Salary Outlook for Family Psychologists
The psychology field is growing rapidly in the US today as more Americans want to live happier lives as they age. Because people are living longer and have better access to advanced medical technology, they want to enjoy their lives more by being both mentally and physically healthy. This higher demand for psychologists has caused a steady increase in salaries and job openings.
While job demand for specific types of psychologists will vary by specialty, we can expect there will be more need for family, counseling, and clinical psychologists for years to come.
To become a family psychologist, it is necessary to obtain at least your master’s in psychology, and a doctorate in psychology is necessary to work in private practice. You also need to have 2,000 to 4,000 hours of supervised clinical work experience after earning your degree, followed by a licensing examination.
Before you embark on such a long educational journey, learn more about the salary you can earn as a family psychologist. Below is more information.
Family Psychologist Salary Information
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports the median salary for psychologists is $92,740, with the lowest 10% earning $52,430 or less, and the top 10% making $151,880 or more. Professionals with their doctorate and many years of experience can look towards this higher figure for reference.
The BLS tracks detailed salary information for several classes of psychologists, listed here with their median wages:
- Industrial-organizational psychologists – $147,420
- Clinical and counseling psychologists – $96,100
- School psychologists – $84,940
- All other psychologists – $117,750
Of these career classifications, clinical and counseling psychologists are the professionals who overlap most with the category of family psychologists. School psychologists may also have some significant overlap.
While the BLS doesn’t have specific salary information for family psychologists, it does have relevant information for school, clinical, and counseling psychologists based on work location. These psychologist professionals are listed below next to sectors that are relevant for family psychologists, along with their average salaries:
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | School Psychologists | |
| Specialty hospitals, excluding psychiatric and substance abuse hospitals | $117,940 | – |
| Offices of other health practitioners | $114,900 | $105,140 |
| Offices of physicians | $113,970 | – |
| Educational support services | $111,340 | $102,230 |
| Outpatient care centers | $107,500 | $66,470 |
| Employment services | $105,830 | $94,140 |
| General hospitals | $101,450 | $65,610 |
| Local government, excluding schools and hospitals | $101,440 | $90,010 |
| Psychiatric and substance abuse hospitals | $100,210 | – |
| Individual and family services | $91,160 | $73,510 |
| Elementary and secondary schools | $90,090 | $90,940 |
| Other residential care facilities | $74,070 | $63,790 |
| Childcare services | $70,680 | $142,500 |
This should give you a good sense of family psychologist salaries according to type of workplace. Family psychologists typically need a doctoral degree, and so do clinical and counseling psychologists. School psychologists also often are required to have a doctoral degree.
The BLS also tracks salary data for marriage and family therapists. These professionals typically need at least a master’s degree, but their work environments can be very similar to those of family therapists.
Marriage and family therapists earn a median salary of $58,510. The top 10% salary in this profession is $104,710 and associated with professionals who have doctoral degrees.
Likewise, the BLS tracks data for mental health counselors. Like MFTs, these professionals are typically required to have at least a master’s degree. The median salary for mental health counselors is $53,710, and those in the top 10% salary range –who are associated with having a doctoral degree– have a salary that starts at $89,920.
The BLS lists these statistics on average salary data for marriage and family therapists and mental health counselors according to what sector they work in:
| Marriage and Family Therapists | Mental Health Counselors | |
| Home health care services | $122,120 | $63,220 |
| Elementary and secondary schools | $89,000 | $66,210 |
| State government, excluding schools and hospitals | $84,770 | $62,010 |
| Religious organizations | $81,600 | $78,220 |
| Local government, excluding schools and hospitals | $80,930 | $68,830 |
| Psychiatric and substance abuse hospitals | $68,260 | $54,890 |
| Outpatient care centers | $67,600 | $58,480 |
| Offices of other health practitioners | $67,230 | $66,500 |
| Individual and family services | $67,150 | $58,210 |
| Residential intellectual and developmental disability, mental health, and substance abuse facilities | $63,790 | $49,250 |
| Childcare services | $52,750 | $76,790 |
| Other residential care facilities | $50,400 | $48,000 |
Job Outlook for Family Psychologists
The BLS reports the following projections for rates of job increase between 2023 and 2033 for these family psychologist-related professions:
- Clinical and counseling psychologists – 13.3%
- School psychologists – 0.7%
- Marriage and family therapists – 16.2%
- Mental health counselors – 11.6%
It’s generally double-digit growth that’s far higher than the 4% general job growth predicted over this same time frame.
Employment for family psychologists will grow because of the higher demand for psychological services in hospitals, mental health clinics, schools, and social service centers.
As Americans are living longer and healthier lives, more people want to take advantage of mental health services so they can live happier and more productive lives. Family psychologists will be needed to provide mental health services to our aging population, as they help people to handle mental and physical changes of aging. Psychological services also will be in higher demand among our veterans who have suffered war trauma, and for people with developmental problems, including autism.
For marriage and family therapists, growth will come because of the greater use of integrated care. This is a treatment regimen that tackles several problems at once by a group of healthcare specialists. Marriage and family therapists provide integrated care with counselors in substance abuse, behavior disorders, and mental health,
As with family psychologists, mental health counselors will experience more need for their services from our aging population.
Summary
The increasing need for family psychologists and other mental health professionals make clear that salaries in this profession will rise in the years to come. If you earn your PhD in psychology, it is possible to achieve top 10% salaries in the private sector or by working for a large healthcare company, such as Kaiser Permanente.
May 2023 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics salary and labor market information for Psychologists, Clinical and Counseling Psychologists, School Psychologists, Marriage and Family Therapists, and Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors is based on national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed February 2025.