Salary Outlook for MFT Marriage Family Therapists
Marriage and family therapy (MFT) is a type of psychotherapy that looks at the behavior of every family member, how the actions affect the individual, and also relationships with other family members. Marriage and family therapy is usually spent partially on one-on-one therapy, with the rest of the time spent on the individual and the family. MFT also may be called ‘couple and family therapy,’ marriage counseling or family counseling. (Psychologytoday.com)
Marriage and family therapy is used for the following problems:
- Marital and couple disagreements
- Parent and child arguments
- Drug and alcohol abuse
- Grief and distress
- Eating disorders and weight problems
- Sexual dysfunction
Marriage and family therapy usually is short-term therapy, with 12 sessions focused on finding solutions. More sessions could be needed, depending on the severity and nature of the problems involved. This type of therapy focuses on how a person’s behavior affects the individual. It also looks at how that person’s behavior affects his relationship with another person or the family.
SEE ALSO: List of Best Online MFT Programs With No GRE
To become a marriage and family therapist, you need to have at least a master’s or doctoral degree in marriage and family therapy. Also, you are required to have at least two years or 3,000 clinical hours of experience under a licensed marriage and family therapist.
SEE ALSO: Online Ph.D. in Marriage & Family Therapy DMFT Programs
With the amount of education that it takes to become a marriage and family therapist, it is smart to look at the salary you can earn in this field. Below is more information.
Marriage and Family Therapist Salary
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), a division of the Department of Labor, reports the average salary for marriage and family therapists is $68,730. The full salary breakdown for these professionals is:
- Bottom 25% salary – $45,250 and lower
- Median salary – $58,510
- Top 25% salary – $78,440 and up
- Top 10% salary – $104,710 and up
With a doctoral degree in psychology or marriage and family therapy, you will be able to earn towards the higher end of the wage scale. The best way to make the maximum salary as an MFT is with a doctorate in private practice. It could take many years of experience to make within the top 10% salary bracket that starts at $104,710.
The BLS also tracks national salary data for marriage and family therapists based on sector, listed here with their average wages:
- Home health care services – $122,120
- Elementary and secondary schools – $89,000
- State government, excluding schools and hospitals – $84,770
- Religious organizations – $81,600
- Local government, excluding schools and hospitals – $80,930
- Outpatient care centers – $67,600
- Offices of other health practitioners – $67,230
- Individual and family services – $67,150
- Residential intellectual and developmental disability, mental health, and substance abuse facilities – $63,790
The BLS reports detailed salary information for psychology careers; it is possible to become a practicing psychologist with a marriage and family therapy degree. The BLS states the median salary for psychologists in general is $92,740. The top 10% salary for psychologists in general starts at $151,880, and most of these professionals have psychology doctorate degrees and many years of experience.
