California Median
$67,300
per year
Hourly Rate
$32.36
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+1% vs US median
US median $66,940
State Rank
#16 of 45
34,970 employed here
How much do Marriage and Family Therapists make in California?
Marriage and Family Therapists in California take home a median of $67,300 annually — roughly $32.36 an hour — which runs 1% above the national median of $66,940.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $46,350 while the top 10% make $130,340 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $49,680 and $98,450 a year.
Marriage and Family Therapists salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $46,350 | $22.28 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $49,680 | $23.88 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $67,300 | $32.36 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $98,450 | $47.33 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $130,340 | $62.66 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 16th out of 45 states and territories for Marriage and Family Therapists pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Marriage and Family Therapists salary in other states
Hawaii $141,960New Jersey $92,150Georgia $91,550Oregon $91,520Connecticut $86,250Utah $84,980Virginia $79,900Delaware $76,580Minnesota $72,470Maine $71,680New Mexico $70,630Ohio $70,240Maryland $69,900Kansas $68,710Massachusetts $67,370Iowa $67,180Pennsylvania $66,040Arizona $65,290New York $64,430Arkansas $64,340Vermont $62,780Idaho $62,700Nebraska $62,610Illinois $60,970Colorado $60,700Missouri $60,440New Hampshire $60,030Alaska $60,010Washington $60,000Oklahoma $57,670Indiana $56,810Florida $56,400West Virginia $55,700South Carolina $55,430Kentucky $52,420Michigan $52,270Mississippi $51,440Alabama $49,990North Carolina $48,100Montana $46,960Tennessee $46,700Texas $46,300South Dakota $44,870Wisconsin $37,870
Working as Marriage and Family Therapists in California
Nationally, about 67,000 people work as Marriage and Family Therapists in the United States. A master's degree (usually 5 to 6 years of college) is typically required.
Considering a move? Compare California pay ($67,300) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much do Marriage and Family Therapists make in California?
The median Marriage and Family Therapists salary in California is $67,300 per year, or about $32.36 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $46,350 at the entry level to $130,340 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Marriage and Family Therapists about 1% more than the national median of $66,940. California ranks 16th out of 45 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Marriage and Family Therapists?
Yes on pay — California pays above the national median for this occupation, at $67,300 a year. About 34,970 Marriage and Family Therapists are employed in California. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in California?
The highest-paying occupations in California include Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($400,150), Neurologist ($357,080), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($353,900), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Marriage and Family Therapists salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.