Art Therapists
Machines can already do 27% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 47%. The job changes before it disappears.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Art Therapists in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 27% of this job's tasks, and AI use is already seen in 4% of them.
- Forecast: machines can do half of its tasks by 2037, and 47% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Size: 22,640 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $77,930 a year.
- Contact with people: it scores 77% for contact with people.
- Also called: Activity Therapy Specialist, Art Psychotherapist, ATR (Registered Art Therapist), ATR-BC (Board Certified Art Therapist).
Updated by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit. These are worldwide baseline figures; the Workforce Starburst shows them for your country. Go deeper: How ready am I? or an executive briefing.
How the work changes, task by task
The tasks that take up most of the day, with the share of each that machines can do in 2026 (dark) and 2035 (pink). Worldwide baseline.
| Task | Share of the day | Machines can do | 2026 to 2035 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conduct art therapy sessions, providing guided self-expression experiences to help clients recover from, or cope with, cognitive, emotional, or physical impairments | 29% | 9% to 27% | |
| Write treatment plans, case summaries, or progress or other reports related to individual clients or client groups | 8% | 47% to 68% | |
| Talk with clients during art or other therapy sessions to build rapport, acknowledge their progress, or reflect upon their reactions to the artistic process | 7% | 9% to 23% | |
| Observe and document client reactions, progress, or other outcomes related to art therapy | 7% | 50% to 74% | |
| Assess client needs or disorders, using drawing, painting, sculpting, or other artistic processes | 4% | 38% to 55% | |
| Design art therapy sessions or programs to meet client's goals or objectives | 4% | 32% to 55% | |
| Develop individualized treatment plans that incorporate studio art therapy, counseling, or psychotherapy techniques | 4% | 32% to 55% | |
| Select or prepare artistic media or related equipment or devices to accomplish therapy session objectives | 4% | 18% to 51% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills art therapists use most, most used first.
Safer jobs nearby
Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.
- Music Therapists46% of tasks by 2035 · US median $77,930
- Low Vision Therapists, Orientation and Mobility Specialists, and Vision Rehabilitation Therapists44% of tasks by 2035 · US median $100,330
- Psychiatric Technicians32% of tasks by 2035 · US median $45,130
- Pediatricians, General43% of tasks by 2035 · US median $210,040
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Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Art Therapists?
Machines can do half of its tasks by 2037. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.
Will AI take the job of art therapists?
Machines can do 27% of the tasks of art therapists today and 47% by 2035. The job changes before it disappears: the routine tasks move first.
Sources and citing
Tasks and their share of the day: O*NET 31.0, occupation 29-1129.01 (US Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0). Pay and jobs: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. AI use today: Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Scoring and forecast: the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit; after 2035 the figures extend each trend, with lower confidence. Foresight, not advice.
Cite as: 311 Institute (2026). Art Therapists: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/art-therapists/