The median salary for counseling psychologists and clinical psychologists is $96,100. The following sectors offer the highest average salaries for clinical and counseling psychologists:
- Scientific research and development services – $131,050
- Specialty hospitals, except psychiatric and substance abuse hospitals – $117,940
- Offices of other health practitioners – $114,900
- Offices of physicians – $113,970
- Educational support services – $111,340
BLS Marriage and Family Therapist Average Salary by State
| Hourly Wage | Annual Salary | |
| New Jersey | $44.29 | $92,120 |
| Maryland | $41.87 | $87,090 |
| Utah | $40.38 | $83,980 |
| Virginia | $36.77 | $76,480 |
| Alaska | $35.78 | $74,420 |
| Washington | $35.26 | $73,340 |
| Connecticut | $34.66 | $72,100 |
| Massachusetts | $34.56 | $71,880 |
| Colorado | $34.09 | $70,910 |
| California | $33.55 | $69,780 |
| Georgia | $33.45 | $69,570 |
| Hawaii | $33.25 | $69,160 |
| Minnesota | $33.19 | $69,030 |
| Missouri | $33.06 | $68,760 |
| Idaho | $32.39 | $67,360 |
| Maine | $31.99 | $66,540 |
| Pennsylvania | $31.32 | $65,150 |
| Louisiana | $31.03 | $64,540 |
| North Dakota | $30.77 | $63,990 |
| New York | $30.35 | $63,130 |
| Vermont | $30.09 | $62,580 |
| Ohio | $29.94 | $62,270 |
| New Mexico | $29.77 | $61,920 |
| Texas | $29.70 | $61,780 |
| Florida | $29.41 | $61,170 |
| New Hampshire | $29.09 | $60,510 |
| Delaware | $29.00 | $60,330 |
| Kansas | $28.28 | $58,820 |
| Arizona | $27.23 | $56,630 |
| Kentucky | $26.77 | $55,690 |
| Oklahoma | $26.54 | $55,210 |
| Illinois | $26.26 | $54,620 |
| Alabama | $26.06 | $54,200 |
| Indiana | $25.71 | $53,470 |
| North Carolina | $25.54 | $53,120 |
| Michigan | $25.39 | $52,810 |
| West Virginia | $24.68 | $51,330 |
| Nebraska | $24.05 | $50,020 |
| South Dakota | $23.11 | $48,060 |
| Arkansas | $22.73 | $47,280 |
| Mississippi | $22.28 | $46,330 |
| Tennessee | $21.34 | $44,380 |
| Wisconsin | $21.26 | $44,220 |
| South Carolina | $19.99 | $41,570 |
| Iowa | $19.52 | $40,600 |
Job Outlook for Marriage and Family Therapists
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that job demand for MFTs is looking great for the next decade. Between 2023 and 2033 a growth rate of 16.2% is forecast for MFT jobs, a rate that’s far better than the 4% anticipated for all jobs generally over that same period.
The U.S. Department of Labor projects the following MFT job growth rates between 2022 and 2032:
| Utah | 46.5% |
| Tennessee | 33.8% |
| Idaho | 31.0% |
| Arizona | 29.7% |
| California | 26.6% |
| Florida | 26.3% |
| New Mexico | 26.1% |
| Nebraska | 25.0% |
| Wyoming | 25.0% |
| New York | 24.3% |
| Iowa | 21.7% |
| Nevada | 21.4% |
| Colorado | 20.8% |
| New Hampshire | 20.7% |
| South Carolina | 20.6% |
| Georgia | 18.2% |
| North Dakota | 18.2% |
| Texas | 18.1% |
| Kentucky | 18.0% |
| Connecticut | 17.3% |
| Michigan | 16.7% |
| Maryland | 16.1% |
| Oklahoma | 15.6% |
| Indiana | 15.1% |
| Minnesota | 14.8% |
| Wisconsin | 14.3% |
| Massachusetts | 13.0% |
| Missouri | 11.8% |
| Washington | 10.2% |
| Pennsylvania | 9.7% |
| Kansas | 9.5% |
| Ohio | 8.3% |
| Illinois | 7.1% |
| Alabama | 6.3% |
| New Jersey | 2.6% |
| Delaware | 0.0% |
| Louisiana | 0.0% |
| Maine | 0.0% |
| South Dakota | 0.0% |
Job growth should occur because of more usage of integrated care. Integrated care is the treatment of several problems simultaneously by a group of mental health specialists. In integrated care, an MFT will work with other counselors, including those who specialize in substance abuse, behavior disorders, and eating disorders.
SEE ALSO: How to Become a MFT Therapist
Summary
The salary outlook for marriage and family therapists with a doctoral degree and significant experience is robust. It is possible to earn within the top 10% salary bracket that starts at $104,710 per year with enough education and experience. Job demand in this field is strong and growing for at least the next decade.
May 2023 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics salary for Psychologists, Marriage and Family Therapists, and Clinical and Counseling Psychologists. National labor market information and state labor market information also sourced from the U.S. Department of Labor. Information based on national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed February 2025.