Median pay
$63,780
Median annual pay for Marriage and Family Therapists.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024
View source ↗
View source ↗
Community and Social Service
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.
10-year growth
12.6%
Projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
View source ↗
View source ↗
Annual openings
7,700
Projected annual openings, including growth and replacement demand.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
View source ↗
View source ↗
Employment
77,800
Estimated U.S. employment for Marriage and Family Therapists in 2024.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024
View source ↗
View source ↗
Jobs added or lost
+9,800
Projected numeric employment change from 2024 to 2034.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
View source ↗
View source ↗
Entry preparation
Master's degree
Typical additional preparation: Internship/residency.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024 profile
View source ↗
View source ↗
O*NET occupation profile
What the work involves
Strongest O*NET signals first.
Essential skills
- 1Active Listening
- 2Speaking
- 3Reading Comprehension
- 4Writing
- 5Critical Thinking
- 6Active Learning
Knowledge areas
- 1Therapy and Counseling
- 2Psychology
- 3Customer and Personal Service
- 4Sociology and Anthropology
- 5English Language
- 6Administrative
Abilities
- 1Oral Comprehension
- 2Oral Expression
- 3Deductive Reasoning
- 4Inductive Reasoning
- 5Problem Sensitivity
- 6Speech Clarity
Career interests
- 1Social
- 2Investigative
- 3Artistic
- 4Conventional
- 5Enterprising
- 6Realistic
Work styles
- 1Empathy
- 2Sincerity
- 3Cooperation
- 4Integrity
- 5Dependability
- 6Self-Control
Work activities
- 1Making Decisions and Solving Problems
- 2Documenting/Recording Information
- 3Assisting and Caring for Others
- 4Getting Information
- 5Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
- 6Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
Work context
- 1Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- 2E-Mail
- 3Contact With Others
- 4Frequency of Decision Making
- 5Time Pressure
- 6Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
Representative tasks
- 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.
- Confer with clients to develop plans for posttreatment activities.
- Confer with other counselors, doctors, and professionals to analyze individual cases and to coordinate counseling services.
Software and tools
Zoom · in demandGoogle Meet · in demandIntuit QuickBooks · hot technologyMicrosoft Office software · hot technologyMicrosoft Outlook · hot technologyMicrosoft PowerPoint · hot technologyMicrosoft Teams · hot technologyMicrosoft Excel · hot technologyMicrosoft Word · hot technologyMicrosoft Access · hot technologyPM/2 Clinical PlannerPracticePRO Software Systems QuickPractice
Sources
BLS provides national pay, employment, and projections. O*NET provides skills, interests, preparation, tasks, work context, and tools.