17 Career Paths for Marriage & Family Therapy Graduates in 2025
Marriage and Family Therapists work in 17+ diverse settings, including hospitals (mean $72,720), private practice ($42,610-$111,610 range), government agencies ($79,110-$84,500), outpatient care centers, schools, and mental health facilities. The field offers strong job growth of 13% from 2024-2034, flexibility between clinical and non-clinical roles, and opportunities in telehealth, military support, and specialized treatment programs.
Graduates with a Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT) degree are highly-trained mental health professionals who bring a family-oriented perspective and treatment approach to mental, emotional, behavioral, and interpersonal disorders. Addressing relationship issues that affect family dynamics and communication between loved ones, MFTs provide premarital counseling, relationship therapy, child therapy, separation counseling, and divorce support.
More than 6.1 million people are seen by marriage and family therapists annually, according to the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT). By 2034, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects this occupation will grow by 13% from 2024-2034, much faster than the average for all other occupations in the U.S. With a national median salary of $63,780 (May 2024 data) and top earners reaching $111,610, MFT careers offer both financial stability and meaningful work.
Table of Contents
- MFT Salary Overview by Employment Setting
- Outpatient Care Centers
- Inpatient Care Facilities & Hospitals
- Offices of Health Practitioners
- Schools & Educational Institutions
- Social Service Agencies
- Private Practice
- Substance Abuse & Addiction Treatment Centers
- Medical Centers
- Mental Health Centers
- Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs)
- Nursing & Residential Care Facilities
- Legal & Correctional Systems
- Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs)
- Government Agencies
- Military & Veterans Services
- Churches & Religious Settings
- Telehealth & Remote Work Opportunities
- Frequently Asked Questions
MFT Salary Overview by Employment Setting
Understanding salary potential across different employment settings helps you make informed career decisions. The May 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows significant variation based on work environment, with government positions and specialized medical settings typically offering higher compensation than nonprofit or school-based roles.
| Employment Setting | Typical Work Environment | Estimated Salary Range* | Work-Life Balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Government Agencies | Federal, State, Local | $79,110-$84,500 | Excellent |
| Hospitals & Medical Centers | Inpatient/Outpatient | $68,000-$85,000 | Moderate |
| Private Practice | Solo/Group Practice | $42,610-$111,610 | Very Flexible |
| Outpatient Care Centers | Mental Health Clinics | $55,000-$75,000 | Good |
| Schools & Universities | K-12, Higher Education | $50,000-$70,000 | Excellent |
| Social Service Agencies | Nonprofit/Government | $45,000-$65,000 | Moderate |
*Salary ranges are estimates based on BLS May 2024 national data, industry reports, and setting-specific factors. Actual salaries vary by geographic location, experience level, and local market conditions.
National MFT Salary Statistics (May 2024 BLS Data, accessed October 2025):
- National Median: $63,780 per year
- Mean Annual Wage: $72,720
- 10th Percentile: $42,610 (entry-level positions)
- 90th Percentile: $111,610 (experienced practitioners in high-demand areas)
- Total Employment: 77,800 MFTs nationwide
- Projected Growth: 13% from 2024-2034 (about 7,700 annual job openings)
1. Outpatient Care Centers
Outpatient care centers employ one of the largest concentrations of MFTs in the United States. These facilities treat children, adolescents, adults, and seniors battling depression, anxiety disorders, substance abuse, and serious mental illness without requiring overnight hospital stays.
Typical Responsibilities: MFTs in outpatient settings provide various clinical services, including leading individual and family therapy sessions, performing comprehensive psychosocial assessments, delivering patient and family education, case management, and acting as a liaison between patient units, outpatient programs, community providers, and physicians. You'll often assist with coordinating smooth transitions from inpatient programs to outpatient care.
Work Environment: Most outpatient centers operate Monday through Friday with some evening hours. You'll typically see 5-8 clients per day with dedicated time for documentation and treatment planning. Caseloads average 25-35 active clients.
Who Thrives Here: Therapists who prefer structured environments with clinical supervision, enjoy working as part of a healthcare team, and want exposure to diverse mental health conditions without the intensity of crisis intervention work.
