Diagnose and treat mental and emotional disorders, whether cognitive, affective, or behavioral, within the context of marriage and family systems. Apply psychotherapeutic and family systems theories and techniques in the delivery of services to individuals, couples, and families for the purpose of treating such diagnosed nervous and mental disorders.
Marriage and Family Therapists
SOC: 21-1013 O*NET: 21-1013.00
Median Salary
$63,780
per year
Job Growth
🚀 12.6%
Much Faster (2024-2034)
Annual Openings
7.7
projected jobs/year
Education Level
Bachelor's degree plus work experience, or graduate degree
Job Zone 5
Diagnose and treat mental and emotional disorders, whether cognitive, affective, or behavioral, within the context of marriage and family systems. Apply psychotherapeutic and family systems theories and techniques in the delivery of services to individuals, couples, and families for the purpose of treating such diagnosed nervous and mental disorders.
What does a Marriage and Family Therapists do?
How much can you earn?
Entry Level
$42,610
10th percentile
Early Career
$48,600
25th percentile
Median
$63,780
50th percentile
Experienced
$85,020
75th percentile
Top Earners
$111,610
90th percentile
National Salary Distribution
10th
$42,610
25th
$48,600
Middle 50%
MEDIAN
$63,780
Mean: $72,720
75th
$85,020
90th
$111,610
Middle 50% of earners
Median salary
Mean (average)
Key Insights
- •Salary range spans $69,000 from entry level to top earners
- •Middle 50% earn between $48,600 and $85,020
- •Salary spread is 57.1% around the median, showing high variation
- •Total national employment: 65,870 professionals
What's the job outlook?
Job Market Intelligence
High Demand
Market demand
Medium Risk
Automation risk
Current Employment
National Employment:77,800
Top Industries
Ambulatory Health Care Services52%
Offices of Other Health Practitioners35.6%
Offices of Mental Health Practitioners (except Physicians)31.7%
10-Year Outlook
Growth Rate:+12.6%
Annual Openings:7,700
Employment Projections
2024 (Current)77,800
Current
2034 (Projected)87,700
+12.6%
+9,800
Employment Change
+12.6%
Growth Rate
10
Year Projection
Growth Category: Faster than average
Geographic Salary & Employment Data
Explore where Marriage and Family Therapists professionals work across the United States
Showing 15 of 46 locations
California
32,070 jobs$63,7804.16x
New Jersey
3,940 jobs$89,0302.17x
Minnesota
3,780 jobs$72,3703.03x
Tennessee
2,590 jobs$45,6601.85x
Pennsylvania
2,360 jobs$64,5700.92x
North Carolina
2,110 jobs$53,9101.01x
Utah
1,980 jobs$81,1702.71x
Oklahoma
1,270 jobs$56,4501.75x
Texas
1,160 jobs$45,6900.20x
Indiana
1,120 jobs$51,7100.82x
Oregon
1,080 jobs$79,8901.28x
New York
930 jobs$65,0200.23x
Virginia
910 jobs$80,6700.53x
Michigan
870 jobs$52,8900.46x
Illinois
840 jobs$60,1400.32x
Understanding the Data
Location Quotient (LQ):
- • LQ > 1.0: More jobs than national average
- • LQ = 1.0: Same as national average
- • LQ < 1.0: Fewer jobs than national average
Data Source:
Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024
Key Growth Factors
- •Faster than average growth expected
- •High current market demand
What skills do you need?
Top 10 Most Important Skills
#1
Active Listening
100%
#2
Social Perceptiveness
94%
#3
Speaking
86%
#4
Complex Problem Solving
80%
#5
Writing
74%
#6
Judgment and Decision Making
66%
#7
Reading Comprehension
60%
#8
Service Orientation
54%
#9
Critical Thinking
46%
#10
Active Learning
40%
Skills Overview
Active Listening
advanced5.0
100%
Social Perceptiveness
advanced4.7
94%
Speaking
intermediate4.3
86%
Complex Problem Solving
advanced4.0
80%
Writing
intermediate3.7
74%
Judgment and Decision Making
intermediate3.3
66%
Reading Comprehension
basic3.0
60%
Service Orientation
basic2.7
54%
Skills are rated on a scale of 0-5, with 5 being the most important. The complexity level indicates how advanced the skill typically needs to be.
