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Specialized Education Services
Arlington Heights, Illinois, United States

Music Therapist

CounselorFull-Time

Listed compensation

$30k-$34k

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations, weekend coverage and time off.

Posted 58m ago · Verified live

Job Description

The music therapist in this position will provide individual, dyad, and group music therapy, while participating in interdisciplinary treatment planning by developing a music therapy treatment plan and collaborating with students’ treatment teams. Group/individual supervision, clinical observation, professional development, and responsibilities held in conjunction with special events and agency-wide processes are integrated within the position.

Responsibilities

  • Observes, assesses, and places students in appropriate delivery of service
  • Provides individual, dyad, and group music therapy
  • Develops expressive therapy treatment plans
  • Documents in students’ files according to requirements of regulatory agencies
  • Collaborates with treatment team as necessary via email, meetings, consultation

Participates in Interdisciplinary Treatment Planning

  • Provides in-service training to team members as appropriate, and in conjunction with expressive therapy team and/or clinical teams
  • Actively participates in supervision for the music therapist
  • Maintains licensure according to state and federal regulations

Qualifications

Training

Candidates will have a baseline of bachelors in Music Therapy from AMTA approved program with additional Master’s degree from AMTA approved program preferred (Master of Music Therapy (MMT) and/or Master of Arts in Music Therapy (M.A.))

Licensing

Candidates with proof of scheduled exam will receive consideration but board-certified music therapists (MT-BC) will receive preference

Proof of application for licensed professional music therapy licensure (LPMT) in Illinois within 1-week of hire

  • Strong clinical musicianship, strengths-based theoretical framework
  • Communicates effectively with other professionals/students/families
  • Strong clinical musicianship and strengths-based theoretical framework
  • Ability to work independently at multiple sites within the agency
  • Ability to communicate effectively with professionals/students/families

Posted Salary Range

USD $30,000.00 - USD $33,750.00 /Yr.

Physical Requirements

Ability to run short distances and move swiftly in response to student needs, including bending, kneeling, and crouching.

Ability to lift and assist students with mobility challenges, often requiring the handling of up to 50 pounds or more.

Skill in managing fine motor tasks, such as helping students with writing, manipulating small objects, or using adaptive devices.

Ability to operate a computer or tablet for up to 8 hours daily.

Capacity to notice and respond to non-verbal cues from students

Capacity to remain calm and composed during physically and emotional demanding situations, ensuring student safety and well-being

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.

Qualifications

Education
Master's degree (postgraduate degree)

Certifications

Board Certification

Key Skills

Clinical assessmentInterdisciplinary collaborationDocumentationRegulatory complianceNon-verbal cue observationCrisis managementCommunication

Counselor Career Context

Of the 50 active Mental Health Therapy listings this role was benchmarked against, 34% are remote, 32% have no call, 66% require no weekends.

The cost-of-living index for Illinois is 100.0 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$32k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $32k in an average-cost state. 62.6% of Illinois clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Mental Health Therapy by the numbers
MeasureThis jobMarket
Listed pay$30k–$34kMental Health Therapy median $66k (middle half $61k–$77k)16 comparable listings, Oct 2026
Cost-of-living adjusted pay~$32k in purchasing powerIllinois index 100.0 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Mental Health Therapy listings in Illinois352 active7,827 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Oct 2026
Work settingon-sitepeers: 34% remote · 32% no call · 66% no weekends50 benchmarked listings
Sources: WeekdayDoc live listing index, BEA Regional Price Parities (2024); as of Oct 2026. Same values as the Weekday Verdict and Market Insights on this page.

Top Counselor Jobs

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Salary Distribution

45 jobs · 35 employers
19
<$75k
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$75k-95k
3
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$115k-135k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks

39 jobs · 35 employers
401k / retirement match
87%
Sign-on bonus
36%
CME allowance
36%
Loan repayment
21%
PSLF eligible
18%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

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Work-life snapshot

median 6.0this job 3.0
Better work-life than 20% of Mental Health Therapy (Counseling) listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 7,851 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

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About Specialized Education Services

Education Administration Programs
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
201-500 employees

Living in Arlington Heights

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$475k≈ 15.8× annual pay
Typical market rent
$1,985/mo≈ 79% of gross pay
Residents’ average commute
28 min
State income tax
Up to 5%
Sources & methodology

Sources: Zillow home values (Aug 2026), Zillow market rents (Aug 2026), U.S. Census ACS 2024 five-year.

Ratios use this listing’s gross annual pay. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.