2. Inpatient Care Facilities & Hospitals
Working as part of a multidisciplinary team with doctors, nurses, and other healthcare personnel, hospital-based MFTs treat patients experiencing acute mental health crises requiring intensive support. Many hospitals dedicate entire floors or sections to behavioral health services.
Primary Role: Hospital MFTs typically assume case management responsibilities, developing and implementing comprehensive treatment plans for patients admitted during crisis situations. You'll work with individuals experiencing severe depression, suicidal ideation, psychotic episodes, or acute trauma responses, usually on a short-term basis lasting 3-10 days.
Specialized Populations: Hospitals hire MFTs to provide family therapy for complex medical situations, including families caring for elderly parents with dementia, married couples dealing with terminal illness diagnoses, and parents supporting children with chronic diseases such as diabetes, cancer, or cystic fibrosis.
Career Growth: Hospital positions often lead to supervisory roles, program coordination, or specialized units focusing on eating disorders, trauma recovery, or adolescent mental health. Salary ranges from $65,000-$85,00,0 depending on location and experience.
3. Offices of Health Practitioners
According to the BLS, approximately 20,000 marriage and family therapists work in offices of other health practitioners, making this the second-largest employer of MFTs nationwide as of May 2024. These integrated care settings combine mental health services with primary care, physical therapy, or other health specialties.
Collaborative Care Model: You'll work alongside physicians, nurse practitioners, occupational therapists, and other healthcare providers to offer holistic patient care. This setting emphasizes the mind-body connection and how relationship dynamics affect physical health outcomes.
Common Specializations: Many MFTs in health practitioner offices focus on health psychology, chronic pain management, behavioral medicine, or supporting patients through major medical procedures. You might work with cardiac rehabilitation patients, cancer survivors, or individuals managing diabetes through lifestyle changes.
Benefits: Regular business hours, administrative support, built-in referral network, and often comprehensive benefits packages including health insurance, retirement plans, and continuing education funding.
4. Schools & Educational Institutions
MFTs work at all educational levels, from elementary schools to universities, addressing family issues that impact student success. This setting allows you to intervene early when family dynamics affect academic performance, social development, or emotional well-being.
K-12 School Settings: Work with families of troubled elementary students, provide parent education on developmental stages, counsel parents on understanding and coping with teenagers, and facilitate family meetings to address behavioral concerns. You'll collaborate closely with school counselors, teachers, and administrators.
Higher Education: University counseling centers hire MFTs to work with college students experiencing relationship difficulties, homesickness, family conflict, or adjustment challenges. You might facilitate support groups for students from divorced families or provide couples counseling for student couples.
Academic Careers: A doctorate degree in marriage and family therapy qualifies you to work in academia as an undergraduate or graduate professor, researcher, or clinical supervisor. You'll train psychology students interested in MFT specialization, teach research methodology, and supervise clinical practica. Doctoral-level MFTs also qualify to become directors of therapy programs at colleges and universities.
Schedule Benefits: School-based positions typically offer summers off or reduced summer schedules, align with academic calendars, and provide excellent work-life balance for therapists with families.
5. Social Service Agencies
Government, nonprofit, and for-profit agencies providing social services to children, youth, families, seniors, and communities employ MFTs in clinical and administrative roles. These positions emphasize community mental health, prevention programs, and serving underserved populations.
Clinical Responsibilities: Provide family therapy for clients referred by child protective services, offer parenting education classes, facilitate support groups for specific populations (single parents, blended families, grandparents raising grandchildren), and deliver crisis intervention services.
Administrative Opportunities: Marriage and family therapists with leadership skills often assume supervisory roles overseeing other counselors and social service staff, managing program development, securing grant funding, and ensuring compliance with state and federal regulations.
Mission-Driven Work: Social service agencies attract therapists committed to social justice, serving marginalized communities, and making mental health services accessible regardless of ability to pay. Many offer loan forgiveness programs for therapists working in public service.
