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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
For Marriage/Family Therapists weighing a relocation, this page is the starting point. The national median salary for Marriage/Family Therapists in 2026 is $67,506, with entry-level positions averaging $48,604 and senior roles reaching $95,858. But those numbers flatten a reality with enormous geographic variation — Sunnyvale pays a median of $122,960, while other markets fall well below the national average. We tracked 288 cities to build the complete picture.
Positioned in Community & Social within the broader Community & Social Services industry, Marriage/Family Therapists typically hold Master's degree. The employment landscape is shaped by growing, and the day-to-day is clinical/remote. Those factors — education investment, demand trajectory, and work structure — all feed into the salary numbers below.
$74,820 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Marriage/Family Therapist in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $122,960 — $74,820 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($48,140). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. Cost-adjusted, this occupation outearns its reputation.
The salary distribution for Marriage/Family Therapists reveals a $47,254 spread from entry to senior. At $67,506, the median sits $12,861 below the national median household income of $80,367. Context matters: this is an individual salary, compared against household income. The P10 floor of $48,604 represents early-career or part-time positions, while the $95,858 ceiling captures experienced professionals in premium markets.
Compare the extremes: the highest-paying trio of cities (Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Irvine) averages $114,840, while the lowest-paying trio (Toledo, Detroit, Akron) averages $48,527. The $66,313 difference is the kind of number that reshapes career strategy — assuming the cost of living cooperates.
A Marriage/Family Therapist in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $122,960 — $74,820 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($48,140). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
The national average entry-level (P10) salary for Marriage/Family Therapist is $48,604, while senior-level (P90) earners average $95,858. That $47,254 trajectory represents the earning growth a career in this field can deliver.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $48,604 | $67,506 | $95,858 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £25,258 | £35,080 | £49,814 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$39,111 | CA$54,320 | CA$77,135 |
| Australia | 13 | A$43,788 | A$60,816 | A$86,359 |
| Sweden | 24 | 280,269 kr | 389,262 kr | 552,752 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 61 | $58,663 | $81,476 | $115,696 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $56,689 | $78,735 | $111,804 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $56,376 | $78,300 | $111,186 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $52,200 | $72,500 | $102,950 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $51,574 | $71,630 | $101,715 |
| Washington | 8 | $50,582 | $70,253 | $99,759 |
| New York | 5 | $47,607 | $66,120 | $93,891 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $47,606 | $66,120 | $93,890 |
| Florida | 22 | $47,246 | $65,619 | $93,179 |
| Colorado | 11 | $46,429 | $64,485 | $91,569 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $46,354 | $64,380 | $91,420 |
| Nevada | 5 | $46,270 | $64,264 | $91,255 |
| Arizona | 12 | $46,040 | $63,945 | $90,802 |
| Oregon | 5 | $45,936 | $63,800 | $90,596 |
| Idaho | 3 | $45,797 | $63,607 | $90,321 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $45,435 | $63,104 | $89,608 |
| Utah | 4 | $45,310 | $62,930 | $89,361 |
| Virginia | 7 | $44,564 | $61,894 | $87,890 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $43,987 | $61,093 | $86,753 |
| Alaska | 1 | $43,848 | $60,900 | $86,478 |
| Illinois | 5 | $43,347 | $60,204 | $85,490 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $42,270 | $58,709 | $83,367 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $41,760 | $58,000 | $82,360 |
| Montana | 1 | $41,760 | $58,000 | $82,360 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $41,621 | $57,807 | $82,086 |
| Texas | 40 | $41,415 | $57,522 | $81,681 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $41,343 | $57,420 | $81,537 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $41,134 | $57,130 | $81,125 |
| Georgia | 6 | $40,994 | $56,937 | $80,850 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $40,925 | $56,840 | $80,713 |
| Kansas | 4 | $40,716 | $56,550 | $80,301 |
| Michigan | 6 | $40,577 | $56,357 | $80,027 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $40,090 | $55,680 | $79,066 |
| Maryland | 1 | $40,090 | $55,680 | $79,066 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $39,672 | $55,100 | $78,242 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $39,672 | $55,100 | $78,242 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $38,628 | $53,650 | $76,183 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $38,419 | $53,360 | $75,771 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $37,897 | $52,635 | $74,742 |
| Missouri | 4 | $37,897 | $52,635 | $74,742 |
| Alabama | 5 | $37,751 | $52,432 | $74,453 |
| Indiana | 3 | $37,166 | $51,620 | $73,300 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $37,166 | $51,620 | $73,300 |
| Iowa | 2 | $36,749 | $51,040 | $72,477 |
| Ohio | 6 | $36,679 | $50,943 | $72,339 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $35,078 | $48,720 | $69,182 |
The state salary map for Marriage/Family Therapists: California at $81,476, Massachusetts at $78,735, Hawaii at $78,300 lead the pack. The bottom tier — Mississippi ($48,720), Ohio ($50,943), Iowa ($51,040) — shows how regional economics reshape compensation. Across all 46 states with data, the state-level spread alone is $32,756.
Raw salary rankings and cost-adjusted rankings tell different stories. After adjusting for local costs, Sunnyvale ($58,000 adjusted), Santa Clara ($58,000 adjusted), Irvine ($58,000 adjusted) lead the field. The takeaway: the highest nominal salary doesn't always deliver the best standard of living. Cost-adjusted, this occupation outearns its reputation.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunnyvale California | $122,960 | 212 | $58,000 | $74,647 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $114,840 | 198 | $58,000 | $70,177 |
| 3 | Irvine California | $106,720 | 184 | $58,000 | $65,707 |
| 4 | San Francisco California | $104,980 | 181 | $58,000 | $64,749 |
| 5 | Carlsbad California | $103,240 | 178 | $58,000 | $63,791 |
| 6 | San Jose California | $102,660 | 177 | $58,000 | $63,472 |
| 7 | Fremont California | $102,660 | 177 | $58,000 | $63,472 |
| 8 | Berkeley California | $100,340 | 173 | $58,000 | $62,191 |
| 9 | Costa Mesa California | $100,340 | 173 | $58,000 | $62,191 |
| 10 | Huntington Beach California | $98,020 | 169 | $58,000 | $60,867 |
From a career planning perspective, Marriage/Family Therapist offers a $47,254 earning range. The 2.0× progression is steady — not explosive, but reliable. The typical entry requires Master's degree. Day-to-day, expect clinical/remote work environments. With data from 288 cities, the geographic flexibility is substantial — this career travels well.
The weighted national median salary for Marriage/Family Therapists is $67,506 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $48,604, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $95,858.
The highest-paying city for Marriage/Family Therapists is Sunnyvale, California with a median salary of $122,960. The top 3 cities are Sunnyvale ($122,960), Santa Clara ($114,840), Irvine ($106,720). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Marriage/Family Therapist salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $48,140. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level Marriage/Family Therapists (10th percentile) average $48,604 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $88,531. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Marriage/Family Therapists average $95,858 nationally — $47,254 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Marriage/Family Therapists can earn up to $174,603.
The top-paying states for Marriage/Family Therapists are California ($81,476 median), Massachusetts ($78,735 median), Hawaii ($78,300 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Marriage/Family Therapist involves Master's degree. The field is in the Community & Social Services sector (Community & Social), and the career outlook is growing. Work style is typically clinical/remote.
With a national median of $67,506 and representation across 288 metro areas, Marriage/Family Therapist offers a foundation that can be strengthened by strategic location choices. The $47,254 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: growing.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.