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How much do creative arts therapy jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 23, 2026, the average yearly pay for creative arts therapy in the United States is $125,000.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $122,500.00 and $127,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is creative arts therapy?

Creative Arts Therapy is a form of psychotherapy that uses creative modalities such as art, music, dance, drama, and writing to help individuals express themselves and address emotional, psychological, or social issues. Unlike traditional talk therapy, it leverages the creative process to foster self-awareness, personal growth, and healing. Creative arts therapists are specially trained professionals who guide clients through these activities in a therapeutic setting, making it suitable for people of all ages and backgrounds. This approach is used in a variety of settings, including hospitals, schools, rehabilitation centers, and private practices.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a creative arts therapist?

To thrive as a Creative Arts Therapist, you need a background in psychology or counseling, a master's degree in creative arts therapy, and state licensure or certification. Familiarity with therapeutic assessment tools, documentation systems, and specialized art, music, or movement therapy techniques is typically required. Strong interpersonal skills, creativity, and emotional intelligence help build trust and facilitate client expression and healing. These skills and qualities are crucial for effectively supporting diverse clients in their therapeutic journeys and achieving positive mental health outcomes.

What are some common challenges creative arts therapists face when working with diverse client populations?

Creative Arts Therapists often work with clients from a variety of cultural, linguistic, and socioeconomic backgrounds, which can present challenges in ensuring that therapeutic interventions are both relevant and accessible. Adapting creative modalities—such as art, music, or drama—to align with each client’s unique experiences and values requires cultural sensitivity and flexibility. Therapists must also be skilled at building trust and rapport, especially when clients may be unfamiliar with or hesitant about expressive therapies. Ongoing supervision, professional development, and collaboration with multidisciplinary teams are essential for navigating these challenges effectively.

What is the difference between Creative Arts Therapy vs Art Therapist?

AspectCreative Arts TherapyArt Therapist
CredentialsMaster's degree in Creative Arts Therapy or related field, certification varies by stateMaster's degree in Art Therapy, certification (ATR or ATR-BC)
Work EnvironmentHospitals, clinics, schools, mental health centersHospitals, mental health clinics, schools, private practice
Industry UsageUsed broadly for mental health, rehabilitation, and wellness programsPrimarily focused on mental health and emotional well-being through art

Creative Arts Therapy and Art Therapist roles overlap significantly, with both requiring similar credentials and working in healthcare or educational settings. The main difference lies in the scope: Creative Arts Therapy often encompasses multiple art modalities and broader therapeutic approaches, while Art Therapists focus specifically on art-based interventions. Both professions aim to improve mental health and emotional well-being through creative expression.

What do creative arts therapists do?

Creative arts therapists use artistic activities such as art, music, dance, or drama to help clients improve mental, emotional, or physical well-being. They assess clients' needs, develop treatment plans, and facilitate sessions in clinical or community settings, often requiring specialized training and certification.

What jobs can I get with a creative arts therapy degree?

With a creative arts therapy degree, you can work as a licensed creative arts therapist, providing mental health support through art, music, dance, or drama therapy. Other roles include art therapist, music therapist, or expressive arts therapist, often requiring certification or licensure and working in settings like hospitals, schools, or mental health clinics.
More about creative arts therapy jobs

What cities are hiring for Creative Arts Therapy jobs?

Cities with the most Creative Arts Therapy job openings:

What are the most commonly searched types of Creative Arts Therapy jobs?

The most popular types of Creative Arts Therapy jobs are:

What states have the most Creative Arts Therapy jobs?

States with the most job openings for Creative Arts Therapy jobs include:

What job categories do people searching Creative Arts Therapy jobs look for?

The top searched job categories for Creative Arts Therapy jobs are:

Infographic showing various Creative Arts Therapy job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 5% As Needed, 58% Full Time, 17% Part Time, and 20% Contract. Highlights an 97% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 2% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $125,000 per year, or $60.1 per hour.

