Marriage and Family Therapists Salary in California
The median pay for a marriage and family therapists in California is $63,780/year ($30.66/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $44K at the entry level to $122K for experienced workers.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across California. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $64K get you in California?
About marriage and family therapists
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, California
Entry-level marriage and family therapists (10th percentile) start around $44K. Mid-career wages sit at $64K. Top earners bring in $122K or more, a $77K spread from bottom to top.
Marriage and Family Therapists salary by metro in California
23 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $89K | +39% | 1,220 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $80K | +26% | 360 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $79K | +23% | 90 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $77K | +21% | 3,400 |
| El Centro | $74K | +16% | 60 |
| Merced | $73K | +15% | 70 |
| Bakersfield-Delano | $73K | +15% | 350 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $73K | +14% | 1,270 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $72K | +13% | 240 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $71K | +12% | 170 |
| Redding | $70K | +10% | 160 |
| Chico | $70K | +10% | 150 |
| Modesto | $67K | +5% | 240 |
| Yuba City | $67K | +5% | 40 |
| Napa | $66K | +4% | 130 |
| Fresno | $66K | +4% | 680 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $64K | +1% | 12,400 |
| Salinas | $64K | +1% | 140 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $61K | -5% | 2,200 |
| Stockton-Lodi | $60K | -6% | 370 |
| Visalia | $58K | -9% | 150 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $49K | -23% | 1,010 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $49K | -23% | 4,660 |
Showing 1–10 of 23 metros
Compare to other states
Track marriage and family therapists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when California numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do marriage and family therapists make in California?
The median is $63,780 a year, that works out to about $31 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $44,430, and experienced marriage and family therapists can clear $121,700. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $64K enough to live in California?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,255/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,471/month, which eats 58.1% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a marriage and family therapists salary go in California?
California has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median marriage and family therapists salary is worth about $60,090 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do marriage and family therapists get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.