Marriage and Family Therapists
SOC code 21-1013 · O*NET-SOC 21-1013.00 · Extensive preparation needed
Bright Outlook — O*NET expects rapid growth for this occupation
Marriage and Family Therapists pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$66,940
a year
Hourly
$32.18
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$76,960
$37.00 per hour
Middle 50%
$50,070 – $93,840
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$44,650 – $123,730
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
66,740
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
- 10th percentile
- $44,650
- $21.47/hr
- 25th percentile
- $50,070
- $24.07/hr
- Median percentile
- $66,940
- $32.18/hr
- 75th percentile
- $93,840
- $45.12/hr
- 90th percentile
- $123,730
- $59.49/hr
Job outlook · federal projection 2024–34
+13%
Growing much faster than average
77,800
jobs in 2024
87,700
projected for 2034
About 9,900 more jobs
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics employment projections, 2024–34. Projections describe the broader occupation group and are estimates, not guarantees.
What do marriage and family therapists do?
Diagnose and treat mental and emotional disorders, whether cognitive, affective, or behavioral, within the context of marriage and family systems. Apply psychotherapeutic and family systems theories and techniques in the delivery of services to individuals, couples, and families for the purpose of treating such diagnosed nervous and mental disorders.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- Ask questions that will help clients identify their feelings and behaviors.
- Encourage individuals and family members to develop and use skills and strategies for confronting their problems in a constructive manner.
- Develop and implement individualized treatment plans addressing family relationship problems, destructive patterns of behavior, and other personal issues.
- Maintain case files that include activities, progress notes, evaluations, and recommendations.
- Counsel clients on concerns, such as unsatisfactory relationships, divorce and separation, child rearing, home management, or financial difficulties.
- Determine whether clients should be counseled or referred to other specialists in such fields as medicine, psychiatry, or legal aid.
- Supervise other counselors, social service staff, and assistants.
- Confer with other counselors, doctors, and professionals to analyze individual cases and to coordinate counseling services.
How to qualify for this work
Preparation level: zone 5 — Extensive preparation needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
- Experience
- Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
- Training
- Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
The federal survey did not capture education levels for this specific occupation, so the preparation-level card above is the best guide to the entry route.
Common questions
How much does a marriage and family therapists earn?
The national median is $66,940 a year. The full range runs from $44,650 at the 10th percentile to $123,730 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.
Can you become a marriage and family therapists without a degree?
Not usually — this occupation sits in preparation zone 5, where the typical entry route is most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree). The education breakdown above shows what people in the role actually reported.
Is marriage and family therapists in demand?
Federal projections expect employment to grow by about 13% between 2024 and 2034 — growing much faster than average. Openings also come from people retiring or changing jobs, which the growth figure does not count.
Skills and knowledge you need
Core skills
- Active Listening4.8/5
- Speaking4.3/5
- Reading Comprehension4.0/5
- Writing3.9/5
- Critical Thinking3.9/5
- Active Learning3.9/5
Knowledge areas
- Therapy and Counseling4.9/5
- Psychology4.8/5
- Sociology and Anthropology4.1/5
- Customer and Personal Service3.9/5
- English Language3.9/5
- Education and Training3.5/5
- Administrative3.1/5
- Philosophy and Theology2.9/5
Transferable strengths: Social Perceptiveness, Service Orientation, Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making.