Creative Arts Therapist-L II

NYC Health Hospitals

Manhattan, NY • On-site

Other

Medical, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 24 days ago


NYC Health + Hospitals rating

7.5

Company rating: 7.5 out of 10

Based on 74 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

239th of 893 rated healthcare providers


Job description

Kings County Hospital Center has a rich legacy for its pioneering role in medicine. Today, with over 625 beds, our hospital remains on the cutting edge of technology and provides the most modern procedures with state-of-the-art equipment. Built in 1831 as a one room infirmary for publicly supported care of the sick, Kings County Hospital Center continues to be a leading healthcare facility whose mission is to provide care to everyone regardless of their ability to pay. The hospital provides a wide range of health services, and specialties are offered in all fields of modern medicine. More than 200 clinics provide a wide array of ambulatory care services.
At NYC Health + Hospitals, our mission is to deliver high quality care health services, without exception. Every employee takes a person-centered approach that exemplifies the ICARE values (Integrity, Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence) through empathic communication and partnerships between all persons.
Work Shifts
9:00 A.M - 5:00 P.M
Duties & Responsibilities
Purpose of Position:
This class of positions encompasses professional and/or supervisory work of varying degrees of difficulty in the operation of a creative arts therapy department providing therapeutic services through the utilization of various modalities, principles and techniques specific to the creative arts therapy discipline. All personnel perform related work.
Under direction, with broad latitude for independent judgment and decision making, performs difficult and responsible professional work in the creative arts therapy discipline.
Examples of Typical Tasks:
At a higher level, performs the duties of Assignment Level I:
1. Establishes and implements comprehensive therapeutic group/individual therapy programs utilizing principles and practices of creative arts therapy.
2. Conducts individual assessments of patient's strengths and weaknesses to evaluate social, cognitive, psychological and physical functioning through the creative arts process.
3. Develops treatment goals and objectives based on initial and ongoing assessments designed to improve functioning through the utilization of the techniques unique to the creative arts therapy discipline.
4. Implements therapeutic interventions utilizing art, music, drama, dance or poetry as a modality to facilitate the patient's attainment of goals articulated in the patient treatment plans.
5. Participates as an active member of the interdisciplinary treatment team by attending meetings and contributing to the formulation of individual patient comprehensive treatment plans.
6. Writes regular progress notes on patient's behavior and responses to treatment goals.
7. Prepares and maintains records, progress reports, statistical information and participates in departmental and facility-wide quality assurance/performance improvement (QA/PI) activities.
8. Prepares supply requisitions and maintains inventories of equipment and supplies as designated.
9. May be assigned to coordinate and supervise the activities of auxiliary staff in related therapeutic disciplines.
10. May be assigned to instruct and supervise volunteers, interns and students in the areas of creative arts therapy.
11. Performs other related duties as assigned.
In addition to performing the duties of Assignment Level I at a higher level, as described above, also performs the following typical tasks:
1. Serves as a professional resource to Creative Arts Therapists in the development and implementation of specialized treatment interventions utilizing non-verbal, diagnostic and expressive techniques.
2. Provides consultation for complex cases in the evaluation of social, cognitive, psychological and physical functioning through the creative arts therapy process.
3. Monitors, documents and evaluates the attainment of creative arts therapy goals as part of the therapeutic process.
4. May represent the department at conferences, workshops, hospital or community functions; reports actions and findings to department.
5. May develop and conduct departmental training programs to introduce new developments and techniques within the creative arts therapy discipline.
6. May be assigned to function as a primary therapist, as long as practicing within the boundaries of professional competency, as specified in the New York State Education Law, Article 163, Section 8407.
7. Performs other duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications
Assignment Level I
1. A valid License or Limited Permit issued by the New York State Education Department to practice as a Creative Arts Therapist. Employees working with a Limited Permit must obtain
Licensure within two years from their date of appointment.
Assignment Level II
1. A valid License issued by the New York State Education Department to practice as a Creative Arts Therapist; and
2. Two years of full-time, paid, professional experience in creative arts therapy.
Assignment Level III
In addition to meeting the requirements for Assignment Levels II, Assignment Level III
requires:
1. One additional year of experience.
Benefits
NYC Health and Hospitals offers a competitive benefits package that includes:

  • Comprehensive Health Benefits for employees hired to work 20+ hrs. per week
  • Retirement Savings and Pension Plans
  • Paid Holidays and Vacation in accordance with employees' Collectively bargained contracts
  • Loan Forgiveness Programs for eligible employees
  • College tuition discounts and professional development opportunities
  • College Savings Program
  • Union Benefits for eligible titles
  • Multiple employee discounts programs
  • Commuter Benefits Programs

If you wish to apply for this position, please apply online by clicking the "Apply for Job" button.

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