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Best states for a family therapist
Quoted expert
Amanda Bakian
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It seems like family therapists are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for family therapists aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. In fact, our research shows that New York is the best state for family therapists in America. The best city in America for family therapists with the highest pay is Rochester, NY.
To that end, we dove into our dataset of job and salary numbers to figure out which states have the best opportunities for family therapists. New York is the best state for family therapists, where the median salary is $63,844.We found that New York is the best state for family therapist jobs, whereas Florida is the worst.
10 best states for family therapists in 2026
1. New York
Total family therapist jobs: 3,013 Average annual salary: $63,844 Lowest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $90,000 Location Quotient: 1.17
2. Oregon
Total family therapist jobs: 903 Average annual salary: $64,108 Lowest 10 percent earn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $78,000 Location Quotient: 1.09
3. North Dakota
Total family therapist jobs: 254 Average annual salary: $55,732 Lowest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $67,000 Location Quotient: 1.37
4. Massachusetts
Total family therapist jobs: 2,174 Average annual salary: $59,144 Lowest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $81,000 Location Quotient: 1.18
5. Minnesota
Total family therapist jobs: 1,213 Average annual salary: $63,576 Lowest 10 percent earn: $51,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $78,000 Location Quotient: 0.91
6. Iowa
Total family therapist jobs: 791 Average annual salary: $55,915 Lowest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $71,000 Location Quotient: 1.09
7. Rhode Island
Total family therapist jobs: 155 Average annual salary: $60,309 Lowest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $84,000 Location Quotient: 0.64
8. Pennsylvania
Total family therapist jobs: 2,878 Average annual salary: $53,123 Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $75,000 Location Quotient: 1.24
9. Maine
Total family therapist jobs: 495 Average annual salary: $52,517 Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $70,000 Location Quotient: 1.87
10. Maryland
Total family therapist jobs: 1,498 Average annual salary: $56,405 Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $81,000 Location Quotient: 1.18
Family therapist jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a family therapist
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a family therapist
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $63,844 | $45,000 | 19,849,399 | 3,013 |
| 2 | Oregon | $64,108 | $52,000 | 4,142,776 | 903 |
| 3 | North Dakota | $55,732 | $46,000 | 755,393 | 254 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $59,144 | $42,000 | 6,859,819 | 2,174 |
| 5 | Minnesota | $63,576 | $51,000 | 5,576,606 | 1,213 |
| 6 | Iowa | $55,915 | $43,000 | 3,145,711 | 791 |
| 7 | Rhode Island | $60,309 | $43,000 | 1,059,639 | 155 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $53,123 | $37,000 | 12,805,537 | 2,878 |
| 9 | Maine | $52,517 | $39,000 | 1,335,907 | 495 |
| 10 | Maryland | $56,405 | $39,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,498 |
| 11 | Colorado | $56,908 | $45,000 | 5,607,154 | 1,339 |
| 12 | New Jersey | $55,992 | $39,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,850 |
| 13 | Illinois | $55,160 | $41,000 | 12,802,023 | 2,601 |
| 14 | Alaska | $60,101 | $54,000 | 739,795 | 154 |
| 15 | Idaho | $54,990 | $44,000 | 1,716,943 | 320 |
| 16 | Wyoming | $58,541 | $47,000 | 579,315 | 47 |
| 17 | Nebraska | $50,571 | $40,000 | 1,920,076 | 579 |
| 18 | Michigan | $52,464 | $38,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,615 |
| 19 | Kansas | $52,017 | $40,000 | 2,913,123 | 628 |
| 20 | Wisconsin | $52,234 | $40,000 | 5,795,483 | 1,060 |
