Marriage and Family Therapists

Human Services · Counseling & Mental Health Services

Bright outlookJob zone 5: extensive preparationO*NET 21-1013.00

Pay and outlook shown for

median pay per year, San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX

$40k10th$64kMedian$129k90th

New workers start near $40,100; experienced workers reach $128,770. About 110 people do this job in San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX.

Job outlook

Alamo region (San Antonio and 12 surrounding counties), Texas Workforce Commission projection 2024 to 2034; U.S. figures from the BLS.

Employment change: +19.1%; Alamo region, 63 to 75 jobs · U.S. +13%
Openings a year: 6; in the Alamo region, from growth and people leaving · U.S. 7,700
Employed in 2024: 63; in the Alamo region · U.S. 77,800

Typical entry education: Master's degree · Training: Internship/residency

Alamo Colleges programs that lead here

3 programs, with the college that teaches each.

Apply to Alamo Colleges

Skills this career uses

The skills O*NET rates most important for the job, with how much of each the work needs on a 1 to 7 scale.

Active Listening5.0
Social Perceptiveness5.8
Speaking4.3
Reading Comprehension4.3
Writing4.3
Service Orientation4.3
Judgment and Decision Making4.3
Complex Problem Solving4.1

What the work is

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.

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.

Education people in this job have

Share of workers by highest education, from O*NET surveys. It shows what others did, not what you must do.

Associate degree2%
Master's degree82%
Doctoral or professional16%

Job zone 5, extensive preparation: A graduate or professional degree, usually after a bachelor's.

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