Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Job outlook for marriage counselors in the United States
Are marriage counselor jobs in demand?
Marriage counselor job and salary trends over time
Marriage counselor jobs over time
Marriage counselor job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 53 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 59 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 57 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 47 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 41 | 0.00% |
Average marriage counselor salary over time
Marriage counselor salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $49,987 | $24.03 | +3.5% |
| 2025 | $48,303 | $23.22 | --1.0% |
| 2024 | $48,770 | $23.45 | +2.7% |
| 2023 | $47,505 | $22.84 | --0.8% |
| 2022 | $47,875 | $23.02 | +1.2% |
Marriage counselor jobs by state
Most common states for marriage counselors
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 86 | 12% |
| 2 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 72 | 7% |
| 3 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 220 | 6% |
| 4 | Delaware | 961,939 | 58 | 6% |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 660 | 5% |
| 6 | Alaska | 739,795 | 36 | 5% |
| 7 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 36 | 5% |
| 8 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 28 | 5% |
| 9 | New York | 19,849,399 | 797 | 4% |
| 10 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 469 | 4% |
| 11 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 374 | 4% |
| 12 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 362 | 4% |
| 13 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 307 | 4% |
| 14 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 264 | 4% |
| 15 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 232 | 4% |
| 16 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 223 | 4% |
| 17 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 153 | 4% |
| 18 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 57 | 4% |
| 19 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 47 | 4% |
| 20 | Vermont | 623,657 | 26 | 4% |
Marriage Counselor job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of marriage counselor experts
Western Illinois University
Louisiana State University at Shreveport
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Carolina Christian College
Montana State University – Bozeman
American University
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Ohio University
Elms College
Rider University
Portland State University
Angelo State University
Oral Roberts University
Rider University
What general advice would you give to a Marriage Counselor?
Katherine Stavrianopoulos Ph.D.: Education and Credentials: Invest in obtaining advanced degrees and relevant certifications that enhance your qualifications and marketability. A master's or doctoral degree in counseling psychology, along with licensure or certification in your jurisdiction, can significantly increase your earning potential. Specialization and Niche Expertise: Develop expertise in specialized areas of counseling psychology that are in demand or command higher fees. Consider focusing on niche populations, such as children and adolescents, trauma survivors, couples therapy, family therapy and acquire specialized training or certifications to differentiate yourself in the market. Clinical Experience and Internships: Gain diverse clinical experience through internships, practicum placements, and supervised training opportunities. Continuing Education and Professional Development: Stay abreast of emerging trends, research findings, and evidence-based practices in counseling psychology through continuing education, workshops, and professional development opportunities.
What Marriage Counselor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Emily Yowell Ph.D.: There is a critical need for mental health care in our world. Many want to help with this need, making counseling a good profession to enter now.
What will help Marriage Counselors increase their earning potential?
Emily Yowell Ph.D.: Psychologists should be aware of what others in their field are making for similar positions. It is important to ask for what your work is worth in an initial position to assure raises are based on a solid starting salary. Newer psychologists may also consider asking for an early review that prompts an early conversation around potential raises, bonus, or other job benefits.
Leigh Ann Tipton-Fisler, PhD, BCBA
Associate Professor and Program Coordinator of Specialist in School Psychology and Clinical/ Community Mental Health Graduate ProgramsWestern Illinois University
Clinical, Counseling And Applied Psychology
What general advice would you give to a Marriage Counselor?
Leigh Ann Tipton-Fisler, PhD, BCBA: - The best I can give to graduates is to focus on taking small steps at first. Often the first year in the field can be exciting and overwhelming at the same time. The system we work in (the helping profession broadly) often has a lot of challenges, and new professionals want to re-envision a path for changes. This is tangible, but at first, it is important to understand the roles and functions in the workplace before flipping everything upside down. I suggest taking one small change at a time in an area that is important to you and build relationships and trust with your professional colleagues before overloading yourself with the new job and new goals.
Kacie Blalock Ph.D.
Associate Professor; Director, Master of CounselingLouisiana State University at Shreveport
Department Of Psychology
What soft skills should all Marriage Counselors possess?
Kacie Blalock Ph.D.: Soft skills that are essential for counselors include emotional intelligence, empathy, multicultural competency, interpersonal abilities, and authenticity.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Marriage Counselors?
Kacie Blalock Ph.D.: It is important that counselors are able to effectively take notes and summarize progress, interpret assessments, memorize and recall information, and keep clear yet concise records.
