Marriage and Family Therapists
Marriage and Family Therapists (SOC 21-1013) earn a median $66,940 a year ($32.18 an hour) in the United States, with 66,740 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Hawaii.
What marriage and family therapists do
Marriage and family therapists treat mental and emotional disorders by looking at them within the context of couples and family relationships. They apply psychotherapy and family systems theory to work with individuals, couples, and families. Typical tasks include asking questions that help clients identify their feelings and behaviors, encouraging clients and family members to build and use skills and strategies for coping with conflict and change, developing and carrying out individualized treatment plans for family relationship problems, and keeping case files with activities, progress notes, evaluations, and recommendations. Therapists also confer with other counselors, doctors, and professionals to analyze cases and coordinate treatment, and they work with clients on plans for activities after treatment. The occupation excludes psychologists and social workers, who are classified separately, and it differs from mental health counselors, whose work is not centered on family systems, and from school and career counselors, who advise on education and employment. Collecting information about clients through testing, interviewing, and observation, and counseling clients on concerns such as unsatisfactory relationships, divorce and separation, and child rearing, are also part of the work.
Typical entry: According to O*NET, the most commonly reported education level is a master's degree.
Also called: Behavior Specialist, Behavioral Health Clinician, Behavior Intervention Specialist, Behavior Support Specialist, Behavior Technician (Behavior Tech).
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $21.47 | $24.07 | $32.18 | $45.12 | $59.49 | $37.00 | 66,740 |
| Annual | $44,650 | $50,070 | $66,940 | $93,840 | $123,730 | $76,960 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where marriage and family therapists earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Hawaii | Hourly | $23.53 | $28.47 | $68.25 | $80.00 | $80.00 | $61.33 | 220 | 0.35 | 0.81 |
| Annual | $48,950 | $59,220 | $141,960 | $166,400 | $166,400 | $127,570 | ||||
| New Jersey | Hourly | $29.88 | $35.61 | $44.30 | $48.60 | $53.36 | $43.42 | 4,040 | 0.94 | 2.20 |
| Annual | $62,150 | $74,070 | $92,150 | $101,090 | $110,990 | $90,310 | ||||
| Georgia | Hourly | $20.40 | $32.36 | $44.02 | $48.78 | $49.19 | $40.05 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $42,430 | $67,320 | $91,550 | $101,460 | $102,320 | $83,300 | ||||
| Oregon | Hourly | $28.88 | $33.24 | $44.00 | $66.50 | $79.42 | $49.23 | 850 | 0.43 | 1.00 |
| Annual | $60,060 | $69,140 | $91,520 | $138,320 | $165,190 | $102,390 | ||||
| Connecticut | Hourly | $22.84 | $28.36 | $41.47 | $79.20 | $81.13 | $49.94 | 260 | 0.15 | 0.36 |
| Annual | $47,500 | $58,990 | $86,250 | $164,740 | $168,750 | $103,870 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| California | Hourly | $22.28 | $23.89 | $32.35 | $47.33 | $62.66 | $38.19 | 34,970 | 1.92 | 4.47 |
| Annual | $46,350 | $49,680 | $67,300 | $98,450 | $130,340 | $79,440 | ||||
| Minnesota | Hourly | $26.17 | $29.36 | $34.84 | $40.25 | $48.04 | $35.57 | 4,870 | 1.65 | 3.85 |
| Annual | $54,430 | $61,060 | $72,470 | $83,720 | $99,920 | $73,980 | ||||
| New Jersey | Hourly | $29.88 | $35.61 | $44.30 | $48.60 | $53.36 | $43.42 | 4,040 | 0.94 | 2.20 |
| Annual | $62,150 | $74,070 | $92,150 | $101,090 | $110,990 | $90,310 | ||||
| Utah | Hourly | $19.14 | $28.55 | $40.86 | $56.06 | $73.00 | $45.01 | 2,390 | 1.38 | 3.21 |
| Annual | $39,800 | $59,390 | $84,980 | $116,600 | $151,840 | $93,610 | ||||
| Pennsylvania | Hourly | $22.62 | $26.98 | $31.75 | $38.56 | $44.22 | $32.64 | 2,350 | 0.39 | 0.90 |
