A licensed mental health clinician who treats children using play, toys, and art as the main language of therapy. BLS does not publish separate figures for mental health counselors; it counts them within mental health counselor (SOC 21-1014), whose median pay is $60,320 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Typical entry-level education: Master's degree.
- SOC 21-1014
- Community and Social Service
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Play Therapist in four numbers
- Median pay
- $60,320a year, or $29.00/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $39KTop 10% $101K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +10.9%Much faster than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+10.9%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +10.9% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 97,7001,145,900 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 20251.1M
- Projected 20351.3M
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 1.1M Projected 2035 1.3M - Typical education
- Master'sneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Master's89.3%
- Post-master’s certificate7.1%
- Professional degree3.6%
Highest education held by mental health counselors Segment Value Master's 89.3% Post-master’s certificate 7.1% Professional degree 3.6%
Also advertised as: Registered Play Therapist, RPT, Child Play Therapist, Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor, Child and Family Therapist.
Pay
How much do Mental Health Counselors make?
Every play therapist in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$60,320
Middle half earn $47,560 to $78,260
- 10th
- $39,250
- 25th
- $47,560
- 75th
- $78,260
- 90th
- $100,900
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $39,250 |
| 25th | $47,560 |
| Median | $60,320 |
| 75th | $78,260 |
| 90th | $100,900 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $60,320
- Median hourly wage
- $29.00/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $66,300
- People employed
- 1,035,300
Versus all US occupations
At $60,320, Mental Health Counselors earn 18% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $9,340 a year.
Versus community and social service occupations
The median is typical for the Community and Social Service group, where the middle occupation pays $60,300.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $100,900 or more while the bottom 10% earn $39,250, a gap of 2.6×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 33% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Job outlook
Is Play Therapist a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Much faster than average. +10.9% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Mental Health Counselors | +10.9% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Much faster than average
BLS projects employment of Mental Health Counselors to change 10.9% over 2025–2035, roughly 3.1× the 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 124,800 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 97,700 openings are projected each year, 8.5% of the 1,145,900 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become a Play Therapist
Play therapists first earn a master's or doctoral degree in a mental health field and a state license to practice independently, such as LPC, LCSW, or LMFT. The Association for Play Therapy (APT) then awards the Registered Play Therapist (RPT) credential to licensed clinicians who complete play therapy-specific graduate or continuing education, supervised play therapy experience, and supervision from an approved RPT-Supervisor.
Many clinicians build these hours while working in community mental health or school settings, and universities with APT-approved centers offer coursework. Training in methods such as Child-Centered Play Therapy or sandtray therapy is common.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Master's degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
N/A
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
N/A
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Considerable preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as mental health counselors.
- Master's Degree89.3%
- Post-Master's Certificate7.1%
- First Professional Degree3.6%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | 89.3% |
| Post-Master's Certificate | 7.1% |
| First Professional Degree | 3.6% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Play Therapist do?
Play therapists are licensed counselors, social workers, family therapists, or psychologists who specialize in treating children, most often between about three and twelve years old. Because young children express feelings through play more easily than through talk, sessions take place in a playroom stocked with figures, sand trays, art supplies, dolls, and games chosen for therapeutic purposes.
The therapist observes and responds to the child's play to help them process trauma, grief, anxiety, divorce, or behavior problems. They assess the child, set goals, choose between child-centered and directive approaches, and meet regularly with parents to teach skills that carry the work home. They also coordinate with schools, pediatricians, and child welfare workers.
Day-to-day tasks
- Conduct intake assessments with children and their caregivers
- Lead play therapy sessions using toys, sand trays, art, and games
- Observe and interpret themes in a child's play to guide treatment
- Develop treatment plans for trauma, anxiety, grief, and behavior concerns
- Coach parents in filial therapy and home strategies
- Coordinate with teachers, pediatricians, and caseworkers
- Maintain playroom materials chosen for therapeutic use
- Write progress notes and reports for records and insurers
Typical tasks, researched by NueCareer from the sources below.
Working conditions and hours
Play therapists work in private practice, community mental health agencies, schools, hospitals, child advocacy centers, and foster care agencies. Sessions happen in equipped playrooms, which means being on the floor, moving, and cleaning up materials. After-school hours are busy, so many schedules include late afternoons and evenings.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayIndoors, in a climate-controlled space, every day.
Outdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayAlmost never works outdoors.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeSeated for more than half the working day.
Standing
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantConstant contact with other people.
Face-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayHandling conflict situations at least monthly.
Cost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Active Listening5.0
- Speaking4.3
- Reading Comprehension4.1
- Writing4.1
- Critical Thinking4.0
- Active Learning3.8
- Monitoring3.8
- Learning Strategies3.1
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Active Listening | 5.0 |
| Speaking | 4.3 |
| Reading Comprehension | 4.1 |
| Writing | 4.1 |
| Critical Thinking | 4.0 |
| Active Learning | 3.8 |
| Monitoring | 3.8 |
| Learning Strategies | 3.1 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Social Perceptiveness5.0
- Judgment and Decision Making4.0
- Service Orientation3.9
- Complex Problem Solving3.8
- Persuasion3.6
- Coordination3.0
- Negotiation3.0
- Instructing3.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Social Perceptiveness | 5.0 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 4.0 |
| Service Orientation | 3.9 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.8 |
| Persuasion | 3.6 |
| Coordination | 3.0 |
| Negotiation | 3.0 |
| Instructing | 3.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Analytical or scientific software
- Calendar and scheduling software
- Internet browser software
- Medical software
- Project management software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Play Therapist?
NueCareer estimate (Holland code SAI) built on O*NET's Mental Health Counselor profile, scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Play Therapist |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 1 |
| Investigative | 5 |
| Artistic | 4 |
| Social | 7 |
| Enterprising | 3 |
| Conventional | 3 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around teaching, helping and working directly with other people, combined with investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data.
- Social6.8
- Investigative4.8
- Artistic4.0
- Conventional3.4
- Enterprising3.0
- Realistic1.3
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Play Therapist
O*NET related occupations
- Community and Social Service
Mental Health Counselor
$60,320median a year
Most earn $39K to $101K
+10.9%Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed - Community and Social Service
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Worker
$60,280median a year
Most earn $40K to $104K
+10.3%Master's - Community and Social Service
- Community and Social Service
- Life, Physical, and Social Science
- Community and Social Service
More community and social service careers
Median annual pay, with mental health counselors highlighted
- Healthcare Social Worker$67,880
- Marriage and Family Therapist$66,940
- Probation Officer and Correctional Treatment Specialist$66,270
- Health Education Specialist$64,070
- Play Therapist$60,320
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Worker$60,280
- Community Health Worker$51,850
- Rehabilitation Counselor$46,850
- Social and Human Service Assistant$45,930
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Healthcare Social Worker | $67,880 |
| Marriage and Family Therapist | $66,940 |
| Probation Officer and Correctional Treatment Specialist | $66,270 |
| Health Education Specialist | $64,070 |
| Play Therapist | $60,320 |
| Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Worker | $60,280 |
| Community Health Worker | $51,850 |
| Rehabilitation Counselor | $46,850 |
| Social and Human Service Assistant | $45,930 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Play Therapist appears on
Questions
Play Therapist: frequently asked questions
How much do Mental Health Counselors make?
BLS does not publish a separate wage for mental health counselors. It counts them within mental health counselor, whose median pay is $60,320 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of that occupation earn between $47,560 and $78,260, and the top 10% earn $100,900 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Play Therapist?
Yes. BLS reports a master's degree as the typical entry-level education for Mental Health Counselors, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as considerable preparation. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 89.3% hold master's degree.
Is Play Therapist a growing career?
Yes, strongly. Employment is projected to grow 10.9% over 2025–2035, more than double the 3.5% projected for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 97,700 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Play Therapist do?
Play therapists are licensed counselors, social workers, family therapists, or psychologists who specialize in treating children, most often between about three and twelve years old. A typical task: conduct intake assessments with children and their caregivers. Employers most often ask for Data base user interface and query software, Electronic mail software, Enterprise resource planning ERP software.
What personality type suits a Play Therapist?
O*NET scores Mental Health Counselors highest on the Social, Investigative and Artistic interest areas, so the work mixes teaching, helping and working directly with other people with investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are ENFJ, ENFP, INFJ. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.