Marriage and Family Therapists
SOC Code: 21-1013 Job Zone 5: Extensive Preparation Needed
Diagnose and treat mental and emotional disorders, whether cognitive, affective, or behavioral, within the context of marriage and family systems. Apply psychotherapeutic and family systems theories and techniques in the delivery of services to individuals, couples, and families for the purpose of treating such diagnosed nervous and mental disorders.
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Prevailing Wage Levels (National)
DOL/OFLC prevailing wage thresholds for Marriage and Family Therapists. Hourly rates x 2,080 = annual.
FY2027 Weighted Lottery Impact
| Level | Lottery Entries | Est. Selection Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Level I (Entry) | 1 entry | ~16% |
| Level II (Qualified) | 2 entries | ~31% |
| Level III (Experienced) | 3 entries | ~45% |
| Level IV (Expert) | 4 entries | ~61% |
Prevailing Wages by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Level I | Level II | Level III | Level IV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $56,888 | $100,381 | $143,894 | $187,387 |
| Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area | $56,888 | $100,381 | $143,894 | $187,387 |
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $56,888 | $100,381 | $143,894 | $187,387 |
| New Haven, CT | $57,658 | $83,491 | $109,304 | $135,138 |
| Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | $45,885 | $74,485 | $103,085 | $131,685 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $59,634 | $82,763 | $105,872 | $129,002 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $51,854 | $77,314 | $102,773 | $128,232 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $46,488 | $73,590 | $100,693 | $127,795 |
| Greeley, CO | $48,838 | $74,381 | $99,923 | $125,466 |
| Boulder, CO | $49,109 | $73,778 | $98,426 | $123,094 |
H-1B Filing Data
Top H-1B Employers
| Employer | Filings | Avg Wage |
|---|---|---|
| SPECIAL SERVICE FOR GROUPS, INC. | 6 | $70,162 |
| Chinatown Service Center | 6 | $71,193 |
| Northside Center for Relationship Counseling, P.C. | 5 | $39,223 |
| Michael J. Whitman, a Psychological Corp. | 4 | $88,920 |
| Grace Therapy & Healing PLLC | 4 | $95,360 |
| Henderson Behavioral Health Inc. | 3 | $58,000 |
| EDTHEORY LLC | 3 | $66,578 |
| Foothill Family Service | 3 | $69,820 |
| Eastside Play Therapy, PLLC | 3 | $46,710 |
| AMR, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker Corporation | 3 | $47,867 |
Filing Trend
| Year | Filings | Avg Wage |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 7 | $61,295 |
| 2021 | 2 | $104,811 |
| 2022 | 5 | $66,006 |
| 2023 | 24 | $60,754 |
| 2024 | 53 | $69,918 |
| 2025 | 62 | $74,331 |
| 2026 | 4 | $126,450 |
Key Skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Active Listening | 4.9 | |
| Social Perceptiveness | 4.4 | |
| Speaking | 4.2 | |
| Complex Problem Solving | 4.0 | |
| Writing | 4.0 | |
| Reading Comprehension | 4.0 | |
| Service Orientation | 4.0 | |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 4.0 | |
| Critical Thinking | 3.9 | |
| Active Learning | 3.8 |
Knowledge Areas
| Knowledge | Importance |
|---|---|
| Therapy and Counseling | 5.0 |
| Psychology | 4.9 |
| Customer and Personal Service | 4.0 |
| Sociology and Anthropology | 3.9 |
| English Language | 3.6 |
| Administrative | 3.4 |
| Law and Government | 3.3 |
| Philosophy and Theology | 3.2 |
Education Requirements
| Education Level | % of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 79.0% |
| First professional degree (MD, JD) | 9.8% |
| Post-first professional | 5.0% |
| Post-doctoral training | 2.6% |
| Associate's degree | 2.0% |
| Other | 1.7% |
Typical Tasks
- Ask questions that will help clients identify their feelings and behaviors.
- Counsel clients on concerns, such as unsatisfactory relationships, divorce and separation, child rearing, home management, or financial difficulties.
- Encourage individuals and family members to develop and use skills and strategies for confronting their problems in a constructive manner.
- Maintain case files that include activities, progress notes, evaluations, and recommendations.
- Collect information about clients, using techniques such as testing, interviewing, discussion, or observation.
- Determine whether clients should be counseled or referred to other specialists in such fields as medicine, psychiatry, or legal aid.
- Confer with clients to develop plans for posttreatment activities.
- Provide instructions to clients on how to obtain help with legal, financial, and other personal issues.
Technology Skills
Green = Hot Technology in demand
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