### Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Marriage and Family Therapists Summary
                        
            
                                                        
                                                                
                        
            
            
            
                            
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
            						
							
				                                                
                                            




            			mental health counselors and marriage and family therapists imageMarriage and family therapists help people manage problems with their family and relationships.							
						Quick Facts:     Marriage and Family Therapists2023     Median Pay
            						$58,510     per year
										$28.13     per hourTypical Entry-Level Education
                                    Master's degreeWork Experience in a Related Occupation
                                    NoneOn-the-job Training
                                    Internship/residencyNumber of Jobs, 2022
                                    71,200Job Outlook, 2022-32
                                    15% (Much faster than average)Employment Change, 2022-32
                                    10,600What Marriage and Family Therapists Do
                                                
                        
                        
Marriage and family therapists diagnose and treat cognitive, behavioral, or similar disorders in the context of couples and other relationships.
            
                        Work Environment
                        
Marriage and family therapists work in a variety of settings, such as offices and mental health centers. Most work full time, but part-time work is common. Some therapists work evenings and weekends.
            
                                                How to Become a Marriage and Family Therapist
                                                
                        
Marriage and family therapists typically need a master’s degree to enter the occupation. Every state requires therapists to be licensed.
            
                        Pay
                        												                            																				    														The median annual wage for marriage and family therapists was $58,510 in May 2023.									                                					
						
            
                        Job Outlook
                        						
												Employment							of marriage and family therapists is projected to grow							 15 percent from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations.
						About 5,900 openings for marriage and family therapists are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
            			
            			 Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
						State & Area Data
                       Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for marriage and family therapists.
            
            
						
                        Similar Occupations
                        
                                                    Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of marriage and family therapists with similar occupations.
            
            
                        More Information, Including Links to O*NET
                        
                                               
                        Learn more about marriage and family therapists by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
 What Marriage and Family Therapists Do 
            

			Mental health counselors and marriage and family therapistsMarriage and family therapists encourage clients to discuss their emotions and experiences.			
Marriage and family therapists diagnose and treat cognitive, behavioral, or similar disorders in the context of couples and other relationships.
Duties
Marriage and family therapists typically do the following:
Assess clients to identify their emotional, behavioral, and psychological needs
Ask questions that encourage clients to discuss their emotions and experiences
Help clients process their reactions and adjust to difficult changes that relate to marriage and family dynamics, such as divorce
Create a treatment plan that helps clients develop coping strategies and decision-making skills
Refer clients to other specialists, resources, or services in the community
Complete and maintain confidential files and recordsMarriage and family therapists work with individuals, couples, and families. Even when treating individuals, therapists focus on family systems. They evaluate family relationships and development to understand how these affect clients’ mental health. Treatment often involves addressing issues, such as low self-esteem and addiction, that impact clients’ relationships.
Marriage and family therapists assess each client’s situation and determine the best type, or types, of technique for treatment. They use a variety of techniques and tools to treat clients. For example, a therapist may apply cognitive behavioral therapy to help the client understand harmful thoughts, feelings, and beliefs and how to replace them with positive ones.
Therapists also have administrative duties, including maintaining records to document client visits. Those working in private practice must market their business to prospective clients, and they may need to follow up with insurance companies and clients to get payment for their services.
Marriage and family therapists coordinate client treatment with other specialists, such as psychologists, psychiatrists, and social workers.
 Work Environment
			Mental health counselors and marriage and family therapistsMany marriage and family therapists work in private practice.			

	    
				
	
	
	
	
	
	
	    					 Marriage and family therapists held about 71,200 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of marriage and family therapists were as follows:
        Individual and family services
                29%Offices of other health practitioners
                28Outpatient care centers
                13Self-employed workers
                11State government, excluding education and hospitals
                6Marriage and family therapists work in a variety of settings. In addition to those shown in the table, which include mental health centers and substance abuse treatment centers, their work settings include schools and hospitals.
Some marriage and family therapists offer telehealth options, in which they meet with clients by phone, video, or other virtual method.
Work Schedules
Most marriage and family therapists work full time, but part-time work is common. Some therapists work evenings and weekends to accommodate their clients’ schedules.
 How to Become a Marriage and Family Therapist

			Mental health counselors and marriage and family therapistsMaster's programs in marriage and family therapy prepare students to provide counseling to couples, individuals, and groups.			
Marriage and family therapists typically need a master’s degree to enter the occupation. Every state requires therapists to be licensed.
Education
To enter the occupation, marriage and family therapists need a master’s degree in psychology, marriage and family therapy, or a related mental health field from an accredited school. Organizations that accredit these programs include the Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP), the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE), and the Masters in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council (MPCAC).
Admissions requirements vary by program. Applicants may need to have completed specific coursework, such as counseling and statistics, or to have a bachelor’s degree in psychology or a related field.
Marriage and family therapy programs teach students about how marriages, families, and relationships function and how these relationships can affect mental and emotional health. Programs typically include a supervised practicum or internship where students gain experience working with clients.
Training
Candidates gain hands-on experience through postdegree supervised clinical work. During this training, they work under the supervision of a licensed counselor and learn to provide family therapy, group therapy, psychotherapy, and other therapeutic interventions directly to clients.
Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations
All states require marriage and family therapists to be licensed. Licensure requires a master’s degree and completion of a state-specified number of hours of postdegree supervised clinical experience. In addition, therapists must pass a state-recognized exam, such as that administered by the Association of Marital and Family Therapy Regulatory Boards, and complete annual continuing education classes. Some states require passage of a jurisprudence exam.
Important Qualities
***Communication skills.***Marriage and family therapists need to effectively convey ideas and listen to clients. Because they instruct clients on improving communication, it is important that they model effective communication themselves.
***Compassion.*** Marriage and family therapists often work with people who are dealing with stressful and difficult situations, so they must be able to empathize with their clients.
***Interpersonal skills.*** Marriage and family therapists must be able to work effectively with different types of people. They need to develop a rapport when working with clients to help them feel comfortable.
***Organizational skills.*** Marriage and family therapists need to maintain records of client interactions. Therapists in private practice also must keep track of payments and work with insurance companies.
 Pay

