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Tufts Medicine
Boston, Massachusetts

Music Therapist - Per Diem

Counselor / TherapistPer Diem

Listed compensation

$26.87-$33.59/hr

The week · per this posting

Schedule not stated in this posting — no days, weekends, call or nights given.

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

Posted 41m ago · Verified live

Job Description

Job Profile Summary

This role focuses on assessing the needs of patients who have physical, mental, or emotional disabilities and delivering therapy services to improve their developmental, physical or cognitive impairment.

In addition, this role focuses on performing the following Audio/Speech Therapy related duties: Evaluates patients and uses sound therapy to improve physical and mental conditions.

Responsibilities also include improving physical and mental conditions through treating a variety of speech disorders and communication difficulties. A professional individual contributor role that may direct the work of other lower level professionals or manage processes and programs.

The majority of time is spent overseeing the design, implementation or delivery of processes, programs and policies using specialized knowledge and skills typically acquired through advanced education. An entry level role that applies broad theoretical job knowledge typically obtained through advanced education.

May require the following proficiency: work is closely supervised, problems faced are not typically difficult or complex, and explains facts, policies and practices related to job area.

Hours: Per Diem

Job Overview

This position uses clinical and evidenced-based music interventions to accomplish individualized and/or group goals within a therapeutic relationship with assigned inpatients (neonatal, pediatric, psychiatric).

Provides a unique variety of sound/music experiences in an intentional and developmentally appropriate manner to effect changes in a patient’s behavior and facilitate development of his/her communication, social/emotional, sensori-motor, and/or cognitive skills.

Works collaboratively with health care professionals in attending to the holistic needs of pediatric patients and families.

Job Description

Minimum Qualifications

1. Bachelor's degree in Music Therapy.

2. CBMT Board Certified Music Therapist

Preferred Qualifications

1. Master’s degree in Music Therapy.

2. Three (3) years of experience in a healthcare setting.

Duties and Responsibilities

The duties and responsibilities listed below are intended to describe the general nature of work and are not intended to be an all-inclusive list. Other duties and responsibilities may be assigned.

1. Conducts assessments and administers sound/music therapy interventions to consulted pediatric inpatients and adult psychiatric inpatients according to American Music Therapy Association (AMTA) scope of practice and competencies and applies the therapy process in pediatric and adult sessions.

2. Leads one-on-one and group music therapy sessions.

3. Establishes effective relationships with patients ranging in age from neonates through adolescence and for adult patients with extenuating psychiatric health care needs.

4. Serves as an integral member of the team. Participates in team and professional meetings and provides assessments based on music/sound interventions.

5. Participates in daily patient rounds and contributes to plan of care when indicated.

6. Serves as an instructor for Music Therapy professional education, supervision and teaching activities; supervises or trains student interns, house staff, nurses, medical students, and volunteers as required.

7. Continually assesses and improves his/her own Music Therapy practice and program. Conducts quality improvement activities and research regarding service delivery and effectiveness of interventions.

8. Conducts or participates in professional organizations, teaching, public presentations, seminars and workshops.

9. Conducts effective research studies.

10. Attends department meetings and activities and provides staff in-services and community presentations.

11. Maintains the safe and efficient operation of the Music Therapy Program by monitoring equipment sanitation and overall safety.

12. Identifies needs and opportunities and makes recommendations for change.

13. Effective in creating opportunities for fundraising and working with potential donors in support of the program.

14. Utilizes computer charting software and documents on consulted patients in the medical record.

15. Ensures compliance with applicable federal and/or state laws, regulations, and/or agency rules, standards and guidelines, etc.

16. Maintains collaborative, team relationships with peers and colleagues in order to effectively contribute to the working group’s achievement of goals, and to foster a positive work environment.

Physical Requirements

1. Professional office environment with typical office requirements such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets, etc.

2. This is largely a sedentary role, which involves sitting most of the time, but may involve movements such as walking, standing, reaching, ascending / descending stairs and operate office equipment.