Challenges & Rewards: While salaries tend to be lower than in private practice or hospital settings ($45,000-$65,000), benefits include meaningful work, strong supervision, opportunities to develop specialized skills, and defined work schedules with limited on-call expectations.
6. Private Practice
Private practice represents one of the most popular career paths for experienced MFTs, offering maximum flexibility and earning potential. You can establish your own solo practice or join an established group of therapists sharing office space and administrative resources.
Practice Models: Solo practitioners manage all aspects of their business, including marketing, billing, scheduling, and clinical work. Group practices provide built-in referral networks, shared administrative costs, peer consultation, and coverage during vacations. Some private practices maintain working relationships with local mental health agencies and social services, receiving referrals for private-fee clientele.
Clinical Focus: Private practice MFTs address diverse issues affecting children, couples, and families, including anxiety, grief and loss, anger management, substance abuse, depression, and problems affecting job and school performance. You'll have freedom to develop specialized niches such as trauma recovery, adoption support, infidelity counseling, or premarital preparation.
Income Potential: Session fees typically range from $100-$250 per hour, depending on location, specialization, and credentials. Full-time private practitioners seeing 20-30 clients weekly can earn $75,000-$150,000 annually. However, income isn't guaranteed, and you'll need to account for business expenses, including liability insurance, office rent, continuing education, and healthcare costs.
Timeline Considerations: Most MFTs work in agency or hospital settings for 3-5 years before transitioning to private practice. This builds clinical skills, establishes professional networks, and ensures you're comfortable with the business aspects of running a practice. Many states require full licensure before you can practice independently.
7. Substance Abuse & Addiction Treatment Centers
Specialized treatment centers for alcohol, drugs, gambling, food addiction, and other compulsive behaviors employ MFTs to address the family systems contributing to and affected by addiction. Family involvement significantly improves recovery outcomes, making MFTs valuable team members.
Treatment Approaches: You'll provide education about addiction as a family disease, help clients and families identify enabling behaviors and codependency patterns, assist in developing healthy boundaries, facilitate family therapy sessions during residential treatment, and help families establish recovery-supportive home environments.
Specialized Training: Many positions require or prefer additional certification in substance abuse counseling. You might focus on specific addictions such as helping couples recover from sexual addiction, supporting families dealing with opioid dependence, or working with adolescents struggling with marijuana or video game addiction.
Program Types: Inpatient residential programs (30-90 days), intensive outpatient programs (IOP) requiring 9-20 hours weekly, standard outpatient counseling, and aftercare support programs each offer different work environments and schedules. Residential programs may require evening and weekend availability.
Emotional Demands: Addiction work can be emotionally challenging due to high relapse rates, family conflict, and working with clients in crisis. However, witnessing families heal and rebuild relationships after years of addiction makes this one of the most rewarding MFT specializations.
8. Medical Centers
Integrated medical centers recognize that physical and mental health are interconnected. MFTs collaborate with medical teams to ensure patients receive comprehensive care addressing both body and mind. You'll conduct psychosocial assessments, make resource referrals for patients needing outpatient support, and work with program team members to maintain adequate treatment continuity.
Clinical Services: Provide individual counseling, family therapy, and group therapy addressing medical trauma, chronic illness adjustment, caregiver stress, end-of-life planning, and health behavior change. You might work in pain management clinics, cardiac rehabilitation programs, oncology departments, or women's health centers.
Consultation Role: Medical center MFTs often serve as consultants to medical staff, helping physicians understand how family dynamics affect treatment adherence, providing communication strategies for delivering difficult diagnoses, and identifying when patients need mental health referrals.
Interdisciplinary Collaboration: You'll attend treatment team meetings with physicians, nurses, social workers, dietitians, and physical therapists. This exposure to various medical specialties broadens your clinical skills and helps you understand complex cases requiring coordinated care.
9. Mental Health Centers
Community mental health centers provide therapy to individuals, families, and groups dealing with severe mental illnesses and emotional disorders, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression, and eating disorders. According to the BLS, these establishments employ significant numbers of MFTs as mental health counselors.