| Annual | $47,050 | $56,120 | $66,040 | $80,200 | $91,980 | $67,890 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Urban Honolulu, HI | Hourly | $23.53 | $28.47 | $68.25 | $80.00 | $80.00 | $59.65 | 190 | 0.42 | 0.97 |
| Annual | $48,950 | $59,220 | $141,960 | $166,400 | $166,400 | $124,080 | ||||
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | Hourly | $21.74 | $35.94 | $52.50 | $52.50 | $52.50 | $44.11 | 90 | 0.24 | 0.55 |
| Annual | $45,220 | $74,760 | $109,200 | $109,200 | $109,200 | $91,740 | ||||
| Eugene-Springfield, OR | Hourly | $27.85 | $37.68 | $49.48 | $75.00 | $78.75 | $52.46 | 130 | 0.84 | 1.95 |
| Annual | $57,930 | $78,370 | $102,910 | $156,000 | $163,800 | $109,120 | ||||
| St. George, UT | Hourly | $21.68 | $32.95 | $48.80 | $78.38 | $90.03 | $54.52 | 140 | 1.56 | 3.63 |
| Annual | $45,090 | $68,530 | $101,510 | $163,020 | $187,260 | $113,390 | ||||
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | Hourly | $21.86 | $31.96 | $48.78 | $49.19 | $49.21 | $41.45 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $45,470 | $66,470 | $101,460 | $102,320 | $102,350 | $86,220 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $22.62 | $23.97 | $34.19 | $47.33 | $56.74 | $37.14 | 13,200 | 2.11 | 4.91 |
| Annual | $47,050 | $49,860 | $71,110 | $98,450 | $118,020 | $77,240 | ||||
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | Hourly | $20.40 | $23.85 | $23.85 | $35.77 | $52.50 | $31.46 | 5,350 | 3.48 | 8.10 |
| Annual | $42,430 | $49,610 | $49,610 | $74,390 | $109,200 | $65,440 | ||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $28.57 | $32.71 | $43.81 | $48.60 | $53.36 | $41.58 | 2,800 | 0.30 | 0.69 |
| Annual | $59,420 | $68,040 | $91,130 | $101,090 | $110,990 | $86,480 | ||||
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | Hourly | $26.19 | $30.38 | $37.81 | $44.30 | $49.84 | $37.41 | 2,110 | 0.73 | 1.70 |
| Annual | $54,470 | $63,190 | $78,640 | $92,150 | $103,660 | $77,800 | ||||
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | Hourly | $22.67 | $24.60 | $36.07 | $48.95 | $72.19 | $40.54 | 1,380 | 1.28 | 2.98 |
| Annual | $47,150 | $51,170 | $75,030 | $101,810 | $150,150 | $84,310 | ||||
Top industries employing marriage and family therapists
Offices of Other Health Practitioners employ 38.5% of marriage and family therapists nationally (25,720 jobs) at a median $64,430 a year ($30.98 an hour), followed by Individual and Family Services (26.0%) and Outpatient Care Centers (11.6%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Offices of Other Health Practitioners NAICS 621300 | 25,720 | 38.5% | $64,430 | $30.98 |
| Individual and Family Services NAICS 624100 | 17,330 | 26.0% | $61,060 | $29.36 |
| Outpatient Care Centers NAICS 621400 | 7,760 | 11.6% | $75,560 | $36.33 |
| State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999200 | 4,120 | 6.2% | $92,150 | $44.30 |
| Offices of Physicians NAICS 621100 | 3,660 | 5.5% | $66,940 | $32.18 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (66,740). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $49,880 for marriage and family therapists in May 2021 and $66,940 in May 2025, with employment of 54,800 and 66,740.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $49,880 | $23.98 | 54,800 |
| May 2022 | $56,570 | $27.20 | 62,080 |
| May 2023 | $58,510 | $28.13 | 63,340 |
| May 2024 | $63,780 | $30.66 | 65,870 |
| May 2025 | $66,940 | $32.18 | 66,740 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
45 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hawaii profile | $68.25 | $141,960 | $48,950 | $166,400 | 220 | 0.35 | 0.81 |
| 2 | New Jersey profile | $44.30 | $92,150 | $62,150 | $110,990 | 4,040 | 0.94 | 2.20 |
| 3 | Georgia profile | $44.02 | $91,550 | $42,430 | $102,320 | ** | ** | ** |
| 4 | Oregon profile | $44.00 | $91,520 | $60,060 | $165,190 | 850 | 0.43 | 1.00 |
