Marriage and Family Therapists
SOC 21-1013 • View wages by state
The median annual wage for Marriage and Family Therapists is $58,510, based on BLS OEWS 2023 data. The mean annual wage is $68,730, and an estimated 63,340 workers are employed in this occupation nationally. Between 2020 and 2023, pay rose +14% while consumer prices rose 17.7% — a real change of -3.2% (pay did not keep up with inflation). BLS projects employment will grow 12.6% between 2024 and 2034.
Wage Trend & Inflation Adjustment
How the national median wage for Marriage and Family Therapists has moved across BLS OEWS release years, and what each year's wage is worth in 2023 dollars after adjusting for CPI inflation. "Real" change strips out inflation — the truest measure of whether pay is actually rising.
| Year | Median (nominal) | In 2023 $ (real) | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $58,510 | $58,510 | 63,340 |
| 2022 | $56,570 | $58,899 | 62,080 |
| 2021 | $49,880 | $56,089 | 54,800 |
| 2020 | $51,340 | $60,443 | 60,850 |
Nominal change
+14%
Inflation (CPI)
+17.7%
Real change
-3.2%
Job Outlook (2024–2034 BLS projection)
The BLS Employment Projections program estimates how each occupation's employment will change over the coming decade, and how many job openings to expect each year (from both growth and the need to replace workers who leave).
Projected Growth
+12.6%
Much faster than average
Employment 2024
77,800
Projected 2034
87,700
Annual Openings
7,700
Typical entry-level education: Master's degree.
Highest-Paying Areas (2023)
Where Marriage and Family Therapists earn the most, and how each area's median compares to the national median of $58,510. A positive premium means the area pays above the national rate.
| Area | Median Annual | vs National | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | $86,030 | +47% | 3,900 |
| Utah | $77,600 | +32.6% | 1,600 |
| North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $72,190 | +23.4% | 80 |
| Idaho | $70,540 | +20.6% | 50 |
| Southeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $68,010 | +16.2% | 200 |
| Maryland | $67,050 | +14.6% | 540 |
| Southwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $67,040 | +14.6% | 140 |
| Washington | $66,670 | +13.9% | 210 |
| Massachusetts | $66,470 | +13.6% | 620 |
| Alaska | $66,290 | +13.3% | 60 |
Wage Distribution (National, 2023)
10th, 25th, 50th (median), 75th, and 90th percentile annual wages from BLS OEWS — the full spread, not just an average.
10th Pct
$39,090
25th Pct
$45,250
Median
$58,510
75th Pct
$78,440
90th Pct
$104,710
H-1B Employer Filings
Employer-certified wages from DOL H-1B LCA filings — competitive market benchmark, not approved visas.
| Employer | State | Filings | Median Wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michael J. Whitman, a Psychological Corp. | CA | 2 | $202,800 |
| Sea Mar Community Health Centers | WA | 2 | $69,306 |
| AMR, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker Corporation | CA | 2 | $51,000 |
| Northside Center for Relationship Counseling PC | IL | 1 | $35,880 |
| Eastside Play Therapy, PLLC | WA | 1 | $93,600 |
| Heart Centered Counseling, Inc. | MN | 1 | $82,888 |
| Justice Resource Institute Inc. | MA | 1 | $56,000 |
| Partnerships for Trauma Recovery | CA | 1 | $74,110 |
| Alternative Options Counseling Center Inc. | CA | 1 | $62,400 |
| Mind & Body Garden, A Psychological Corporation | CA | 1 | $80,000 |
Source: DOL Office of Foreign Labor Certification, H-1B LCA data.
Related Occupations in Community & Social Service
Other occupations in the same SOC major group, ranked by national median wage.