Client Population: You'll often work with clients experiencing serious, persistent mental illness who need ongoing support to maintain stability, develop coping skills, improve relationships, and connect to community resources. Many clients have experienced trauma, housing instability, or previous psychiatric hospitalizations.
Services Provided: Therapeutic care focusing on symptom management, crisis intervention when clients experience acute episodes, care coordination linking clients to medication management and case management services, and serving as a liaison to other mental health programs offering employment support, housing assistance, or peer support networks.
Public Service Focus: Mental health centers typically serve as safety net providers for uninsured or underinsured individuals. The Behavioral Health Department of county-contracted children's clinics exemplifies where MFTs provide critical services within the public mental health system.
Supervision & Training: Community mental health centers usually provide excellent clinical supervision, regular case consultation, and opportunities to learn evidence-based treatments like Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), or trauma-focused approaches.
10. Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs)
EAPs are employee benefit programs that companies offer workers to identify and resolve personal problems or issues affecting health, well-being, work quality, and job performance. Third-party companies managing these programs hire MFTs to provide short-term counseling and comprehensive referral services.
Session Structure: EAPs typically provide 3-8 free counseling sessions per issue annually. You'll offer brief solution-focused therapy addressing work stress, family conflict, financial concerns, legal problems, substance abuse, grief, or relationship difficulties. When issues require longer-term treatment, you'll refer employees to community therapists.
Workplace Consultation: Beyond individual counseling, MFTs in EAPs may provide management consultation on employee relations issues, facilitate workplace conflict resolution, deliver stress management workshops, and support employees during organizational changes like mergers or layoffs.
Confidentiality: EAP services are completely confidential. Employers only learn whether employees utilized the benefit, not what was discussed. This confidentiality encourages employees to seek help early before problems escalate.
Work Environment: Most EAP work involves telehealth sessions or scheduled appointments at the EAP office. Some positions require providing on-site services at employer locations. Schedules often include evening hours to accommodate employees working traditional business hours.
11. Nursing & Residential Care Facilities
Nursing homes and residential care facilities hire MFTs to diagnose and treat mental and emotional issues affecting married couples and families dealing with aging, chronic illness, and end-of-life transitions. As the population ages, demand for MFTs in eldercare settings continues to grow.
Common Issues Addressed: Counseling families coping with a spouse's or family member's cognitive decline, facilitating family meetings about care planning and placement decisions, supporting couples when one partner moves to assisted living, providing grief counseling when residents experience loss, and addressing family conflict over caregiving responsibilities or financial matters.
Resident Counseling: Work directly with nursing home residents experiencing depression, anxiety about health decline, relationship issues with adult children or caregivers, or adjustment difficulties after moving from independent living to residential care.
Unique Considerations: You'll need an understanding of aging processes, dementia and cognitive impairment, medical terminology related to chronic conditions common in elderly populations, and Medicare/Medicaid regulations affecting mental health services in long-term care facilities.
12. Legal & Correctional Systems
MFTs working with legal and correctional systems assist families and couples experiencing crisis related to criminal justice involvement, custody disputes, or incarceration. This specialized niche requires understanding both mental health treatment and legal procedures.
Family Court Services: MFTs evaluate families involved in custody disputes, make recommendations to courts regarding custody arrangements and visitation schedules, contact collateral sources like teachers and physicians to assess child wellbeing, and sometimes testify in court about their findings and recommendations.
Correctional Settings: Provide counseling for incarcerated individuals preparing for reentry into society, addressing family relationships damaged by incarceration, helping inmates improve communication with children and spouses, and facilitating family therapy sessions during visitation. You might also counsel families adjusting after a loved one's release from prison.
Specialized Populations: Work with sexual abuse victims and perpetrators in treatment programs, counsel juvenile offenders about family issues contributing to delinquent behavior, provide therapy for domestic violence perpetrators and victims (separately), and support families navigating the criminal justice system.
Required Skills: Strong boundaries, understanding of safety protocols, knowledge of legal terminology and court procedures, ability to maintain objectivity when making custody recommendations, and comfort working with mandated clients who may be resistant to therapy.
13. Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs)
HMOs provide or arrange managed care for health insurance, self-funded health care benefit plans, and individual patients. Working with various health care providers on a prepaid basis, HMOs hire MFTs to deliver mental health services as part of comprehensive healthcare coverage.
Major Employer Example: Kaiser Permanente, the largest nonprofit health maintenance organization in the U.S., employs marriage and family therapists in its behavioral health centers, chemical dependency recovery programs, and integrated mental health facilities throughout its service areas.
Integrated Care Model: HMO positions emphasize coordination between mental health and medical services. You'll have electronic health records integrated with medical charts, opportunities for warm handoffs from primary care providers, and collaborative relationships with physicians managing patients' overall health.
Session Management: Most HMOs use brief treatment models, typically authorizing 6-12 sessions initially with options for extending treatment based on clinical need. You'll need skills in solution-focused therapy, evidence-based treatments, and clear documentation justifying treatment necessity.
Benefits Package: HMO positions typically offer excellent benefits, including comprehensive health insurance, retirement matching, paid time off, continuing education funding, and structured career advancement opportunities within a large healthcare system.
14. Government Agencies
MFTs employed by federal, state, and local government agencies assume roles influencing decision-making at policy levels. With a doctorate degree, you can conduct family research and public policy analysis from a family systems perspective, helping shape future government programs and legislation.
Salary Advantage: According to the BLS, government-employed MFTs are often among the highest-paid professionals in the field. Local governments pay MFTs a median salary of $84,500 while state governments offer a median wage of $79,110, both significantly above the national median of $63,780.
Government Roles: Work as a program evaluator assessing the effectiveness of family services, a policy analyst researching family-related legislation, a grant reviewer evaluating funding proposals for family programs, a consultant to government departments implementing family-centered initiatives, or a researcher studying topics like foster care outcomes, divorce impacts on children, or family poverty interventions.
Public Health Departments: State and local health departments hire MFTs to develop and implement family wellness programs, provide training to social service workers, coordinate community mental health initiatives, and respond to community crises affecting families.
Career Stability: Government positions offer excellent job security, defined benefit pension plans, comprehensive health insurance, regular salary increases based on tenure, and generous paid time off, including holidays and vacation.
15. Military & Veterans Services
Military-focused MFTs work at clinical resource centers dedicated to assisting and supporting active duty service members, veterans, and their families. You'll address unique challenges facing military familie,s including deployment stress, PTSD, traumatic brain injury (TBI), frequent relocations, and reintegration after combat.
Specialized Training: Military MFT positions typically require completing additional credentials, coursework, training, or documented experience working with military populations. Specializations like Therapy with Military Families prepare you to understand military culture, deployment cycles, and service-connected mental health issues.
Common Issues: Provide counseling for PTSD and combat-related trauma, help families adjust during deployment cycles, support service members transitioning to civilian life, address relationship issues resulting from extended separations, work with families coping with combat injuries, and provide grief counseling when service members lose colleagues.
VA Facilities: The Department of Veterans Affairs recently expanded access to marriage and family therapy services at VA medical centers nationwide. MFTs working in VA facilities conduct screenings and comprehensive assessments, develop treatment plans with measurable goals, provide crisis intervention during acute episodes, and offer individual, couples, family, and group therapy formats.
Meaningful Mission: Many MFTs find working with military families deeply rewarding, serving those who've served the country, addressing issues with significant national importance, and seeing remarkable resilience in military families overcoming extraordinary challenges.
16. Churches & Religious Settings
Although they receive the same clinical training as secular family therapists, MFTs who complete additional coursework in religion and counseling can become faith-based therapy providers, such as Christian family therapists. These positions integrate spiritual beliefs with therapeutic approaches.
Services Provided: Faith-based MFTs counsel married couples and families regarding mental health problems, relationship issues, and parenting concerns while incorporating religious teachings, scripture, prayer, and spiritual practices into treatment when appropriate. You might address faith-specific concerns like marriage within religious communities, raising children with religious values, or faith questions during a crisis.
