Is an MFT Degree Worth It?

What does the LMFT curriculum typically include?

Under the umbrella of a master’s in marriage and family therapy, you may choose a clinical track or a clinical/research track. And depending on the university you choose, there are specializations possible in your coursework that may include:

• Couples therapy
• Child and adolescent family therapy
• General family therapy
• Medical family therapy
• Trauma-informed systemic therapy
• LGBTQ couple therapy
• Military family therapy
• Systemic sex therapy

In addition to your foundation courses, graduate students in MFT learn systemic perception and assessment, which is the ability to define individual situations in terms of their relationships within couples, families and workplaces.

What Do LMFTs Do?

Marriage and family therapists treat the full range of mental and emotional disorders while addressing how those conditions affect relationships within a couple or family. Unlike regular psychotherapy, which can continue for a long time, most MFTs focus on shorter-term problem-focused work. The American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) notes that marriage and family therapy tends to be short-term, with a median length of 12 sessions and about 65% of cases completed within 20 sessions.

AAMFT says marriage and family therapists treat a wide range of clinical concerns, including depression, anxiety, couple conflict, and parent-child problems. The organization also notes that research supports marriage and family therapy as an effective treatment for many mental health and relationship concerns and that, in some cases, it can be as effective as or more effective than standard individual treatment approaches. AAMFT cites examples including mood disorders, substance use disorders, schizophrenia, children’s conduct disorders, adolescent drug abuse, anorexia in young adult women, childhood autism, chronic illness in adults and children, and marital distress and conflict.

What does that look like in the course of a day, week or month on the job?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), a typical day for an LMFT may include:

• Encouraging clients to discuss their emotions and experiences
• Helping clients process their reactions and adjust to difficult changes in their life, including divorce and layoffs
• Guiding clients through decision-making, especially about the future
• Helping clients change their behavior through strategies and skills
• Helping clients cope with difficult situations
• Referring clients to other resources or services in the community, such as support groups or inpatient treatment facilities
• Completing and maintaining confidential files and mandated records

Where Can LMFTs Find Employment?

Many people are familiar with “marriage counselors,” even if only from seeing them in movies or on television. However, while marriage and family therapists do often work in private practices, there are many other employment opportunities available:

• Schools: Many students may benefit by working alongside their families with an MFT. Common examples include students who have difficulty learning, are being bullied, are bullying others or have alcohol- and/or drug-related issues. But students who could benefit from working with an MFT certainly aren’t limited to those circumstances.
• Outpatient care facilities: In facilities geared toward outpatient treatment, MFT therapists provide clinical services and case management, working with children, adolescents, young adults, adults and families dealing with depression, anxiety, other mental illnesses or alcohol and/or substance abuse.
• Hospitals and inpatient facilities: MFTs become vital members of a patient’s healthcare team, working with doctors, nurses and other staff members. They may work in a department dedicated to mental health or at large in the facility, helping patients work through the emotions and realities of being sick, in treatment or terminally ill.
• Offices of other healthcare professionals: MFTs employed in these settings may work alongside groups of other mental health practitioners or therapists, or even in offices with physical and occupational therapists who help patients recover from injury or illness.
• Employee-assistance programs: EAPs are programs that companies contract with to provide services to their employees. Any employee dealing with relationship or family issues, workplace situations, depression, anxiety, alcohol or substance abuse or any other situation that affects their work may seek confidential help from their employer’s EAP.
• Government and military: Marriage and family therapists (MFTs) working in government settings earn more on average than those in private practice, according to the 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data. In the military, marriage and family therapists work in clinical settings to support veterans, current service members, and their families. They’re instrumental in providing support and counseling for those who suffer from traumatic brain injuries (TBI) or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). MFTs are now also employed in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), conducting patient assessments, recommending treatment plans, providing crisis intervention, and delivering therapy.

Pros and Cons of Getting a Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy

There are multiple aspects to consider before taking the next step in any educational or career path. You may want to consider which environment you’d like to work in and what the job duties would entail. You may also consider the amount of time it takes to get your degree and how you’ll support yourself while you do, including the student debt you may accrue.

