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Marriage and family therapist: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 29, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$66,940median pay per year, or $32.18 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $44,650lowest 10% earn less
  2. $50,07025th percentile
  3. $66,940median
  4. $93,84075th percentile
  5. $123,730top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[5]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[2]

The median marriage and family therapist earned $66,940 a year in May 2025, compared with $50,980 for all occupations[1][2]. Jobs are projected to grow 13.5% from 2025 to 2035, against 3.5% for all occupations[3][4].

Job growth, 2025–35
+13.5%[3]
Openings per year
6,900[6]
Typical entry education
Master's degree[7]

How much do marriage and family therapists make?

The median wage for marriage and family therapists was $66,940 a year, or $32.18 an hour[1]. Half earned more and half earned less. The average was $76,960 a year, or $37.00 an hour[8]. The median for all occupations was $50,980[2].

The range is wide. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $44,650 a year, and the lowest-paid 25% earned less than $50,070[5]. The highest-paid 25% earned more than $93,840, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $123,730[5]. By the hour, the 10th percentile was $21.47 and the 90th was $59.49[9].

BLS does not publish a starting salary. Percentile wages are boundaries within the pay range[10]. The figures count wage and salary jobs only. They leave out the self-employed, bonuses and the cost of benefits[11]. About 66,740 people held these jobs in May 2025[12]. In the 2025 projections, 10.9% of marriage and family therapists were self-employed[13].

Pay by state and city

Hawaii had the highest state median, at $141,960 a year, but only 220 jobs[14]. New Jersey followed at $92,150 with 4,040 jobs, then Georgia at $91,550 and Oregon at $91,520[14]. Wisconsin had the lowest median on the list, at $37,870[14].

California has by far the most jobs, at 34,970[15]. Minnesota (4,870), New Jersey (4,040), Utah (2,390) and Pennsylvania (2,350) come next[15].

Among the metro areas BLS ranks for pay, Urban Honolulu, HI had the highest median at $141,960[16], followed by Eugene-Springfield, OR at $102,910 and St. George, UT at $101,510[16]. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA had the most jobs, at 13,200, with a median of $71,110[17]. San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA was second with 5,350 jobs and a median of $49,610[17].

Show median pay in 45 states
StateMedian per yearJobs
Hawaii[14]$141,960220
New Jersey$92,1504,040
Georgia$91,550n/a
Oregon$91,520850
Connecticut$86,250260
Utah$84,9802,390
Virginia$79,900930
Delaware$76,580400
Minnesota$72,4704,870
Maine$71,680180
New Mexico$70,630160
Ohio$70,240460
Maryland$69,900460
Kansas$68,710190
Massachusetts$67,370600
California$67,30034,970
Iowa$67,180240
Pennsylvania$66,0402,350
Arizona$65,290n/a
New York$64,430770
Arkansas$64,34080
Vermont$62,780n/a
Idaho$62,700140
Nebraska$62,610260
Illinois$60,970860
Colorado$60,700900
Missouri$60,440390
New Hampshire$60,03070
Alaska$60,01060
Washington$60,000n/a
Oklahoma$57,670n/a
Indiana$56,810510
Florida$56,400930
West Virginia$55,70090
South Carolina$55,430380
Kentucky$52,420330
Michigan$52,270590
Mississippi$51,440140
Alabama$49,990190
North Carolina$48,1001,400
Montana$46,960100
Tennessee$46,7001,440
Texas$46,3001,380
South Dakota$44,87080
Wisconsin$37,870180

How to become a marriage and family therapist

BLS lists a master's degree as the typical education for entry[7]. Every state requires these therapists to be licensed[18].

BLS lists no work experience requirement before entry and internship or residency as the typical training[7]. The facts here do not give the number of hours or the length of training. State licensing board details are available from CareerOneStop[23].

What marriage and family therapists do

These therapists diagnose and treat mental and emotional disorders in the context of marriage and family systems. They work with individuals, couples and families[24]. O*NET lists these tasks among the most important[25]:

Workers reported titles such as couple and family therapist, family therapist and marriage and family counselor[26].

