Marriage and Family Therapists Salary in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
The median pay for a marriage and family therapists in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA is $78,700/year ($37.84/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $49K at the entry level to $128K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 109.9), so that salary is closer to $71,611 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $4,214/month — about 82% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $79K get you in Santa Cruz-Watsonville?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Santa Cruz-Watsonville’s Regional Price Parity (109.9). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
Entry-level marriage and family therapists (10th percentile) start around $49K. Mid-career wages sit at $79K. Top earners bring in $128K or more, a $79K spread from bottom to top.
Marriage and Family Therapists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $136K | +113% | 220 |
| New Jersey | $89K | +40% | 3,940 |
| Utah | $81K | +27% | 1,980 |
| Virginia | $81K | +26% | 910 |
| Oregon | $80K | +25% | 1,080 |
| Connecticut | $77K | +21% | 390 |
| Minnesota | $72K | +13% | 3,780 |
| Maine | $69K | +8% | N/A |
| Nebraska | $69K | +7% | 50 |
| New Mexico | $68K | +7% | 250 |
| Kansas | $67K | +4% | 160 |
| Maryland | $65K | +2% | 340 |
| New York | $65K | +2% | 930 |
| Missouri | $65K | +2% | 530 |
| Pennsylvania | $65K | +1% | 2,360 |
| Ohio | $64K | +0% | 710 |
| California | $64K | +0% | 32,070 |
| Delaware | $63K | -1% | 380 |
| Massachusetts | $62K | -2% | 530 |
| Alaska | $62K | -2% | 80 |
| Iowa | $61K | -4% | 90 |
| Vermont | $61K | -4% | 110 |
| Kentucky | $60K | -6% | 410 |
| Illinois | $60K | -6% | 840 |
| Washington | $60K | -6% | N/A |
| Georgia | $59K | -8% | N/A |
| North Dakota | $58K | -9% | 40 |
| New Hampshire | $57K | -10% | 220 |
| Oklahoma | $56K | -11% | 1,270 |
| Alabama | $54K | -15% | 200 |
| North Carolina | $54K | -15% | 2,110 |
| Michigan | $53K | -17% | 870 |
| Arizona | $52K | -18% | N/A |
| Indiana | $52K | -19% | 1,120 |
| South Carolina | $51K | -19% | 550 |
| Mississippi | $51K | -20% | 180 |
| South Dakota | $51K | -20% | 70 |
| Florida | $50K | -21% | 760 |
| West Virginia | $48K | -24% | 110 |
| Arkansas | $47K | -26% | 120 |
| Texas | $46K | -28% | 1,160 |
| Tennessee | $46K | -28% | 2,590 |
| Montana | $37K | -42% | N/A |
| Wisconsin | $35K | -46% | 230 |
Showing 1–10 of 44 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track marriage and family therapists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Santa Cruz-Watsonville numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do marriage and family therapists make in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The median is $78,700 a year, that works out to about $38 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $49,350, and experienced marriage and family therapists can clear $128,110. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $79K enough to live in Santa Cruz-Watsonville?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,025/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $4,214/month, which eats 83.9% 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 Santa Cruz-Watsonville?
Santa Cruz-Watsonville has a Regional Price Parity of 109.9 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median marriage and family therapists salary is worth about $71,611 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.