Music Therapists
Machines can already do 26% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 46%. The job changes before it disappears.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Music Therapists in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 26% 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 46% 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 83% for contact with people.
- Also called: Board Certified Music Therapist (MT-BC), LCAT (Licensed Creative Arts Therapist), Music Therapist, Neurologic Music 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design or provide music therapy experiences to address client needs, such as using music for self-care, adjusting to life changes, improving cognitive functioning, raising self-esteem, communicating, or controlling impulses | 14% | 9% to 27% | |
| Sing or play musical instruments, such as keyboard, guitar, or percussion instruments | 11% | 3% to 25% | |
| Document evaluations, treatment plans, case summaries, or progress or other reports related to individual clients or client groups | 11% | 63% to 81% | |
| Communicate with clients to build rapport, acknowledge their progress, or reflect upon their reactions to musical experiences | 7% | 9% to 23% | |
| Design music therapy experiences, using various musical elements to meet client's goals or objectives | 6% | 32% to 55% | |
| Observe and document client reactions, progress, or other outcomes related to music therapy | 6% | 50% to 74% | |
| Assess client functioning levels, strengths, and areas of need in terms of perceptual, sensory, affective, communicative, musical, physical, cognitive, social, spiritual, or other abilities | 4% | 22% to 42% | |
| Improvise instrumentally, vocally, or physically to meet client's therapeutic needs | 4% | 3% to 25% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills music 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.
- 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
- Nurse Midwives45% of tasks by 2035 · US median $134,040
- Pediatricians, General43% of tasks by 2035 · US median $210,040
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Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Music 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 music therapists?
Machines can do 26% of the tasks of music therapists today and 46% 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 29-1129.02 (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). Music Therapists: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/music-therapists/