After the MFT Degree - Potential Salary and Student Debt

The amount of student debt you might accrue while pursuing a degree is a difficult thing to measure because it depends on the school you attend, whether you attend part-time or full-time, and whether you’re eligible for scholarships or financial aid. Universities tend to vary widely in their tuition. The amount of student debt you might accrue while pursuing a degree is a difficult thing to measure because it depends on the school you attend, whether you attend part-time or full-time, and whether you’re eligible for scholarships or financial aid. Universities tend to vary widely in their tuition. Current estimates show that the average graduate student finishes school with about $77,300 in student loan debt, according to Credible’s 2026 guide, citing the latest NCES data.

If you’re interested in working in a certain area, you may want to think about the potential salary compared to the tuition of your desired school. The BLS estimated the 2024 annual median pay for a marriage and family therapist to be $63,780, but this number varies greatly depending on your workplace and location. The numbers range from $59,010 for offices of other health practitioners to $89,030 for jobs in state government (excluding education and hospitals).

If you’re interested in working in a certain area, you may want to think about the potential salary compared to the tuition of your desired school. The BLS estimated the 2021 annual median pay for a marriage and family therapist to be $49,880, but this number varies greatly depending on your workplace and location. The numbers range from $54,820 for workplaces with individual and family services to $77,960 for jobs in state government (excluding education and hospitals).

The top-paying states for MFTs as of May 2024 by annual mean wage are:

• Hawaii: $145,360
• Connecticut: $94,830
• Oregon: $94,520
• New Jersey: $91,980
• Colorado: $89,280

According to the most recent BLS data (May 2024), wages for marriage and family therapists vary widely by state. Among the states with available data, wages fall into four general ranges. Eleven states fall within the $59,300–$86,490 range, another eleven fall within the $53,940–$58,360 range, eleven more fall within the $48,280–$53,870 range, and eleven states fall within the $38,060–$47,930 range. Not all states report data for this occupation, so these groupings reflect only those with available estimates.

Salaries of LMFTs vs. Mental Health Counselors and Social Workers

In comparison, BLS estimates for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors show an annual median pay of $59,190 in 2024, which is $4,590 less than that of MFTs. Across work settings, counselor pay ranged from $53,940 in residential mental health and substance abuse facilities to $71,210 in government jobs. For MFTs, the comparable figures were $73,810 and $84,850, respectively, putting counselor wages roughly $12,600 to $19,900 lower in those settings. In general, completing a master’s degree in mental health counseling may lead to a higher earning potential and is required by some states for licensure.

The BLS estimates a 2024 annual median pay of $61,330 for social workers, which is $2,450 lower than the $63,780 median wage for marriage and family therapists (MFTs). By workplace, social worker wages ranged from $56,470 in individual and family services to $70,420 in local government, excluding schools and hospitals. Comparable BLS estimates for MFTs were $67,970 in individual and family services and $85,770 in local government, excluding schools and hospitals, putting social worker pay about $11,500 to $15,400 lower in those settings. Accredited online MSW programs generally allow you to keep working while pursuing your degree.

Job Outlook for MFT Graduates vs. Mental Health Counselors and Social Workers

These jobs will remain in high demand through 2034 by BLS estimates. Marriage and family therapists are expected to increase by 7,700 each year on average, an increase of 13%. Social workers nationwide are expected to add an average of 74,000 jobs each year, up 6%. And mental health counselor jobs are expected to increase by an average of 48,300 each year, up 17%. All three positions are expected to grow faster than average, according to the BLS.

Summing It All Up: Should You Get a Marriage and Family Therapist Degree?

It’s an equation with a lot of elements: job description, career outlook, the variety of places you could work, the cost of your degree and your underlying motivations.

For many MFTs, the guiding motivation is the opportunity to help people, and this career path provides that perfect opportunity to do so. According to AAMFT, after receiving treatment, almost 90% of clients report improved emotional health, nearly two-thirds report improved overall physical health, and over 98% rate marriage and family therapy services as good or excellent.

If helping people is your passion and you are interested in the world of psychology and therapy, particularly with families and children, an MFT might be the first step toward a long, fulfilling career working with clients to improve mental health outcomes.