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Child and family therapist salary
Average child and family therapist salary
$55,339
Understanding Child and Family Therapist Salaries
A Child and Family Therapist plays a critical role in supporting families and children through various emotional and psychological challenges. As of October 2025, the average salary stands at $55,339 annually. This figure can vary significantly based on several factors including geographical location, years of experience, and the specific sector of employment.
For instance, therapists in metropolitan areas often enjoy higher salaries compared to their rural counterparts. States such as California, New York, and Massachusetts typically offer the best salaries, reflecting the higher cost of living and greater demand for mental health services. The highest paying industries for therapists include healthcare and educational services, where professionals can earn upwards of $70,000 annually.
Moreover, the journey to becoming a Child and Family Therapist often requires advanced degrees and certifications, which can influence starting salaries. Those with specialized training or certifications may command higher pay. Understanding the salary landscape can help aspiring therapists make informed career choices and select job opportunities that align with their financial goals.
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Where can a Child And Family Therapist earn more?
Child and family therapist salary estimates from across the web
Average child and family therapist salary by state
The highest-paying states for child and family therapists are Alaska, California, and Minnesota. The lowest average child and family therapist salary states are Florida, Maine, and Vermont.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for child and family therapists
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $61,386 | $29.51 |
| 2 | Texas | $55,671 | $26.76 |
| 3 | Oregon | $56,160 | $27.00 |
| 4 | Minnesota | $59,727 | $28.71 |
| 5 | North Dakota | $52,944 | $25.45 |
| 6 | Pennsylvania | $48,723 | $23.42 |
| 7 | Alaska | $63,400 | $30.48 |
| 8 | Washington | $54,088 | $26.00 |
| 9 | Colorado | $53,614 | $25.78 |
| 10 | Idaho | $53,418 | $25.68 |
| 11 | Nevada | $50,335 | $24.20 |
| 12 | Kansas | $49,130 | $23.62 |
| 13 | Nebraska | $47,885 | $23.02 |
| 14 | Illinois | $49,571 | $23.83 |
| 15 | Alabama | $49,406 | $23.75 |
| 16 | Wyoming | $54,923 | $26.41 |
| 17 | Kentucky | $46,845 | $22.52 |
| 18 | Iowa | $47,219 | $22.70 |
| 19 | Wisconsin | $46,681 | $22.44 |
| 20 | Utah | $50,215 | $24.14 |
| 21 | Indiana | $42,718 | $20.54 |
| 22 | Oklahoma | $45,350 | $21.80 |
| 23 | New Jersey | $43,446 | $20.89 |
| 24 | Maryland | $42,427 | $20.40 |
| 25 | Arizona | $48,793 | $23.46 |
| 26 | Montana | $42,936 | $20.64 |
| 27 | New York | $40,527 | $19.48 |
| 28 | West Virginia | $45,566 | $21.91 |
| 29 | Georgia | $42,506 | $20.44 |
| 30 | Michigan | $40,964 | $19.69 |
| 31 | Virginia | $42,245 | $20.31 |
| 32 | Arkansas | $39,963 | $19.21 |
| 33 | New Mexico | $45,023 | $21.65 |
| 34 | Maine | $32,565 | $15.66 |
| 35 | Tennessee | $39,100 | $18.80 |
| 36 | District of Columbia | $42,602 | $20.48 |
| 37 | Missouri | $37,857 | $18.20 |
| 38 | Rhode Island | $37,226 | $17.90 |
| 39 | Mississippi | $41,323 | $19.87 |
| 40 | Delaware | $36,566 | $17.58 |
| 41 | Ohio | $37,641 | $18.10 |
| 42 | Massachusetts | $31,362 | $15.08 |
| 43 | North Carolina | $37,686 | $18.12 |
| 44 | South Dakota | $40,224 | $19.34 |
| 45 | Hawaii | $39,547 | $19.01 |
| 46 | Connecticut | $34,683 | $16.67 |
| 47 | Louisiana | $40,118 | $19.29 |
| 48 | Florida | $34,214 | $16.45 |
| 49 | Vermont | $31,959 | $15.36 |
| 50 | New Hampshire | $31,344 | $15.07 |
| 51 | South Carolina | $30,983 | $14.90 |
Highest paying cities for child and family therapists
The highest-paying cities for child and family therapists are San Rafael, CA, Corvallis, OR, and Bellingham, WA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Rafael, CA | $65,260 | $31.38 |
| 2 | Corvallis, OR | $56,260 | $27.05 |
| 3 | Bellingham, WA | $55,245 | $26.56 |
| 4 | Houston, TX | $55,042 | $26.46 |
| 5 | Denver, CO | $53,738 | $25.84 |
| 6 | Apache Junction, AZ | $48,603 | $23.37 |
| 7 | Philadelphia, PA | $48,442 | $23.29 |
| 8 | Bettendorf, IA | $46,273 | $22.25 |
| 9 | Tulsa, OK | $45,405 | $21.83 |
| 10 | Fort Wayne, IN | $42,677 | $20.52 |
| 11 | Buffalo, NY | $40,726 | $19.58 |
| 12 | Asheville, NC | $38,612 | $18.56 |
| 13 | Kansas City, MO | $38,510 | $18.51 |
| 14 | New Bedford, MA | $31,772 | $15.28 |
Child and family therapist salary details
A child and family therapist's salary ranges from $37,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $81,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a child and family therapist's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $81,000 | $6,750 | $39 |
| 75th Percentile | $67,000 | $5,583 | $32 |
| Average | $55,339 | $4,612 | $27 |
| 25th Percentile | $45,000 | $3,750 | $22 |
| 10th Percentile | $37,000 | $3,083 | $18 |
Highest paying child and family therapist jobs
The highest paying types of child and family therapists are licensed professional counselor, counselor/art therapist, and outpatient physical therapist.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mental Health Clinician | $54,359 | $4,530 | $26.13 | 91,347 |
| Clinician | $60,150 | $5,012 | $28.92 | 105,023 |
| Licensed Professional Counselor | $94,675 | $7,890 | $45.52 | 153,612 |
| Clinical Social Worker | $63,056 | $5,255 | $30.32 | 124,816 |
| Clinical Counselor | $54,191 | $4,516 | $26.05 | 146,133 |
| Child Care Counselor | $36,843 | $3,070 | $17.71 | 100,538 |
Top companies hiring child and family therapists now:
Which companies pay child and family therapists the most?