| 21 | West Virginia | $54,531 | $38,000 | 1,815,857 | 95 |
| 22 | Washington | $51,603 | $42,000 | 7,405,743 | 1,827 |
| 23 | Alabama | $51,736 | $38,000 | 4,874,747 | 730 |
| 24 | Kentucky | $50,939 | $37,000 | 4,454,189 | 691 |
| 25 | New Hampshire | $54,024 | $39,000 | 1,342,795 | 168 |
| 26 | Vermont | $53,868 | $40,000 | 623,657 | 82 |
| 27 | Utah | $52,526 | $41,000 | 3,101,833 | 469 |
| 28 | Connecticut | $54,051 | $38,000 | 3,588,184 | 381 |
| 29 | Oklahoma | $49,057 | $37,000 | 3,930,864 | 665 |
| 30 | California | $50,687 | $38,000 | 39,536,653 | 6,696 |
| 31 | Virginia | $52,233 | $36,000 | 8,470,020 | 1,729 |
| 32 | Texas | $47,750 | $35,000 | 28,304,596 | 4,627 |
| 33 | Delaware | $50,413 | $35,000 | 961,939 | 222 |
| 34 | District of Columbia | $55,689 | $38,000 | 693,972 | 178 |
| 35 | Montana | $45,001 | $37,000 | 1,050,493 | 297 |
| 36 | Nevada | $48,314 | $36,000 | 2,998,039 | 398 |
| 37 | Ohio | $46,002 | $33,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,997 |
| 38 | Indiana | $43,202 | $31,000 | 6,666,818 | 1,684 |
| 39 | Arizona | $47,835 | $36,000 | 7,016,270 | 725 |
| 40 | Georgia | $45,677 | $33,000 | 10,429,379 | 2,194 |
| 41 | Tennessee | $42,305 | $31,000 | 6,715,984 | 1,186 |
| 42 | Arkansas | $41,612 | $31,000 | 3,004,279 | 546 |
| 43 | New Mexico | $44,917 | $34,000 | 2,088,070 | 236 |
| 44 | Missouri | $40,206 | $30,000 | 6,113,532 | 1,282 |
| 45 | South Dakota | $42,971 | $34,000 | 869,666 | 116 |
| 46 | North Carolina | $42,390 | $30,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,744 |
| 47 | Mississippi | $42,416 | $31,000 | 2,984,100 | 202 |
| 48 | Hawaii | $39,910 | $34,000 | 1,427,538 | 112 |
| 49 | South Carolina | $33,909 | $24,000 | 5,024,369 | 481 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $38,554 | $28,000 | 4,684,333 | 292 |
| 51 | Florida | $37,521 | $27,000 | 20,984,400 | 1,488 |
Highest paying states for family therapists
| Rank | State | Avg. Family Therapist Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $63,844 |
| 2 | Oregon | $64,108 |
| 3 | North Dakota | $55,732 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $59,144 |
| 5 | Minnesota | $63,576 |
| 6 | Iowa | $55,915 |
| 7 | Rhode Island | $60,309 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $53,123 |
| 9 | Maine | $52,517 |
| 10 | Maryland | $56,405 |
| 11 | Colorado | $56,908 |
| 12 | New Jersey | $55,992 |
| 13 | Illinois | $55,160 |
| 14 | Alaska | $60,101 |
| 15 | Idaho | $54,990 |
| 16 | Wyoming | $58,541 |
| 17 | Nebraska | $50,571 |
| 18 | Michigan | $52,464 |
| 19 | Kansas | $52,017 |
| 20 | Wisconsin | $52,234 |
| 21 | West Virginia | $54,531 |
| 22 | Washington | $51,603 |
| 23 | Alabama | $51,736 |
| 24 | Kentucky | $50,939 |
| 25 | New Hampshire | $54,024 |
| 26 | Vermont | $53,868 |
| 27 | Utah | $52,526 |
| 28 | Connecticut | $54,051 |
| 29 | Oklahoma | $49,057 |
| 30 | California | $50,687 |
| 31 | Virginia | $52,233 |
| 32 | Texas | $47,750 |
| 33 | Delaware | $50,413 |
| 34 | District of Columbia | $55,689 |
| 35 | Montana | $45,001 |
| 36 | Nevada | $48,314 |
| 37 | Ohio | $46,002 |
| 38 | Indiana | $43,202 |
| 39 | Arizona | $47,835 |
| 40 | Georgia | $45,677 |
| 41 | Tennessee | $42,305 |
| 42 | Arkansas | $41,612 |
| 43 | New Mexico | $44,917 |
| 44 | Missouri | $40,206 |
| 45 | South Dakota | $42,971 |
| 46 | North Carolina | $42,390 |
| 47 | Mississippi | $42,416 |
| 48 | Hawaii | $39,910 |
| 49 | South Carolina | $33,909 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $38,554 |
| 51 | Florida | $37,521 |
Expert opinions on the best states for family therapists
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for family therapists to find work opportunities?
Amanda Bakian
Research Associate Professor, University of Utah
My impression is that the job market for graduates with a degree in statistics is still likely to be strong in 2020 - demand for quantitative skills remain high, and work can be done remotely. In an academic setting, individuals with this skill set are in short supply.
Family therapist best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025