Marriage and Family Therapists
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 it pays
Marriage and Family Therapists earn a median of $32.18/hr — about $67,000 a year. The lowest-paid 10% earn $21.47/hr; the top 10% earn $59.49/hr. (Annual figures are approximate: hourly × 2,080.)
Marriage and Family Therapists earn a median of $32.18/hr — about $67,000 a year. The lowest-paid 10% earn $21.47/hr; the top 10% earn $59.49/hr. (Annual figures are approximate: hourly × 2,080.)
What you'd actually do
- Encourage individuals and family members to develop and use skills and strategies for confronting their problems in a constructive manner.
- Ask questions that will help clients identify their feelings and behaviors.
- Develop and implement individualized treatment plans addressing family relationship problems, destructive patterns of behavior, and other personal issues.
- Maintain case files that include activities, progress notes, evaluations, and recommendations.
- Counsel clients on concerns, such as unsatisfactory relationships, divorce and separation, child rearing, home management, or financial difficulties.
- Collect information about clients, using techniques such as testing, interviewing, discussion, or observation.
How you get there
Typical entry-level education: Master's degree. Overall preparation: extensive preparation (Job Zone 5 of 5).
The feel of the work
The work is mostly indoors; time pressure is a real part of the job. (Compared against the other 818 careers in the guide.)
Working for yourself
About 12.8% of marriage and family therapists are self-employed.
Who it tends to fit
This work tends to fit people who are people-focused, analytical and creative.
Work a simulated shift in this job — freeMake the real decisions this job involves, then see what your choices say about you.Related careers
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Quick questions
- How much does a marriage and family therapist make?
- The median pay is $32.18 per hour — roughly $67,000 a year, with the real range running from about $21.47/hr (10th percentile) to $59.49/hr (90th percentile). Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Do you need a degree to be a marriage and family therapist?
- The typical entry-level education is: Master's degree. Overall preparation level: extensive preparation (Job Zone 5 of 5).
- What does a marriage and family therapist actually do all day?
- Encourage individuals and family members to develop and use skills and strategies for confronting their problems in a constructive manner. Ask questions that will help clients identify their feelings and behaviors. Develop and implement individualized treatment plans addressing family relationship problems, destructive patterns of behavior, and other personal issues.
Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS. Tasks & interests: O*NET. Career pathways shown in the app are draft archetypes — verify before relying on them. Trailhead is a free career guide for students — honest numbers, no hype.
Trailhead is operated by FLEXVermont LLC. It is intended for high-school students age 13 and older, and the educators and families who support them, and is not directed to children under 13. Trailhead is provided for general informational and educational purposes only. It does not offer professional, financial, or career advice, and its wage figures and pathways are estimates that may not fit your situation — they should not be relied on as the sole basis for any decision.
Trailhead is operated by FLEXVermont LLC. It is intended for high-school students age 13 and older, and the educators and families who support them, and is not directed to children under 13. Trailhead is provided for general informational and educational purposes only. It does not offer professional, financial, or career advice, and its wage figures and pathways are estimates that may not fit your situation — they should not be relied on as the sole basis for any decision.