Benchmark Salary Information

  • The number of Marriage and Family Therapists currently employed in San Diego-Carlsbad is 3,590.
  • Marriage and Family Therapists in San Diego-Carlsbad earn an average of $52,340 per year or $25.16 per hour.
  • The percentage of California Marriage and Family Therapists who work in San Diego-Carlsbad is 14%.
  • The percentage of U.S. Marriage and Family Therapists who work in San Diego-Carlsbad is 7%.

Rankings for San Diego-Carlsbad

  • Ranks #24 in California for salary and #2 when adjusted for cost-of-living.
  • Ranks #2 in California for the number of psychologists employed.
  • Ranks #95 in the nation for salary and #4 when adjusted for cost-of-living.
  • Ranks #2 in the nation for the number of psychologists employed.

Compared to California

San Diego-Carlsbad Marriage and Family Therapists earn an average of $52,340 or $25.16 per hour which is 11% less than the California average salary of $59,320.

AverageSan Diego-CarlsbadCalifornia% Difference
Hourly Wage$25.16$28.52-11.78%
Annual Salary$52,340$59,320-11.77%
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce – 2022*

Compared to the U.S.

San Diego-Carlsbad Marriage and Family Therapists earn an average of $52,340 or $25.16 per hour which is 12% less than the U.S. average salary of $59,660.

AverageSan Diego-CarlsbadU.S.%
Hourly Wage$25.16$28.69-12.30%
Annual Salary$52,340$59,660-12.27%
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce – 2022*

Salary Adjusted for Cost-of-Living

When adjusted for cost-of-living, Marriage and Family Therapists in San Diego-Carlsbad earns an average annual salary of $46,159 which compares to the California average annual salary of $59,320. per year.

Cost-of-living in San Diego-Carlsbad is 13% higher than the California average, which means San Diego-Carlsbad residents have an overall higher cost for food, housing, utilities and transportation compared to California average.

  • California average salary is $59,320.
  • California cost-of-living adjusted salary is $53,742.
  • San Diego-Carlsbad average salary is $52,340.
  • San Diego-Carlsbad cost-of-living adjusted salary is $46,159.
LocationAverage Annual WageCost of LivingAdjusted COL Wage
San Diego-Carlsbad$52,340113.39%$46,159
California$59,320110.38%$53,742
U.S.$59,660$59,660
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce – 2022*

Salary Ranges for Education and Experience

In San Diego-Carlsbad, 50% of Marriage and Family Therapists earn between $39,000 and $60,700 a year, depending on factors such as level of education, experience, location and place of employment.

About 10% of Marriage and Family Therapists earn more than $78,290, which is a rate for highly skilled, experienced and educated Marriage and Family Therapists.

Approximately 10% of Marriage and Family Therapists earn under $39,000, a rate generally reserved for less experienced or entry level Marriage and Family Therapists.

PercentExperienceEmployedAnnual Salary
10%Less than a Year359Under $39,000
15%2 – 4 years538$39,000 – $39,000
25%5 – 9 years898$39,000 – $49,250
25%10 – 14 years898$49,250 – $60,700
15%15 – 20 years538$49,250 – $78,290
10%20+ years359Above $78,290
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce – 2022*

Salary Compared to Related Professions

With an average annual salary of $52,340, San Diego-Carlsbad Marriage and Family Therapists tend to earn less than Clinical and Counseling Psychologists ($136,630), Psychology Teachers ($110,410), Forensic Psychologists ($105,610), School Psychologists ($97,320), Health Care Social Workers ($76,400), Social Workers ($59,790), and Substance Abuse Counselors ($53,090).

TitleAnnual Salary
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists$136,630
Psychology Teachers$110,410
Forensic Psychologists$105,610
School Psychologists$97,320
Health Care Social Workers$76,400
Social Workers$59,790
Substance Abuse Counselors$53,090
Marriage and Family Therapists$52,340
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce – 2022*

FAQ for San Diego-Carlsbad Marriage and Family Therapists

The number of Marriage and Family Therapists currently employed in San Diego-Carlsbad is 3,590.

Marriage and Family Therapists earn an average of $52,340 per year or $25.16 per hour in San Diego-Carlsbad.

When adjusted for Cost of Living in San Diego-Carlsbad Marriage and Family Therapists earn an average of $46,159 per year or $22 per hour.

The types of psychologists that are paid the highest annual salary in San Diego-Carlsbad are Clinical and Counseling Psychologists($136,630), Psychology Teachers($110,410), Forensic Psychologists($105,610).


Additional Salary Reports for Marriage and Family Therapists in California cities and Metros and U.S. States.

Official Data Sources for Marriage and Family Therapists: Salary Data | Projected Employment | Cost of Living Data