Child and family therapist salaries at Everymind (formerly Mental Health Association Of Montgomery County) and Terros Health are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average child and family therapist salary at companies like Meridian Health Services and Mental Health Partners are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Everymind (formerly Mental Health Association Of Montgomery County) | $87,271 | $41.96 |
| 2 | Terros Health | $76,297 | $36.68 |
| 3 | Meridian Health Services | $68,887 | $33.12 |
| 4 | Mental Health Partners | $68,691 | $33.02 |
| 5 | Options Counseling and Family Services | $65,469 | $31.48 |
| 6 | Child & Adolescent Behavioral Health | $62,648 | $30.12 |
| 7 | Magellan Health | $60,749 | $29.21 |
| 8 | Legacy Community Health | $60,530 | $29.10 |
| 9 | Aspire Health | $59,120 | $28.42 |
| 10 | Center for Life Management | $58,701 | $28.22 |
| 11 | Albertina Kerr | $55,892 | $26.87 |
| 12 | Seneca Companies | $54,276 | $26.09 |
| 13 | Seneca Resources | $53,734 | $25.83 |
| 14 | Mental Health Center Of Denver | $53,592 | $25.77 |
| 15 | LifeWorks NW | $53,478 | $25.71 |
| 16 | Americorps | $52,777 | $25.37 |
| 17 | LifeWorks | $52,759 | $25.36 |
| 18 | Universal Health Services | $52,491 | $25.24 |
| 19 | Sea Mar Community Health Centers | $51,642 | $24.83 |
| 20 | Damar Services | $51,614 | $24.81 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Child And Family Therapist salary by industry
The average child and family therapist salary varies across industries:
- The average child and family therapist salary in the finance industry is $71,255, the highest of any industry.
- The average child and family therapist salary in the finance industry is $54,852.
- Child and family therapists in the non profits industry earn an average salary of $49,382, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for child and family therapists
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Finance | $71,255 | $34.26 |
| 2 | Health Care | $54,852 | $26.37 |
| 3 | Professional | $50,550 | $24.30 |
| 4 | Non Profits | $49,382 | $23.74 |
High paying child and family therapist jobs
Child and family therapist salary trends
The average child and family therapist salary has risen by $5,497 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average child and family therapist earned $49,842 annually, but today, they earn $55,339 a year. That works out to a 4% change in pay for child and family therapists over the last decade.
Compare child and family therapist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average child and family therapist salary over time
Compare child and family therapist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Child and family therapist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $55,300 | $26.61 | +3.4% |
| 2024 | $53,500 | $25.71 | -1.0% |
| 2023 | $54,000 | $25.96 | +2.6% |
| 2022 | $52,600 | $25.28 | -0.8% |
| 2021 | $53,000 | $25.48 | +1.2% |
Recently added child and family therapist salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saginaw County Community Mental Health Authority | Child, Youth and Family Therapist | Saginaw, MI | 06/29/2025 | $67,326 |
| Lifestance Health | Child & Family Therapist (Lmft & Lcsw)-Hybrid Role | San Diego, CA | 06/29/2025 | $117,000 |
| The Guidance Center | Child and Family Therapist | Leavenworth, KS | 06/27/2025 | $68,149 |
| CHR Career | Outpatient Therapist: Child & Family Outpatient Program | East Hartford, CT | 06/26/2025 | $56,797 |
| Evidence Based Associates | Community-Based Child Therapist | New York, NY | 06/23/2025 | $60,000 |
| Washburn Center | Day Treatment Child and Family Therapist | Minneapolis, MN | 06/22/2025 | $60,000 |
| Comprehensive Healthcare | Therapist-Child & Family Outpatient | Yakima, WA | 06/21/2025 | $75,236 |
| Youth In Need | Child, Youth & Family Therapist ( | Saint Louis, MO | 06/20/2025 | $41,273 |
| Compass Health | Child & Family Therapist-Everett Children's Intensive Services Red Team | Everett, WA | 06/19/2025 | $64,488 |
| Trillium Family Services | Child & Family Therapist-In-Patient | Portland, OR | 06/16/2025 | $68,320 |
Child and family therapist salary FAQs
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