The average salary for an art therapist in California is around $98,170 per year.
Avg Salary
Art therapists earn an average yearly salary of $98,170.
Wages typically start from $60,940 and go up to $115,370.
17% above national average Updated in 2025
Art therapist earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level art therapist earnings begin at:
$55.47 per hour
$115,370 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level art therapist earnings begin at:
$51.84 per hour
$107,830 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level art therapist earnings begin at:
$47.20 per hour
$98,170 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level art therapist earnings begin at:
$38.38 per hour
$79,820 per year
10th percentile
Starting level art therapist earnings begin at:
$29.30 per hour
$60,940 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Art therapist salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| California | $98,170 |
| District of Columbia | $95,640 |
| New Hampshire | $82,280 |
| Nevada | $78,730 |
| Washington | $77,860 |
| Minnesota | $76,360 |
| Colorado | $66,580 |
| Oregon | $66,530 |
| New York | $65,520 |
| Hawaii | $64,500 |
| Maryland | $64,300 |
| Vermont | $63,380 |
| Connecticut | $63,240 |
| Nebraska | $62,980 |
| Massachusetts | $62,820 |
| Arizona | $62,610 |
| Texas | $62,490 |
| Michigan | $61,700 |
| Virginia | $61,270 |
| Ohio | $60,770 |
| New Jersey | $60,400 |
| Wisconsin | $59,350 |
| Kentucky | $59,240 |
| Pennsylvania | $58,940 |
| Missouri | $58,620 |
| North Dakota | $58,370 |
| Florida | $57,980 |
| Maine | $57,560 |
| Alabama | $57,360 |
| Utah | $56,640 |
| Iowa | $56,140 |
| Illinois | $54,910 |
| Indiana | $53,770 |
| Georgia | $52,010 |
| Tennessee | $51,910 |
| Louisiana | $51,150 |
| Delaware | $51,110 |
| Montana | $51,110 |
| North Carolina | $51,030 |
| Oklahoma | $50,480 |
| Idaho | $49,720 |
| New Mexico | $49,210 |
| West Virginia | $49,010 |
| South Carolina | $48,880 |
| Wyoming | $48,170 |
| Rhode Island | $47,870 |
| South Dakota | $46,850 |
| Arkansas | $42,670 |
| Kansas | $40,010 |
| Mississippi | $39,560 |
| Puerto Rico | $28,360 |
How do art therapist salaries compare to similar careers?
Art therapists earn about the same as related careers in California. On average, they make less than sculptors but more than substance abuse social workers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Sculptor salary | $58K |
| Illustrator salary | $58K |
| Chiropractor salary | $75K |
| Film and video editor salary | $88K |
| Registered dietitian salary | $99K |
| Recreational therapist salary | $98K |
| Art therapist salary | $98K |
| Healthcare social worker salary | $90K |
| Insurance sales agent salary | $76K |
| Substance abuse social worker salary | $79K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)