			



	
 
                                                     
            
    
                Marriage and Family TherapistsMedian annual wages, May 2023Marriage and family therapists$58,510  Counselors, social workers, and other community and social service specialists$51,970  Total, all occupations$48,060Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
 

	
	



		
	
	
	
The median annual wage for marriage and family therapists was $58,510 in May 2023. 


The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $39,090, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $104,710.





		
	    					 In May 2023, the median annual wages for marriage and family therapists in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:	
        State government, excluding education and hospitals
                $86,030Outpatient care centers
                61,390Individual and family services
                50,700Offices of other health practitioners
                49,190Most marriage and family therapists work full time, but part-time work is common. Some therapists work evenings and weekends to accommodate their clients’ schedules.
 Job Outlook

   
        
    
          
        
    
                Marriage and Family TherapistsPercent change in employment, projected 2022-32Marriage and family therapists15%  Counselors, social workers, and other community and social service specialists9%  Total, all occupations3%Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program
            
            
			 
	
	
	

			Employment				of marriage and family therapists is projected to grow				 15 percent from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations.
			
			About 5,900 openings for marriage and family therapists are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
			
			 Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
			Employment
	
			
Growth is expected due to the increasing use of integrated care, which is a treatment of multiple problems at one time by a group of specialists. In providing integrated care, marriage and family therapists are working with counselors such as substance abuse, behavior disorder, and mental health counselors to address clients' issues as a team.
			

                        Employment projections data for     marriage and family therapists, 2022-32
                Occupational Title
                        SOC Code
                        Employment, 2022
                        Projected Employment, 2032
                        Change, 2022-32
                        Employment by IndustryPercent
                        NumericSOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program**Marriage and family therapists**
			21-1013
			71,200
			81,800
			15
			10,600
			Get data
 State & Area Data **Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)** The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link(s) below go to OES data maps for employment and wages by state and area. Marriage and family therapists **Projections Central** Occupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. All state projections data are available at www.projectionscentral.com. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. In addition, states may produce projections for areas; there are links to each state’s websites where these data may be retrieved. **CareerOneStop** CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. There is also a salary info tool to search for wages by zip code.
 Similar Occupations This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of marriage and family therapists. Occupation
                Job Duties
                ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION
                2023     MEDIAN PAY**Physicians and Surgeons**
            Physicians and surgeons diagnose and treat injuries or illnesses and address health maintenance.
            Doctoral or professional degree
            This wage is equal to or greater than $239,200 per year.**Psychologists**
            Psychologists study cognitive, emotional, and social processes and behavior by observing, interpreting, and recording how people relate to one another and to their environments.
            See How to Become One
            $92,740**Rehabilitation Counselors**
            Rehabilitation counselors help people with physical, mental, developmental, or emotional disabilities live independently.
            Master's degree
            $44,040**School and Career Counselors and Advisors**
            School counselors help students develop academic and social skills. Career counselors and advisors help people choose a path to employment.
            Master's degree
            $61,710**Social and Community Service Managers**
            Social and community service managers coordinate and supervise programs and organizations that support public well-being.
            Bachelor's degree
            $77,030**Social and Human Service Assistants**
            Social and human service assistants provide client services in a variety of fields, such as psychology, rehabilitation, and social work.
            High school diploma or equivalent
            $41,410**Social Workers**
            Social workers help people prevent and cope with problems in their everyday lives.
            See How to Become One
            $58,380**Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors**
            Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors advise people on a range of issues, such as those relating to alcoholism, addictions, or depression.
            Bachelor's degree
            $53,710**Health Education Specialists**
            Health education specialists develop programs to teach people about conditions affecting well-being.
            Bachelor's degree
            $62,860**Genetic Counselors**
            Genetic counselors assess clients' risk for a variety of inherited conditions, such as birth defects.
            Master's degree
            $95,770
 Contacts for More Information
								
For more information about accredited programs, visit
Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education
Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs
Masters in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council
For more information about marriage and family therapists, visit
American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy
Association of Marital and Family Therapy Regulatory Boards
For general information about counseling and for information about counseling specialties, visit
American Counseling Association
For information about contacting state regulating boards, visit
National Board for Certified Counselors

                                                
                                                        
                                                                                                    O*NET
                                        Marriage and Family Therapists
 Suggested citation: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.  Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Marriage and Family Therapists, 
        	 at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/marriage-and-family-therapists.htm (visited *May 21, 2024*).
 **Last Modified Date:**
                        Wednesday, April 17, 2024


**U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics**
Office of Occupational Statistics and Employment Projections 
PSB Suite 2135 
2 Massachusetts Avenue NE  
Washington, DC 20212-0001 Telephone:1-202-691-5700 

www.bls.gov/ooh
Contact OOH