Filter:
Sort by:
Active Listening
advancedImportance100%
skills
5.0/5.0
Social Perceptiveness
advancedImportance94%
skills
4.7/5.0
Speaking
intermediateImportance86%
skills
4.3/5.0
Complex Problem Solving
advancedImportance80%
abilities
4.0/5.0
Writing
intermediateImportance74%
skills
3.7/5.0
Judgment and Decision Making
intermediateImportance66%
abilities
3.3/5.0
Reading Comprehension
basicImportance60%
abilities
3.0/5.0
Service Orientation
basicImportance54%
skills
2.7/5.0
Critical Thinking
basicImportance46%
abilities
2.3/5.0
Active Learning
basicImportance40%
abilities
2.0/5.0
Highly Transferable Skills
These skills are valuable across multiple career paths, making career transitions easier:
Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs100%
5 shared skills
Human Resources Specialists100%
5 shared skills
Mental Health Counselors100%
5 shared skills
Acupuncturists82%
5 shared skills
Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers82%
5 shared skills
Urologists82%
5 shared skills
Skills by Career Stage
Entry Level
Must Have:
- ✓Active Listening
- ✓Social Perceptiveness
- ✓Speaking
Learn on the Job:
- →Service Orientation
- →Judgment and Decision Making
- →Reading Comprehension
Mid Career
Expected:
- ✓Active Listening
- ✓Social Perceptiveness
- ✓Speaking
- ✓Complex Problem Solving
Senior Level
Mastery Required:
- ★Active Listening
- ★Social Perceptiveness
- ★Speaking
- ★Complex Problem Solving
- ★Writing
Skill Development Tips
- •Focus on developing the top 5 skills first - they have the highest impact on career success
- •Transferable skills open doors to related careers and provide flexibility
- •Balance technical skills with soft skills for well-rounded professional development
- •Entry-level positions prioritize foundational skills that can be built upon over time
What technology will you use?
Technology & Digital Skills
Essential technology proficiencies for Marriage and Family Therapists
Technology Intensity
Very High
Digital Literacy Requirements
This career requires expert digital literacy
1
Basic
2
Intermediate
3
Advanced
4
Expert
Key Digital Competencies:
Advanced software proficiencySystem architecture understandingAutomation and scriptingEmerging technology adaptationTechnical problem-solving
🔥
Hot Technologies in Demand
These technologies are currently trending and highly sought after in this field
Intuit QuickBooks
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Access
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Outlook
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Office software
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft PowerPoint
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Teams
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Excel
🔥 Hot TechZoom
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Word
🔥 Hot TechTechnology Stack
Technology Stack Overview
Key technologies used in this career
Intuit QuickBooks
Microsoft Access
Microsoft Outlook
Microsoft Office software
Microsoft PowerPoint
Microsoft Teams
Microsoft Excel
Zoom
Microsoft Word
📚 Technology Learning Resources
Recommended Certifications
- •Vendor-specific software certifications
- •Industry-recognized technology credentials
- •Professional development courses
Online Learning Platforms
- •LinkedIn Learning - Comprehensive technology courses
- •Coursera - University-level programs
- •Udemy - Practical skills training
💡 Technology Skill Development Tips
- •Focus on mastering hot technologies first - they're currently most in-demand
- •Build a portfolio demonstrating your proficiency with key tools and software
- •Stay current through continuous learning - technology evolves rapidly
- •Consider vendor certifications to validate your skills to employers
What's the work environment like?
🏢
Location
MOSTLY INDOOR
💪
Physical Demand
HIGH
👥
Team Orientation
MOSTLY TEAM
🤝
Customer Interaction
FREQUENT
💡Is This Work Environment Right for You?
Consider these factors when evaluating if you'll thrive in this work environment:
- •Are you comfortable working in mostly indoor environments?
- •Can you meet high physical demands?
- •Do you enjoy mostly team team environments?
- •Are you comfortable working with safety protocols and protective equipment?
What are the key tasks?