How do you envision technology impacting Marriage Counselors in the next 5 years?
Brian Ogolsky Ph.D.: The pandemic has taught us that we have to adapt to change, and technology has proven an essential form of adaptability. It is clear that employers now see that employees can work remotely, so I expect a lot more of this in the future. It benefits the employers financially (less overhead, etc.) and to employees (more flexibility). That said, work at home arrangements disproportionately affects women with children because they pick up more of the child care burden. This means that more needs to be done to support working parents (women, mostly) to help allow productivity and promote mental health.
What type of skills will young Marriage Counselors need?
Dr. Andrew Wood: For Biblical Studies, it is vital that graduates have a genuine relationship with Jesus, that they are people of humility and integrity, desire to be lifelong learners, and have open minds to new things they learn that may challenge their original assumptions. They need to have a strong work ethic, organizational, and time management skills to work on their own productively and with integrity.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Marriage Counselors to find work opportunities?
Dr. Andrew Wood: Many of the smaller churches across the country need part-time pastors. Our graduates could potentially find opportunities to pastor more than one rural church at the same time or to work part-time at a church as a "tentmaker," supporting themselves with a second job, as some of our missionaries and urban ministers do. Some larger churches and colleges are eager to diversify their staff, creating some unique opportunities for people of color from Carolina Christian College to minister in a way that bridges ethnic divides.
Dr. Mark Nelson
Professor and Program LeaderMontana State University – Bozeman
Department of Health and Human Development; Graduate Program – School Counseling
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Marriage Counselors to find work opportunities?
Dr. Mark Nelson: Rocky Mountain and western states seem to have many opportunities. This may be due to the westward migration in the U.S. population.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Marriage Counselors to find work opportunities?
Dr. Michelle Newton-Francis Ph.D.: The applicability and utility of studying sociology opens the possibilities in numerous sectors. In business, graduates work in public relations, consumer research, marketing, and human resources. In health services, students work in administration, planning, education, and research. There are also opportunities throughout the criminal justice and social services fields. Many students go to graduate school to work in law and secondary or higher education.
What type of skills will young Marriage Counselors need?
Dr. Thomas Dearden Ph.D.: Indeed, the way we work is changing. The skills that young graduates will need are diverse. Transferable skills and soft skills will certainly be marketable. These include traditional crafts such as communication, but I also think the world expects more empathy from its employees. Young graduates with an understanding of racism, sexism, and environmental responsibility will become increasingly important.
How do you envision technology impacting Marriage Counselors in the next 5 years?
Christine Suniti Bhat: The pandemic has already altered the way in which school counselors are engaging with their students. The importance of learning management systems and dynamic tools to interact with students online will continue to grow. School counselors will have to be prepared to deliver individual services as well as group and class interventions using technologies such as Zoom or Microsoft Teams.
This is something that we would not have anticipated five years ago. School counselors may also have to address issues related to isolation, loneliness, and excessive screen time, along with some of the issues that are related to the misuse of technology such as cyberbullying and sexting. Prevention (before problems arise) and intervention (addressing issues after they arise) are both important. Overall, health and wellness in relation to the use of technology will become more important.
What general advice would you give to a Marriage Counselor?
Dr. Meredith Bertrand: History is ever-changing, and teachers must clarify how current events are just as much a part of the study of history as any other socio-political period or event. If you are not comparing the civil rights movement of today to the ongoing civil rights movements of the past, and if you are not supporting the campaign against oppression and institutional racism upon which our nation was built, then you are doing continuous harm to those who need you to act and disrupt the cycle. History teachers better be ready to be activists, not just teachers, or else you are perpetuating the status quo.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Marriage Counselors?
Dr. Meredith Bertrand: Because of the coronavirus, teachers are moving into a new age of schooling. Everything has been converted to digital delivery, and modern history teachers live in this historical moment. I'd like to see that digital distribution continues, to some extent, as it can be an engaging and flexible way for kids to learn. Our schools are so rigid in their structure, which is to the detriment of all, as we see in this current crisis.
What has become strikingly apparent during this pandemic is how critically essential schools (and the structure of school) are for children and families' general welfare. I am struck by the irony of how underfunded schools are. Yet, our society is dependent upon them to provide nutrition, healthcare, counseling, and academic learning. Now, schools are pressured to reopen for the good of the economy (because parents need childcare). How is it that schoolchildren and teachers come to carry the US economy on their backs, yet still have to hold bake sales and walk-a-thons to support programming?
Aubrey Daniels Ph.D.
