Marriage and Family Therapists vs. Social and Human Service Assistants: Who Earns More?
Marriage and Family Therapists out-earn Social and Human Service Assistants by $21K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Marriage and Family Therapists land at $66,940 and Social and Human Service Assistants at $45,930. The education gap is real: marriage and family therapist programs typically require master's degree, while social and human service assistant programs require master's degree. Top-paying state for Marriage and Family Therapists is Hawaii ($141,960); for Social and Human Service Assistants it's District of Columbia ($59,460).
Pay by state
States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Marriage and Family Therapists median pay.
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.
Common questions
Who earns more, Marriage and Family Therapists or Social and Human Service Assistants?
Marriage and Family Therapists earn more nationally. The median is $66,940 for Marriage and Family Therapists versus $45,930 for Social and Human Service Assistants, a difference of $21K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.
Which has better job growth, Marriage and Family Therapists or Social and Human Service Assistants?
Marriage and Family Therapists has the better 10-year outlook at 12.6% projected growth, compared to 6.4% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.
Which requires more education, Marriage and Family Therapists or Social and Human Service Assistants?
Marriage and Family Therapists typically requires master's degree. Social and Human Service Assistants requires master's degree. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.
Where do Marriage and Family Therapists get paid the most?
Hawaii is the top-paying state for Marriage and Family Therapists at $141,960/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.
How does Marriage and Family Therapists vs. Social and Human Service Assistants pay differ by state?
The gap varies significantly by state. In New Jersey, Marriage and Family Therapists earn $92,150 vs. $48,420 for Social and Human Service Assistants. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.