Marriage and Family Therapists Pay Range in California
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$46,350
- 25th Percentile — Junior$49,680
- 50th Percentile — Median$67,300
- 75th Percentile — Senior$98,450
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$130,340
Half of Marriage and Family Therapists in California earn more than $67,300. The top 10% make $130,340 or more, while entry-level workers start around $46,350.
Marriage and Family Therapists in California: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- California ranks 10th of 45 states for Marriage and Family Therapists pay, at $79,440 per year (3.2% above the U.S. average of $76,960).
- 34,970 people work as Marriage and Family Therapists in California — 52.4% of all U.S. Marriage and Family Therapists jobs.
- Location quotient 4.47: Marriage and Family Therapists jobs are more concentrated in California than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $46,350; the top 10% earn over $130,340.
- Hourly equivalent: $38.19 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is Hawaii at $127,570.
- Among social services jobs in California, Healthcare Social Workers pays the most ($93,840).
Marriage and Family Therapists Job Market in California
Key factors affecting compensation
California's key industries are Technology, Entertainment, Agriculture, and its job market is rated very strong. Marriage and Family Therapists here earn $79,440 on average, placing the state 10th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 1.42 (U.S. = 1.00), a California salary of $79,440 is roughly equivalent to $55,944 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Ohio ($86,810), Georgia ($83,300), Massachusetts ($80,880) are the closest alternatives for Marriage and Family Therapists weighing a move.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Other Social Services Jobs in California
Related career salary benchmarks
- Healthcare Social Workers $93,840/yr California +18.1% vs this role
- Educational Guidance and Career Counselors $93,610/yr California +17.8% vs this role
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers $91,050/yr California +14.6% vs this role
- Health Education Specialists $74,720/yr California 5.9% vs this role
- Child Family and School Social Workers $71,940/yr California 9.4% vs this role
- Mental Health Counselors $69,080/yr California 13.0% vs this role
- Community Health Workers $63,740/yr California 19.8% vs this role
- Social and Human Service Assistants $55,100/yr California 30.6% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Marriage and Family Therapists salary in California?
The average Marriage and Family Therapists salary in California is $79,440 per year (median $67,300), which is 3.2% above the national average of $76,960.
How does California rank for Marriage and Family Therapists pay?
California ranks 10th out of 45 states. The highest-paying state is Hawaii ($127,570/yr).
How much do entry-level Marriage and Family Therapists make in California?
The lowest-paid 10% of Marriage and Family Therapists in California earn about $46,350 per year and the 25th percentile is $49,680.
How much do Marriage and Family Therapists make per hour in California?
About $38.19 per hour, based on the $79,440 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Marriage and Family Therapists work in California?
BLS counts 34,970 Marriage and Family Therapists jobs in California (OEWS May 2025).
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