Settings: Work at church counseling centers offering low-cost or sliding-scale services to congregation members and community residents, religious colleges and universities providing counseling to students and staff, faith-based social service agencies serving families experiencing poverty or crisis, or pastoral counseling institutes training clergy in basic counseling skills.
Ethical Considerations: You'll need to balance respecting clients' religious beliefs with maintaining professional boundaries, ensure clients aren't coerced into religious participation, provide appropriate referrals when your faith tradition differs from clients', and maintain clear distinctions between spiritual guidance and clinical treatment.
Additional Training: Many faith-based MFT positions prefer candidates with theological education, certification from pastoral counseling organizations like the American Association of Pastoral Counselors (AAPC), or graduate degrees combining marriage and family therapy with divinity studies.
17. Telehealth & Remote Work Opportunities
The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of telehealth therapy, creating new employment opportunities for MFTs working remotely. Many employment settings now offer hybrid or fully remote positions, expanding career options regardless of geographic location.
Remote Practice Models: Work for established telehealth companies connecting clients with therapists nationwide, provide teletherapy for EAP programs serving employees across multiple states, offer online counseling through your own private practice serving clients in states where you hold licensure, or work remotely for traditional employers while providing services via video conferencing.
Advantages: Eliminate commute time and transportation costs, work from home offering scheduling flexibility, serve clients in rural or underserved areas lacking local MFTs, continue practicing if you relocate for a partner's career, and maintain your practice while traveling or living abroad temporarily.
Licensing Considerations: Most states require you to be licensed in the state where your client is located during sessions, not where you're physically located. Some states participate in the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact (PSYPACT), allowing authorized psychologists to practice across state lines, but similar compacts for MFTs are still developing. Research licensure requirements carefully before offering services across state lines.
Technology Requirements: Reliable high-speed internet connection, HIPAA-compliant video conferencing platforms, electronic health records system, secure methods for obtaining informed consent and payment, and professional home office space with privacy and good lighting.
Best Practices: Establish clear emergency protocols since you can't physically intervene during crises, verify client location at each session start for legal compliance, maintain strong therapeutic presence despite physical distance, and ensure clients have adequate technology to participate effectively in sessions.
Frequently Asked Questions About MFT Career Settings
What is the highest-paying setting for marriage and family therapists?
Government agencies offer the highest median salaries for MFTs, with local governments paying $84,500 and state governments offering $79,110 annually, according to May 2024 BLS data. However, private practice MFTs in affluent areas with specialized niches can earn $100,000-$150,000+ annually, though income varies significantly based on caseload, fees, and business expenses.
Can MFTs work in hospitals without additional certification?
Yes, most hospitals hire fully licensed MFTs (LMFTs) without requiring additional certifications beyond state licensure. However, some specialized hospital units like addiction treatment programs or trauma centers may prefer candidates with relevant certifications, such as Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP) or addiction counseling credentials. Hospital human resources departments typically specify any additional requirements in job postings.
Do MFTs need different licenses for different employment settings?
No, a single state MFT license allows you to practice in any employment setting within that state. However, some positions may require additional credentials or specializations. For example, school-based positions in some states prefer candidates with both MFT licensure and school counseling certification, while EAP positions may require documented experience with brief therapy models. The license itself doesn't change, but employers may have specific hiring preferences.
Which employment setting offers the best work-life balance for MFTs?
Schools and government agencies typically offer the best work-life balance with defined schedules, limited evening or weekend hours, generous paid time off, and no on-call requirements. Private practice provides the most flexibility, allowing you to set your own hours, but requires managing business responsibilities outside of session hours. Hospital and crisis settings typically involve evening, weekend, or on-call work with less predictable schedules.
Can MFTs work remotely or via telehealth in all these settings?
Telehealth options vary by setting. Private practice, EAPs, outpatient centers, and some social service agencies readily support remote work. However, hospitals, residential treatment programs, correctional facilities, and schools typically require in-person presence due to the nature of care provided. Many settings now offer hybrid models where MFTs provide both in-person and telehealth services depending on client needs and preferences.
How much do MFTs in private practice actually earn after business expenses?