3. Frequently required to speak, hear, communicate and exchange information.

4. Able to see and read computers displays, read fine print, and/or normal type size print and distinguish letters, numbers and symbols.

5. Occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

Skills & Abilities

1. Knowledge of and experience serving pediatric and adult patients in a healthcare setting in relation to health (including mental health), illness, and disability.

2. Knowledge of current music therapy theory and practice, and the ability to implement one on one and/or group sessions with neonates through adulthood. Understanding of organizational theory and practice in large systems and the knowledge of social and health care policies and systems.

3. High degree of diagnostic, treatment, interpersonal, organizational, and communication skills.

4. Analytical skills required assessing patient needs, to develop associated treatment modalities and to provide effective support through the utilization of music.

5. Computer skills and knowledge of general office programs, spreadsheet programs, database programs, and presentation programs (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint).

At Tufts Medicine, we want every individual to feel valued for the skills and experience they bring. Our compensation philosophy is designed to offer fair, competitive pay that attracts, retains, and motivates highly talented individuals, while rewarding the important work you do every day.

The base pay ranges reflect the minimum qualifications for the role. Individual offers are determined using a comprehensive approach that considers relevant experience, certifications, education, skills, and internal equity to ensure compensation is fair, consistent, and aligned with our business goals.

Beyond base pay, Tufts Medicine provides a comprehensive Total Rewards package that supports your health, financial security, and career growth—one of the many ways we invest in you so you can thrive both at work and outside of it.

Pay Range

$26.87 - $33.59 based on full-time equivalent

Key Responsibilities

The music therapist assesses and treats patients with physical, mental, or emotional disabilities using evidence-based music interventions. They collaborate with healthcare teams to facilitate patient development and maintain the safe operation of the music therapy program.

Requirements

Candidates must hold a Bachelor's degree in Music Therapy and be a Board Certified Music Therapist (CBMT). A Master's degree and three years of healthcare experience are preferred.

Qualifications

Education
Master's degree (postgraduate degree)
Experience
2+ years of experience

Certifications

Board Certification

Key Skills

Patient assessmentClinical interventionsPediatric carePsychiatric careTreatment planningInterpersonal skillsDiagnostic skillsData documentation

Counselor Career Context

Of the 50 active Mental Health Therapy listings this role was benchmarked against, 62% are remote, 14% have no call, 66% require no weekends.

Mental Health Therapy pay on WeekdayDoc is down 3.3% vs. the prior quarter (through Oct 2026).

Mental Health Therapy by the numbers
MeasureThis jobMarket
Listed pay$56k–$70kMental Health Therapy median $55k (middle half $50k–$78k)30 comparable listings, Nov 2026
Cost-of-living adjusted pay~$59k in purchasing powerMassachusetts index 105.8 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Mental Health Therapy listings in Massachusetts269 active7,881 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Work settingon-sitepeers: 62% remote · 14% no call · 66% no weekends50 benchmarked listings
Sign-on & loan repaymentnot statedMassachusetts Counselor listings: 11% state a sign-on bonus (median $3k) · 16% offer loan repayment522 active listings, Nov 2026
New Mental Health Therapy listings2,536 in the last 30 days1,455 the 30 days before (+74%)U.S., first seen on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Mental Health Therapy pay trend−3.3% vs prior quarter—through Oct 2026
Sources: WeekdayDoc live listing index, BEA Regional Price Parities (2024); as of Nov 2026. Same values as the Weekday Verdict and Market Insights on this page.

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Salary Distribution

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Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks

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401k / retirement match
78%
CME allowance
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Sign-on bonus
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Loan repayment
30%
PSLF eligible
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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 7,900 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

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About Tufts Medicine

Hospitals and Health Care
Boston, MA
5,001-10,000 employees

Benefits & Perks

Health insurance
Financial security programs
Career growth opportunities

Living in Boston

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$800k
Typical market rent
$3,271/mo
Residents’ average commute
30 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
108.3
State income tax
Up to 5%
Sources & methodology

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

BEA 2024 · Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

City-level figures. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.