Jobs Similar to Marriage and Family Therapists
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to marriage and family therapists, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Clinical and Counseling Psychologists, Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers and Healthcare Social Workers.
Marriage and Family Therapists: $66,940 median pay · usual preparation: Graduate degree.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Marriage and Family Therapists) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | 87% | $100,580+50% | Graduate degree |
| 2 | Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social WorkersSame group | 85% | $60,280−10% | Graduate degree |
| 3 | Healthcare Social WorkersSame group | 85% | $67,880+1% | Graduate degree |
| 4 | School Psychologists | 85% | $95,990+43% | Graduate degree |
| 5 | Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary | 83% | $77,570+16% | Graduate degree |
| 6 | Child, Family, and School Social WorkersSame group | 83% | $59,550−11% | Bachelor's degree |
| 7 | Rehabilitation CounselorsSame group | 82% | $46,850−30% | Graduate degree |
| 8 | Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses | 82% | $97,550Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 9 | Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary | 82% | $80,340+20% | Graduate degree |
| 10 | Speech-Language Pathologists | 81% | $97,870+46% | Graduate degree |
| 11 | Neuropsychologists | 81% | $110,840Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 12 | Psychiatrists | 80% | $281,870+321% | Graduate degree |
| 13 | Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and AdvisorsSame group | 80% | $64,330−4% | Graduate degree |
| 14 | Music Therapists | 80% | $77,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 15 | Clinical Neuropsychologists | 80% | $110,840Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 16 | Recreational Therapists | 80% | $61,960−7% | Bachelor's degree |
| 17 | Special Education Teachers, Secondary School | 80% | $74,260+11% | Bachelor's degree |
| 18 | Art Therapists | 79% | $77,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 19 | Genetic Counselors | 79% | $100,040+49% | Graduate degree |
| 20 | Patient Representatives | 79% | $50,290Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
- 1Clinical and Counseling Psychologists
87% similar · $100,580 (+50%) · Graduate degree
- 2Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers
85% similar · $60,280 (−10%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 3Healthcare Social Workers
85% similar · $67,880 (+1%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 4School Psychologists
85% similar · $95,990 (+43%) · Graduate degree
- 5Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary
83% similar · $77,570 (+16%) · Graduate degree
- 6Child, Family, and School Social Workers
83% similar · $59,550 (−11%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 7Rehabilitation Counselors
82% similar · $46,850 (−30%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 8Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses
82% similar · $97,550 (broader group) · Graduate degree
- 9Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary
82% similar · $80,340 (+20%) · Graduate degree
- 10Speech-Language Pathologists
81% similar · $97,870 (+46%) · Graduate degree
- 11Neuropsychologists
81% similar · $110,840 (broader group) · Graduate degree
- 12Psychiatrists
80% similar · $281,870 (+321%) · Graduate degree
- 13Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors
80% similar · $64,330 (−4%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 14Music Therapists
80% similar · $77,930 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 15Clinical Neuropsychologists
80% similar · $110,840 (broader group) · Graduate degree
- 16Recreational Therapists
80% similar · $61,960 (−7%) · Bachelor's degree
- 17Special Education Teachers, Secondary School
80% similar · $74,260 (+11%) · Bachelor's degree
- 18Art Therapists
79% similar · $77,930 (broader group) · Graduate degree
- 19Genetic Counselors
79% similar · $100,040 (+49%) · Graduate degree
- 20Patient Representatives
79% similar · $50,290 (broader group) · Training or associate
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than marriage and family therapists.
- Psychiatrists80% similar · $281,870 (+321%)
- Clinical and Counseling Psychologists87% similar · $100,580 (+50%)
- Genetic Counselors79% similar · $100,040 (+49%)
- Speech-Language Pathologists81% similar · $97,870 (+46%)
- School Psychologists85% similar · $95,990 (+43%)
- Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary82% similar · $80,340 (+20%)
Similar jobs that need less preparation
- Child, Family, and School Social Workers83% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Music Therapists80% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Recreational Therapists80% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Special Education Teachers, Secondary School80% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Patient Representatives79% similar · Training or associate
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for marriage and family therapists also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where marriage and family therapists is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Art Therapists (89)
- Clinical and Counseling Psychologists (83)
- Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses (82)
- Music Therapists (82)
- School Psychologists (82)
- Neuropsychologists (81)
- Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary (81)
- Clinical Neuropsychologists (80)
- Recreational Therapists (79)
- Education Teachers, Postsecondary (78)
Questions about jobs like marriage and family therapists
What jobs are most similar to marriage and family therapists?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Clinical and Counseling Psychologists (87% similar), Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers (85% similar), Healthcare Social Workers (85% similar), School Psychologists (85% similar) and Social Work Teachers (83% similar).
Which jobs like marriage and family therapists pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Psychiatrists ($281,870, +321%; usually a graduate degree), Clinical and Counseling Psychologists ($100,580, +50%; usually a graduate degree) and Genetic Counselors ($100,040, +49%; usually a graduate degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with marriage and family therapists ($66,940). Without more preparation than marriage and family therapists usually need: Psychiatrists, Clinical and Counseling Psychologists and Genetic Counselors.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.