Where they work

Therapists work in many settings, including mental health centers, substance abuse treatment centers, schools and hospitals[27]. The largest employer group in 2025 was offices of other health practitioners, at 33% of jobs[28]. Some therapists meet clients by phone, video or other virtual methods[29].

BLS says most therapists work full time, though part-time work is common[30]. Some work evenings and weekends to fit their clients' schedules[30]. Therapists in private practice also track payments and deal with insurance companies[31].

Job outlook

BLS projects that employment will grow 13.5% from 2025 to 2035, from about 76,300 to 86,600 jobs, a gain of 10,300[3]. Employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5%[4]. These counts include self-employed workers[3].

BLS projects about 6,900 openings a year on average[6]. Openings include jobs left by people who retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs[6]. Each year, 3.7% of therapists are projected to leave the labor force and 3.6% to move to a different occupation[32].

Is it a good fit?

The pay is above the all-occupations median, and jobs are projected to grow faster than average[1][2][3][4]. The path is long, with a master's degree, supervised clinical work and a state license[7][23]. The work often involves clients in stressful situations, so empathy and listening matter[33][34]. The facts here do not say how many years the path takes.

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[35].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a marriage and family therapist make an hour?
The median hourly wage was $32.18 in May 2025[1]. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $21.47 and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $59.49[9].
What degree do you need to be a marriage and family therapist?
BLS lists a master's degree as the typical entry education[7]. It should be in psychology, marriage and family therapy, or a related mental health field[19].
Do marriage and family therapists need a license?
Yes. All states require a license, which needs a master's degree, supervised clinical experience and a state-recognized exam[23].
Is marriage and family therapy in demand?
Employment is projected to grow 13.5% from 2025 to 2035, while all occupations grow 3.5%[3][4]. About 6,900 openings a year are projected[6].
What is the highest paying state for marriage and family therapists?
Hawaii, at a median of $141,960 a year, though it has only 220 jobs[14].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Marriage and Family Therapists in the US was $66,940 per year and $32.18 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Marriage and Family Therapists is projected to grow 13.5% from 2025 to 2035, from about 76,300 to 86,600 jobs (a change of +10,300). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Marriage and Family Therapists: 10th percentile $44,650, 25th percentile $50,070, 75th percentile $93,840, 90th percentile $123,730. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. BLS Employment Projections: about 6,900 openings for Marriage and Family Therapists are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Marriage and Family Therapists: education needed for entry: Master's degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Internship/residency. BLS Employment Projections
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Marriage and Family Therapists was $76,960 per year and $37.00 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Marriage and Family Therapists: 10th percentile $21.47, 25th percentile $24.07, 75th percentile $45.12, 90th percentile $59.49. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 66,740 people were employed as Marriage and Family Therapists in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS Employment Projections: 10.9% of Marriage and Family Therapists were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  14. Median annual wage for Marriage and Family Therapists in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Marriage and Family Therapists jobs: California 34,970; Minnesota 4,870; New Jersey 4,040; Utah 2,390; Pennsylvania 2,350. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Marriage and Family Therapists (areas with at least 100 jobs): Urban Honolulu, HI $141,960; Eugene-Springfield, OR $102,910; St. George, UT $101,510; Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $95,460; San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $95,110; Vallejo, CA $93,810; Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ $92,150; Trenton-Princeton, NJ $92,150. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  17. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Marriage and Family Therapists jobs: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 13,200 (median $71,110); San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA 5,350 (median $49,610); New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 2,800 (median $91,130); Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 2,110 (median $78,640); Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA 1,380 (median $75,030); San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA 1,180 (median $95,110). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  24. O*NET description of Marriage and Family Therapists. O*NET OnLine
  25. O*NET task list for Marriage and Family Therapists. O*NET OnLine
  26. O*NET 21-1013.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Clinical Therapist, Couple and Family Therapist, Family Specialist, Family Therapist, LCMFT (Licensed Clinical Marriage and Family Therapist), LMFT (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist), Marriage and Family Counselor, Multisystemic Therapist. O*NET OnLine
  27. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of marriage and family therapists in 2025: Offices of other health practitioners 33%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  32. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Marriage and Family Therapists: 3.7% of workers leave the labor force each year and 3.6% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  33. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  34. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  35. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.