Marriage and Family Therapist Salary in Los Angeles, CA
Marriage and Family Therapists in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn a median $71,110 a year — 6% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $55,455 take-home, or $4,621 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median marriage and family therapist salary in Los Angeles, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$6,814
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,409
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,031
- California income tax$2,477
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$924
- Take-home pay$55,455
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 8.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Marriage and Family Therapist pay by experience in Los Angeles, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $47,050 | $22.62 | $38,501 | $3,208 |
| 25th percentile | $49,860 | $23.97 | $40,553 | $3,379 |
| Median (50th) | $71,110 | $34.19 | $55,455 | $4,621 |
| 75th percentile | $98,450 | $47.33 | $71,883 | $5,990 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $118,020 | $56.74 | $83,577 | $6,965 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $71,110 buys in Los Angeles, CA
Prices in Los Angeles, CA are 13.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.70× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median marriage and family therapist's $55,455 take-home pay has the buying power of $48,830 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Los Angeles, CA has 4.9× the national concentration of marriage and family therapist jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for marriage and family therapists, adjusted for cost of living
Los Angeles, CA ranks #2 of 3 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $91,130 | $68,604 | $60,947 |
| 2 | Los Angeles, CA | $71,110 | $55,455 | $48,830 |
| 3 | San Diego, CA | $49,610 | $40,371 | $36,082 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 3 metros →
About the job: marriage and family therapists
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.
- Typical education
- Master's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Internship/residency
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +13.5% (much faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Marriage and Family Therapist salaries elsewhere in California
- San Diego, CA — $49,610
Frequently asked questions
How much does a marriage and family therapist make in Los Angeles, CA?
The median marriage and family therapist salary in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $71,110 a year, or about $34.19 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $49,860 and $98,450.
What is a marriage and family therapist’s take-home pay in Los Angeles, CA?
On the median $71,110 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $55,455 a year ($4,621 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,401 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Los Angeles, CA a good place to work as a marriage and family therapist?
Pay here is 6% above the national median of $66,940. Local prices are 13.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $48,830 would in a typical U.S. city. Los Angeles, CA ranks #2 of 3 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a marriage and family therapist afford rent in Los Angeles, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Los Angeles, CA is $2,245 a month ($2,755 for two bedrooms) — 49% of a median marriage and family therapist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Los Angeles, CA
- Probation Officer and Correctional Treatment Specialist — $108,150
- Healthcare Social Worker — $79,830
- Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors — $79,000
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Worker — $78,410
- Child, Family, and School Social Workers — $71,250
- Health Education Specialist — $62,380
- Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other — $56,960
- Community Health Worker — $56,030
- Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors — $51,910
- Social and Human Service Assistant — $50,330
- Counselors, All Other — $48,830
- Rehabilitation Counselor — $43,480