How to Become a Marriage and Family Therapist
Treat emotional and behavioral challenges within the context of couples and family systems rather than the individual alone. It typically requires a master's degree, with a median salary of $66,940 per year and much faster than average projected job growth.
Median pay
$66,940/yr
Middle half
$50,070 to $93,840
Job growth
Much faster than average
Openings / yr
7,700
Majors that lead here
Key skills
- Family Systems Therapy
- Active Listening
- Assessment
- Empathy
- Conflict Resolution
Helpful certifications
- LMFT (state marriage and family therapist licensure)
Is this career a fit?
Remote-friendly
59/100
Work-life balance
72/100
Stress level
66/100
Related careers
- Community Services Manager$80,390 median
- Mental Health Counselor$59,350 median
- Rehabilitation Counselor$46,850 median
- Human Services Assistant$45,930 median
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Marriage and Family Therapist make?
The median pay for a Marriage and Family Therapist is $66,940 a year, and the middle half of workers earn between $50,070 and $93,840 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025). That covers everyone in the job, not only people starting out, so newer workers sit toward the lower end.
What degree do you need to become a Marriage and Family Therapist?
The usual entry point is a master's degree. Common majors are Psychology, Marriage and Family Therapy, Counseling, and Social Work.
Is Marriage and Family Therapist a growing field?
Projected job growth for this role from 2024 to 2034 is much faster than average (BLS projections via O*NET), with roughly 7,700 U.S. openings a year.
What skills does a Marriage and Family Therapist use most?
Common skills for this role are Family Systems Therapy, Active Listening, Assessment, Empathy, and Conflict Resolution.
Planning to become a Marriage and Family Therapist?
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Take the major quizWhere these pay figures come from
Career pay is the annual wage of everyone working in that occupation, not only recent graduates, so it includes people who have done the job for decades. The middle half is the 25th to the 75th percentile. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).
All figures are national. What you earn depends on where you work, who you work for, and how far you take the degree.
Job-growth figures: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).