| 5 | Connecticut profile | $41.47 | $86,250 | $47,500 | $168,750 | 260 | 0.15 | 0.36 |
| 6 | Utah profile | $40.86 | $84,980 | $39,800 | $151,840 | 2,390 | 1.38 | 3.21 |
| 7 | Virginia profile | $38.41 | $79,900 | $49,720 | $103,330 | 930 | 0.23 | 0.53 |
| 8 | Delaware profile | $36.82 | $76,580 | $53,730 | $91,140 | 400 | 0.82 | 1.92 |
| 9 | Minnesota profile | $34.84 | $72,470 | $54,430 | $99,920 | 4,870 | 1.65 | 3.85 |
| 10 | Maine profile | $34.46 | $71,680 | $64,990 | $91,350 | 180 | 0.28 | 0.65 |
| 11 | New Mexico profile | $33.96 | $70,630 | $52,680 | $92,210 | 160 | 0.18 | 0.42 |
| 12 | Ohio profile | $33.77 | $70,240 | $41,200 | $157,860 | 460 | 0.08 | 0.19 |
| 13 | Maryland profile | $33.61 | $69,900 | $50,230 | $115,330 | 460 | 0.17 | 0.39 |
| 14 | Kansas profile | $33.03 | $68,710 | $46,930 | $101,750 | 190 | 0.13 | 0.30 |
| 15 | Massachusetts profile | $32.39 | $67,370 | $49,070 | $128,490 | 600 | 0.17 | 0.38 |
| 16 | California profile | $32.35 | $67,300 | $46,350 | $130,340 | 34,970 | 1.92 | 4.47 |
| 17 | Iowa profile | $32.30 | $67,180 | $42,680 | $127,720 | 240 | 0.16 | 0.36 |
| 18 | Pennsylvania profile | $31.75 | $66,040 | $47,050 | $91,980 | 2,350 | 0.39 | 0.90 |
| 19 | Arizona profile | $31.39 | $65,290 | $50,270 | $100,720 | ** | ** | ** |
| 20 | New York profile | $30.98 | $64,430 | $50,380 | $83,050 | 770 | 0.08 | 0.18 |
| 21 | Arkansas profile | $30.93 | $64,340 | $47,520 | $90,900 | 80 | 0.06 | 0.15 |
| 22 | Vermont profile | $30.19 | $62,780 | $41,460 | $90,110 | ** | ** | ** |
| 23 | Idaho profile | $30.15 | $62,700 | $59,330 | $74,680 | 140 | 0.16 | 0.38 |
| 24 | Nebraska profile | $30.10 | $62,610 | $38,490 | $95,590 | 260 | 0.25 | 0.58 |
| 25 | Illinois profile | $29.31 | $60,970 | $51,420 | $104,900 | 860 | 0.14 | 0.33 |
| 26 | Colorado profile | $29.18 | $60,700 | $47,030 | $128,400 | 900 | 0.31 | 0.73 |
| 27 | Missouri profile | $29.06 | $60,440 | $41,930 | $109,200 | 390 | 0.13 | 0.31 |
| 28 | New Hampshire profile | $28.86 | $60,030 | $48,200 | $82,490 | 70 | 0.10 | 0.24 |
| 29 | Alaska profile | $28.85 | $60,010 | $46,680 | $113,710 | 60 | 0.20 | 0.45 |
| 30 | Washington profile | $28.84 | $60,000 | $55,690 | $103,740 | ** | ** | ** |
| 31 | Oklahoma profile | $27.73 | $57,670 | $28,540 | $94,140 | ** | ** | ** |
| 32 | Indiana profile | $27.31 | $56,810 | $46,730 | $82,430 | 510 | 0.16 | 0.37 |
| 33 | Florida profile | $27.12 | $56,400 | $39,460 | $102,280 | 930 | 0.09 | 0.22 |
| 34 | West Virginia profile | $26.78 | $55,700 | $31,760 | $115,950 | 90 | 0.13 | 0.31 |
| 35 | South Carolina profile | $26.65 | $55,430 | $44,280 | $91,220 | 380 | 0.17 | 0.39 |
| 36 | Kentucky profile | $25.20 | $52,420 | $41,180 | $74,690 | 330 | 0.17 | 0.39 |
| 37 | Michigan profile | $25.13 | $52,270 | $39,110 | $78,740 | 590 | 0.13 | 0.31 |
| 38 | Mississippi profile | $24.73 | $51,440 | $47,790 | $59,690 | 140 | 0.12 | 0.28 |
| 39 | Alabama profile | $24.03 | $49,990 | $40,250 | $75,100 | 190 | 0.09 | 0.21 |
| 40 | North Carolina profile | $23.13 | $48,100 | $27,860 | $109,200 | 1,400 | 0.28 | 0.66 |
| 41 | Montana profile | $22.58 | $46,960 | $32,170 | $75,310 | 100 | 0.19 | 0.44 |
| 42 | Tennessee profile | $22.45 | $46,700 | $34,690 | $63,540 | 1,440 | 0.44 | 1.02 |
| 43 | Texas profile | $22.26 | $46,300 | $36,700 | $93,500 | 1,380 | 0.10 | 0.23 |
| 44 | South Dakota profile | $21.57 | $44,870 | $37,060 | $53,420 | 80 | 0.18 | 0.42 |
| 45 | Wisconsin profile | $18.21 | $37,870 | $34,980 | $69,570 | 180 | 0.06 | 0.14 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (21-1010), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Community and Social Service Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 21-1013 Marriage and Family Therapists.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 21-1013, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 21-1013.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.