Tasks & Responsibilities
15
Core Tasks
8
Daily Tasks
20
Work Activities
0
Emerging Tasks
Filter:
Sort by:
General Responsibilities (6)Management & Supervision (2)Planning & Development (3)Analysis & Evaluation (3)Training & Development (1)
1
Ask questions that will help clients identify their feelings and behaviors.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities100% perform100%
2
Counsel clients on concerns, such as unsatisfactory relationships, divorce and separation, child rearing, home management, or financial difficulties.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Management & Supervision97% perform98%
3
Encourage individuals and family members to develop and use skills and strategies for confronting their problems in a constructive manner.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Planning & Development94% perform96%
4
Maintain case files that include activities, progress notes, evaluations, and recommendations.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Analysis & Evaluation91% perform94%
5
Collect information about clients, using techniques such as testing, interviewing, discussion, or observation.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities88% perform92%
6
Determine whether clients should be counseled or referred to other specialists in such fields as medicine, psychiatry, or legal aid.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities85% perform90%
7
Confer with clients to develop plans for posttreatment activities.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Planning & Development82% perform88%
8
Follow up on results of counseling programs and clients' adjustments to determine effectiveness of programs.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities79% perform86%
9
Provide instructions to clients on how to obtain help with legal, financial, and other personal issues.
🟡Weekly
Importance:
Training & Development76% perform84%
10
Gather information from doctors, schools, social workers, juvenile counselors, law enforcement personnel, and others to make recommendations to courts for resolution of child custody or visitation disputes.
🟡Weekly
Importance:
General Responsibilities73% perform82%
💡 Key Takeaways
- •Daily tasks focus primarily on general responsibilities activities
- •47% of tasks are performed by most workers in this occupation
- •Career advancement brings increased leadership and strategic responsibilities
What career paths are available?
Career Pathways
0
Advancement Opportunities
0
Lateral Move Options
0%
Avg. Salary Increase
Advancement Opportunities
Typical career progression paths from Marriage and Family Therapists
💡 Career Planning Tips
- •Most successful advancement happens after 3-5 years of experience
- •Lateral moves can provide valuable cross-functional experience for future leadership roles
- •Focus on developing skills that are transferable across multiple career paths
- •Consider industry trends when planning long-term career moves
Is this career right for you?
Personality & Values Fit
Is This Career Right for You?
Marriage and Family Therapists professionals typically have a SIA Holland code and highly value relationships
SSocial
IInvestigative
AArtistic
Important Personality Traits
Work styles that contribute to success as a Marriage and Family Therapists
Concern for Others
CriticalConcern for Others
Importance Level4.90
Integrity
CriticalIntegrity
Importance Level4.90
Self-Control
CriticalSelf-Control
Importance Level4.80
Dependability
CriticalDependability
Importance Level4.71
Stress Tolerance
CriticalStress Tolerance
Importance Level4.66
Social Orientation
CriticalSocial Orientation
Importance Level4.50
Complete Work Styles Profile
Concern for Others
4.9
Integrity
4.9
Self-Control
4.8
Dependability
4.7
Stress Tolerance
4.7
Social Orientation
4.5
Cooperation
4.3
Persistence
4.2
Analytical Thinking
4.2
Adaptability/Flexibility
4.2
💡 Tips for Career Fit Success
- •While personality fit is important, skills can be developed with practice and training
- •Consider informational interviews to better understand the day-to-day personality requirements
- •Work environments vary by employer - research specific companies for cultural fit
- •Your interests and values may evolve - reassess periodically throughout your career
What education is required?
Education Level
Bachelor's degree plus work experience, or graduate degree
Typical duration: 4 years
Preparation Level
Job Zone 5
Extensive Preparation Needed
Experience Needed
Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience needed
📚 Education Requirement
Required Level:Bachelor's degree plus work experience, or graduate degree
Most of these occupations require graduate school. These may include master's, doctoral, or professional degrees.
Training:
Extensive training and work experience required
💼 Experience Requirement
Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience needed
Common pathways to gain experience:
- • Master's or doctoral degree
- • Extensive work experience in the field
- • State licensure or professional certification
5
Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
Most of these occupations require graduate school. These may include master's, doctoral, or professional degrees.
Master's or doctoral degreeExtensive work experience in the fieldState licensure or professional certification
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