Licensed Art Therapist Salary in the United States

How much does a Licensed Art Therapist make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Licensed Art Therapist in the United States is $64,652 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $31.

However, a Licensed Art Therapist's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $82,332
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $57,887 to $73,906
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $51,727

Key Factors That Influence Licensed Art Therapist Salaries

A Licensed Art Therapist's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Licensed Art Therapist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Licensed Art Therapist's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $65,121
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $77,932
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $114,932
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $124,369
  • Expert (over 8 years): $148,438
Levels Salary
Licensed ... Level Licensed Art Therapist$65,121
Systems S... Level Licensed Art Therapist$77,932
Systems A... Level Licensed Art Therapist$114,932
Systems A... Level Licensed Art Therapist$124,369
Systems A... Level Licensed Art Therapist$148,438

How Do Licensed Art Therapist Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Licensed Art Therapists. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $71,582.
  • California: $71,311.
  • Massachusetts: $70,360.

Top Paying Cities for Licensed Art Therapists

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $81,545
  • San Francisco: $80,652
  • Oakland: $78,953

What Skills Can Increase a Licensed Art Therapist's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 7.88% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Business Administration (Mentioned in 2.61% Job Postings): It is the management of all aspects of a business's performance, decisions, and organization. It includes the day to day operations, aspects including finances and human resources, and ensures the company stays aligned to the goal or mission.
  • ERP Systems (Mentioned in 1.79% Job Postings): Leveraging advanced tools and software systems to automate and manage core business functions cost-effectively to maximize performance.
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 7.88%
Business Administration 2.61%
ERP Systems 1.79%

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Licensed Art Therapist's salary.

  • UAT: Can increase your salary by up to 23%.
  • System Requirements: Can increase your salary by up to 13%.
  • SQL: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
UAT $79,521
23%
System Requirements $73,056
13%
SQL $71,763
11%

Licensed Art Therapist Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Licensed Art Therapist roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 50% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Pharmaceuticals and Internet sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 22% above the average. In contrast, Licensed Art Therapist positions in Transportation or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Licensed Art Therapist as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Licensed Art Therapist

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Pharmaceuticals$78,875$38.022%
Internet$76,289$37.018%
Energy & Utilities$72,410$35.012%
Telecom$71,763$35.011%
Financial Services$71,117$34.010%

How Education impacts a Licensed Art Therapist's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Licensed Art Therapists enter the field with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Licensed Art Therapist with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $56,677 and $61,875).

Licensed Art Therapist Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Licensed Art Therapist
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.6%
High School 31.4%
Associates 31.4%
Bachelors 34.3%
Masters 2.3%
Doctorate 0.0%

Licensed Art Therapist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Licensed Art Therapist's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$57,887
Average $64,652/year
$73,906
$4,824
Average $5,388/month
$6,159
$1,113
Average $1,243/week
$1,421
$28
Average $31/hour
$36
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $73,906 $6,159 $1,421 $36
Average $64,652 $5,388 $1,243 $31
25th Percentile $57,887 $4,824 $1,113 $28

Most common benefits for Licensed Art Therapist

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Licensed Art Therapist

Here are companies hiring for Licensed Art Therapist and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Licensed Art Therapist

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Licensed Art Therapist?

The Pharmaceuticals industry offers the highest average compensation for Licensed Art Therapist roles, with salaries approximately 22% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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