This individual, at 25 years old, holds one of the most gratifying college degrees and states, "I wouldn't trade it."

Danielle Caldwell initially enrolled at Belmont University in Nashville to pursue a degree in music. However, upon arrival, she found herself drawn to the field of music therapy and subsequently changed her major.

After finishing her degree in 2021, the 25-year-old began working as a full-time music therapist, with the goal of helping people through music.

She remarks, "It's incredibly fulfilling as we significantly affect clients in remarkable ways."

Music therapy is a clinical field that employs sound, instruments, and lyrics to aid patients of all ages in managing a range of ailments, including physical impairments and emotional and psychological issues. Although not all music therapy graduates work as therapists, every board-certified music therapist holds a music therapy degree, as per the profession's standards.

According to a recent Payscale report, 95% of music therapy degree-holders believe that their job contributes to making the world a better place.

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While a music therapy degree can lead to a fulfilling career, the pay for those graduates may not be satisfactory. According to a 2022 survey by the American Music Therapy Association, only 30% of current music therapists can live comfortably on their music therapy income alone.

According to Payscale, music therapy degree-holders earn a median salary of $49,400 in their first five years of work. With 10 years of experience, their median salary increases to $64,900. The latest available Census Bureau data shows that among all college graduates ages 25 to 34, the median annual earnings were $66,600 in 2022.

Although the financial outlook is not favorable, Caldwell remains passionate about her job.

'I would not trade it for a desk job'

Currently, Caldwell is employed in pediatric care, treating children aged 10 months to 16 years at a private practice in Jacksonville, Florida.

She assists children in achieving developmental milestones such as visual tracking, grasping, and speech expression, while also offering emotional support to kids and adolescents dealing with mental health issues like depression and anxiety.

Caldwell's salary has increased from $40,000 to about $57,000 a year, which is above the early-career median.

She states that she enjoys her job and would not exchange it for a higher-paying desk job.

Caldwell recognizes that her comfortable lifestyle as a music therapist is due to several privileges, including her family's financial support during college and her husband's dual income.

The realities of a low-paying career

Of course, everyone's personal situation is different.

The salary for music therapists can differ based on factors such as employer, location, and experience. On average, music therapists in Alaska earn $61,354, which is the highest in the country, while those in Florida earn an average of $38,664, which is the lowest.

"Caldwell states that he has friends who were able to live on their own through their music therapy salary, and others who were paid $15 an hour for music therapy but had to share living spaces or live with their families, making it impossible for them to live alone."

According to AMTA, over 12% of music therapists hold multiple jobs to earn a comfortable income, while 18% supplement their music therapy income with a non-music therapy job.

'One of the greatest things I'll ever get to do'

Not everyone is willing to make the sacrifices required to earn a music therapist salary, such as sharing living space or taking on additional work.

Despite her optimism, she believes that more advocacy and comprehension are necessary for music therapy to be recognized as a vital component of healthcare, which will ultimately enhance the financial prospects of its practitioners.

Caldwell believes that funding is a significant obstacle in music therapy due to the ongoing research and need to prove the evidence-based nature of the therapy.

Despite years of research demonstrating music therapy's effectiveness, it is not as widely accepted as physical or psychotherapy. Advocates like Caldwell are working to increase awareness of its benefits and improve access to high-quality care.

""Often, individuals misunderstand music therapy as mere entertainment or performance and fail to recognize its true purpose and objectives," she explains."

Watching her patients heal in real time through music therapy has been one of the greatest things Caldwell has ever experienced, despite the many challenges she has faced.

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