Acting Assistant ProfessorRider University
Department of Graduate Education, Leadership, and Counseling
What general advice would you give to a Marriage Counselor?
Aubrey Daniels Ph.D.: Those who are beginning their career with a degree in mental and social health services and allied professions should aim to get as much experience as possible! Apply for positions where you are allowed to work with others, whether through one-on-one counseling, groups, or consulting. Also, take this time to learn about the business component of the profession, too.
Other ways to gain more experience is by partaking in a variety of training, online webinars, and conferences. There are many free online instructions you can partake in to gain more knowledge about topics of interest, whether it is a specific type of therapeutic approach or more information about a mental health disorder.
Also, be open! You never know which population you enjoy serving most, until you get the most experience possible. Lastly, a more diverse caseload will provide you with a better idea about how to help a wide range of individuals. It will also assist you in learning more about the different ways people view the world, which will widen your view of the world.
Dr. Javier Casado Pérez Ph.D.
Counselor EducationPortland State University
Mental Health Counseling
What general advice would you give to a Marriage Counselor?
Dr. Javier Casado Pérez Ph.D.: New professionals entering the mental health counseling professions must expect substantive differences in the client's needs and goals for the counseling process. The global pandemic has increased both stress and social isolation, making the counselor's job even more critical, as they are often the client's only non-work-related virtual interaction. With the global pandemic and widespread anti-racist demonstrations, counselors should anticipate clients' desire to discuss work stress and burnout, parenting and caretaker stress, culture, identity development, and racial trauma, virtual fatigue, and difficulties in social relationships.
Lesley Casarez Ph.D.
Director, Quality Enhancement Plan Program Coordinator, M.S. Professional School Counseling Associate Professor, Curriculum and InstructionAngelo State University
Department of Curriculum and Instruction
What general advice would you give to a Marriage Counselor?
Lesley Casarez Ph.D.: Curriculum and instruction are such a broad field that graduates can tailor their job searches to fit their particular interests. Whether a candidate wants to focus on pedagogical development, curriculum development, instructional strategies, or program evaluation and data analysis, advanced degree programs in curriculum and instruction allow them to do so. The job market is changing right now, with many educational entities shifting to either a hybrid or entirely virtual model for students. With this change, graduates will need to adapt to a more technological-based environment in which they operate.
Dr. Bill Buker
Associate Dean and Professor of Professional CounselingOral Roberts University
Theology
What general advice would you give to a Marriage Counselor?
Dr. Bill Buker: In response to your first question, my general advice to graduates beginning their career in theological and ministerial studies, is to be aware of the manifold and diverse opportunities for meaningful ministry in today's world due, in no small part, to Covid-19. While traditional forms of ministry may be limited, new and creative ways of connecting are emerging. In the context of this current pandemic, the inherent human quest for meaning has people asking the big questions. In their attempts to make sense of what is happening in the world, people are open to discussions and reflections on which theology has much to contribute. Engaging in such conversations, by becoming caring and competent listeners, not only opens doors for ministry, it constitutes ministry. However, I would add this reminder that listening well to the struggles of others goes far beyond what theological and ministerial graduates have learned in the classroom. It has everything to do with who they are as persons, which means that their spiritual formation will be the critical variable as they seek to incarnate Jesus in their contexts of ministry.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Marriage Counselors?
Dr. Bill Buker: In response to your third question regarding the possibility of an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on graduates, I think it's impossible to walk through such a challenging and unprecedented experience without lasting effects. While I can't predict what all of these might entail, I hope, that in discovering the positive and creative outcomes that will emerge out of this pandemic, one effect will be increased trust in God's redemptive activity's Spirit in the world. I'm hopeful that our theology and ministry graduates will recognize the importance of following the Spirit's leading and will intentionally seek to keep in step with what the Spirit is doing, so that they can be collaborative partners with God in the unfolding of his redemptive story.
Juleen Buser Ph.D.
Professor and Director, School Counseling and Coaching ProgramsRider University
Graduate Education
What general advice would you give to a Marriage Counselor?
Juleen Buser Ph.D.: Counseling Services (school counseling concentration) and an MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (we have a CMHC concentration and a Dance Movement Therapy concentration in this program). The general advice I would give to graduates starting positions in the counseling field would be to understand the critical importance of the work of helping professionals. Counselors optimally provide a safe space for clients to discuss their fears, worries, anxieties, joys, traumas, insecurities, accomplishments, etc. This ability to be an empathic, listening, accepting presence will be even more crucial for clients in our current situation.