provide information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
Art Therapist Salary
The average art therapist’s salary is between $43,793 – $70,260 per year.
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