Private practice MFTs typically charge $100-$250 per session, depending on location and specialization. Seeing 20-25 clients weekly generates $100,000-$250,000 in gross revenue annually. However, business expenses, including office rent ($12,000-$30,000), liability insurance ($1,500-$3,000), continuing education ($2,000-$5,000), healthcare ($6,000-$15,000), billing services, marketing, and other costs, typically consume 30-45% of gross revenue. Net income typically ranges from $60,000-$140,000 for full-time private practitioners.
What's the difference between working as an MFT in schools versus private practice?
School-based MFTs work with students and families within an educational context, focusing on issues affecting academic performance and school adjustment. You'll have regular hours aligned with the academic calendar, a guaranteed salary with benefits, summers off, and work as part of a student support team. Private practice offers more clinical autonomy, higher earning potential, flexibility to specialize, and you choose your client population. However, private practice lacks guaranteed income, employer benefits, or built-in referral sources.
Do military and VA MFT positions require special training?
Yes, military and VA positions typically require specialized training in military culture, combat-related PTSD, traumatic brain injury, and military family dynamics. Many positions require or strongly prefer completion of specialized trainings like Therapy with Military Families, Cognitive Processing Therapy for PTSD, or VA-specific treatment protocols. Some positions require security clearances and understanding of military rank structures and deployment cycles.
Can pre-licensed MFTs (Associates/AMFTs) work in all these settings?
Pre-licensed MFTs can work in most settings under qualified supervision, but opportunities vary by state law and employer requirements. Community mental health centers, social service agencies, hospitals, and group practices commonly hire Associates. However, private practice, contracting with insurance panels, and some government positions typically require full licensure. Schools may have specific requirements combining education credentials with clinical licensure. Always verify your state's supervision requirements and employer policies.
Which employment settings hire the most MFTs?
According to May 2024 BLS data, the largest MFT employers are: (1) Offices of other health practitioners (~20,000 MFTs), (2) Outpatient care centers, (3) Individual and family services agencies, (4) State and local government, and (5) General medical and surgical hospitals. Private practice represents a significant portion of the workforce but isn't counted as a single employer category since practitioners work independently.
How does telehealth availability vary by employment setting?
Private practice, EAPs, outpatient centers, and some community mental health agencies offer extensive telehealth options, with many positions being fully remote. Government agencies, hospitals, schools, and residential programs typically require more in-person presence. HMOs and medical centers often use hybrid models combining in-person and video sessions. Always clarify telehealth expectations during interviews as policies continue evolving post-pandemic.
What employment setting is best for newly licensed MFTs?
Community mental health centers, social service agencies, and group practices offer excellent starting points for newly licensed MFTs. These settings provide clinical supervision, diverse client populations, helping you develop broad skills, manageable caseloads with administrative support, regular case consultation, and exposure to various evidence-based treatments. After gaining 2-3 years of post-licensure experience, you'll be better prepared for private practice, specialized settings, or advanced positions.
Key Takeaways
- Marriage and Family Therapists work in 17+ diverse employment settings ranging from hospitals and private practice to government agencies and military facilities, offering flexibility to find your ideal work environment.
- MFT salaries vary significantly by setting, with government positions offering $79,110-$84,500, hospitals providing $68,000-$85,000, and private practice potential ranging from $42,610 to $111,610 based on caseload and fees (May 2024 BLS data).
- The national median MFT salary is $63,780, with a mean wage of $72,720 (May 2024), with strong job growth of 13% projected from 2024-2034 and approximately 7,700 annual job openings.
- Work-life balance varies dramatically, with schools and government agencies offering the best schedules and benefits, while hospital and crisis settings require more evening, weekend, and on-call availability.
- Telehealth has expanded career options, with private practice, EAPs, and outpatient centers increasingly offering remote work opportunities, though hospitals, schools, and residential programs typically require in-person presence.
- Current employment stands at 77,800 MFTs nationwide (2024 BLS data), with each setting serving different populations requiring unique specializations from addiction treatment to military family support.
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2024 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary figures and job growth projections for Marriage & Family Therapists are based on national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed October 2025.
