Marriage and Family Therapist
Salary, job outlook, education and requirements
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.
Also called: 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-SOC 21-1013.00 (Marriage and Family Therapists)
Marriage and Family Therapist salary
Wages for marriage and family therapists across all employers, 2025 data. The 10th percentile is typical entry-level pay; the 90th percentile reflects the most experienced and highest-paid workers.
National median hourly wage: $32.18.
Marriage and Family Therapist pay by state
Ten largest states by population, annual wages.
| State | 10th percentile | Median | 90th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $46,350 | $67,300 | $130,340 |
| Texas | $36,700 | $46,300 | $93,500 |
| Florida | $39,460 | $56,400 | $102,280 |
| New York | $50,380 | $64,430 | $83,050 |
| Pennsylvania | $47,050 | $66,040 | $91,980 |
| Illinois | $51,420 | $60,970 | $104,900 |
| Ohio | $41,200 | $70,240 | $157,860 |
| Georgia | $42,430 | $91,550 | $102,320 |
| North Carolina | $27,860 | $48,100 | $109,200 |
| Michigan | $39,110 | $52,270 | $78,740 |
Marriage and Family Therapist job outlook
- Employment is projected to go from 76,300 jobs in 2025 to 86,600 in 2035 (14% change).
- About 6,900 openings are projected each year, including jobs that open up as workers retire or change occupations.
- CareerOneStop outlook rating: Bright (Rapid Growth).
How to become a marriage and family therapist
- Typical entry education
- Master's degree
- Work experience
- No work experience
- On-the-job training
- Internship/residency
Education level of current workers
- Less than high school diploma2%
- High school diploma or equivalent2.7%
- Some college, no degree2.8%
- Associate's degree1%
- Bachelor's degree16.3%
- Master's degree68.8%
- Doctoral or professional degree6.4%
Related training programs
- Clinical Pastoral Counseling/Patient Counseling
- Infant/Toddler Mental Health Services
- Marriage and Family Therapy/Counseling
- Medical Family Therapy/Therapist
- Social Work
What does a marriage and family therapist do?
Common tasks
- 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.
- Diagnose mental and emotional disorders in clients.
- Confer with clients to develop plans for posttreatment activities.
Most important skills
- Active Listening
- Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
- Social Perceptiveness
- Understanding people's reactions.
- Speaking
- Talking to others.
- Service Orientation
- Looking for ways to help people.
- Reading Comprehension
- Reading work-related information.
- Complex Problem Solving
- Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one.
- Critical Thinking
- Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
Marriage and Family Therapist certifications
The certifications CareerOneStop maps to this occupation. Requirements vary by employer and state.
- Association of Marital & Family Therapy Regulatory Boards · Specialty
- Association of Marital & Family Therapy Regulatory Boards · Advanced
- Progressive Behavior Analyst Autism Council · Advanced
Marriage and Family Therapist jobs
Current federal openings from USAJOBS. For more psychology jobs, including private-sector listings, see the Psychology jobs hub.
Job data from USAJOBS.gov. Careers.org is not affiliated with or endorsed by OPM.
Related careers
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker
- Mental Health Counselors
- Child and Family Social Worker
- Clinical Psychologist
- Social Worker
- Rehabilitation Counselors
- Social and Human Service Assistants
- Substance Abuse Counselor
- Recreational Therapists
- School Psychologist
More psychology careers
This page includes information from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (DOLETA), and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).
Source: CareerOneStop occupation profile for Marriage and Family Therapists. Wages are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program; projections are national long-term projections.