Salary Report for Iowa Marriage and Family Therapists

  • The number of Marriage and Family Therapists currently employed in Iowa is 260.
  • Marriage and Family Therapists in Iowa earn an average of $49,920 per year or $24.00 per hour.
  • The percentage of U.S. Marriage and Family Therapists who work in Iowa is less than 1%.
  • Iowa will need 820 new Marriage and Family Therapists by 2030 or 80 new psychologists per year.

Iowa Rankings

  • Iowa ranks #31 in the U.S. for Marriage and Family Therapists salary and #46 when adjusted for cost-of-living.
  • Iowa ranks #27 in the U.S. for the total number of Marriage and Family Therapists employed.
  • Iowa ranks #16 in U.S. for the number of new Marriage and Family Therapists needed by 2030.
  • Iowa ranks #13 in U.S. for the percentage of new Marriage and Family Therapists needed by 2030.

Compare Iowa to U.S.

Iowa Marriage and Family Therapists earn an average of $49,920 which is 16% less than the national average salary of $59,660.

TypeIowaU.S.% Difference
Average Hourly Wage$24$28.69-16.35%
Average Annual Salary$49,920$59,660-16.33%
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce – 2022*

Salary Range by Education and Experience

In Iowa, 50% of Marriage and Family Therapists earn between $42,730 and $61,140 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 $76,950, a rate generally associated with highly educated and experienced Marriage and Family Therapists.

Approximately 10% of Marriage and Family Therapists earn under $36,910, a rate generally reserved for less experienced or entry level Marriage and Family Therapists.

PercentExperienceEmployedAnnual Salary
10%Less than a Year26Under $36,910
15%2 – 4 years39$36,910 – $42,730
25%5 – 9 years65$42,730 – $46,910
25%10 – 14 years65$46,910 – $61,140
15%15 – 20 years39$46,910 – $76,950
10%20+ years26Above $76,950
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce – 2022*

Adjusted for Cost-of-Living

After being adjusted for cost-of-living, Marriage and Family Therapists in Iowa psychologists earn about $54,827 per year which is less than the average U.S. psychologist of $59,660.

Cost-of-living in Iowa is 9% less than the national average, which means Iowa residents have an overall less cost for food, housing, utilities and transportation compared to other states.

  • National average salary for Marriage and Family Therapists is $59,660.
  • Average Iowa Marriage and Family Therapists salary is $49,920.
  • Adjusted for cost-of-living, Iowa Marriage and Family Therapists earn an average salary of $54,827.

More cost-of-living reports for U.S. States.

Salary Compared to Related Professions

With an average annual salary of $49,920, Iowa Marriage and Family Therapists tend to earn less than Forensic Psychologists ($106,200), Clinical and Counseling Psychologists ($103,070), Psychology Teachers ($90,930), School Psychologists ($67,710), Health Care Social Workers ($57,840), Substance Abuse Counselors ($51,570), and Social Workers ($50,380).

TitleAnnual Salary
Forensic Psychologists$106,200
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists$103,070
Psychology Teachers$90,930
School Psychologists$67,710
Health Care Social Workers$57,840
Substance Abuse Counselors$51,570
Social Workers$50,380
Marriage and Family Therapists$49,920
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce – 2022*

Projected Demand for Psychologists in 2030

The U.S. Department of Labor projects that in Iowa the three professions needing the most new psychologists by 2030 are Substance Abuse Counselors (4,160), Social Workers (3,620) and Health Care Social Workers (1,430).

The three professions in Iowa needing highest percentage new psychologists by 2030 are Substance Abuse Counselors (30.8%), Marriage and Family Therapists (22.4%) and Social Workers (13.5%).

Title20202030ChangeYearly Openings
Social Workers3,1903,62013.5%350
Substance Abuse Counselors3,1804,16030.8%430
Health Care Social Workers1,2601,43013.5%140
Marriage and Family Therapists67082022.4%80
Psychology Teachers40045012.5%40
Forensic Psychologists1101100%10
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, 2022*

Salaries Ranked by Iowa Cities

The average salary for Marriage and Family Therapists in Iowa is $49,920. The top cities that pay Marriage and Family Therapists the most are Cedar Rapids ($54,040) and Des Moines-West Des Moines ($52,880).

When adjusted for cost-of-living, the cities that pay Marriage and Family Therapists the highest average annual salary are Cedar Rapids ($59,594) and Des Moines-West Des Moines ($55,745).

The following table shows the average yearly salary range for Marriage and Family Therapists in each city, and the average yearly salary after being adjusted for cost-of-living in that state.

The difference column shows how much more or less purchasing power a Marriage and Family Therapists salary will have in that area.

AreaAverage SalaryCOL AdjustedDifference
Cedar Rapids$54,040$59,594$5,554
Des Moines-West Des Moines$52,880$55,745$2,865
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce – 2022*

Salary FAQ for Iowa Marriage and Family Therapists

Iowa Marriage and Family Therapists earn between $36,910 and $76,950 a year depending on their level of education, experience and skill.

There are currently 260 Marriage and Family Therapists employed in Iowa which is about 0% of the U.S. total.

Forensic Psychologists are the highest paid psychologists in Iowa with an average annual wage of $106,200.

An entry level psychologist makes as much as $36,910 a year in Iowa

The most Marriage and Family Therapists work in the Des Moines-West Des Moines area where 70 Marriage and Family Therapists are employed.

After being adjusted for cost-of-living, Marriage and Family Therapists in Iowa earn 54,827 per year, while the average across the United States earns $59,660.

By 2030, Iowa will need 820 Marriage and Family Therapists. A total of 80 Marriage and Family Therapists will need to enter into the Iowa work forces each year.

City and Rural Summaries

Cedar Rapids

Average Marriage and Family Therapists Salary: $54,040
Adjusted for Cost-of-Living: $59,594
Hourly Wage: $25.98
Currently Employed: 50
Cost-of-Living Index: 90.68
Cedar Rapids Salary Report

Des Moines-West Des Moines

Average Marriage and Family Therapists Salary: $52,880
Adjusted for Cost of Living: $55,745
Hourly Wage: $25
Currently Employed: 70
Cost-of-Living Index: 94.86
Des Moines-West Des Moines Salary Report

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