SOC 21-1013 · May 2025
Therapist Salary
Therapists in the US earn a median of $66,940 a year ($37.00 an hour on average), according to the BLS May 2025 wage survey. Average Therapist pay climbed from $54,590 in 2019 to $76,960 in 2025, a +41.0% change in 6 years.
Median annual
$66,940
Half of all Therapists in the United States earn more than this figure, half earn less. From the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 release.
Wage trend
+41.0% since 2019 · +5.8% YoY
Hourly
$37.00
Job growth 2025-35
+13.5%
US workers
66,740
BLS series
Annual median wage for Marriage and Family Therapists in All Industries in the United States
Salary range
From entry to top decile
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread for Therapists is $44,650 – $123,730.
Percentile distribution
USD · annual
10th
$44,650
25th
$50,070
Median
$66,940
75th
$93,840
90th
$123,730
Percentile bands
Where your pay would sit
Percentile bands
Annual wages at each point of the BLS distribution for Therapists. Where you sit depends on experience, employer, location and credentials.
| Percentile | What it means | Annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | 10% earn less. Common for new entrants | $44,650 |
| 25th percentile | A quarter earn less | $50,070 |
| Median | Half earn more, half earn less | $66,940 |
| 75th percentile | A quarter earn more | $93,840 |
| 90th percentile | 10% earn more. Often senior or specialist staff | $123,730 |
Geography
Therapist pay by state
Therapists earn the most in Hawaii ($141,960, +112% against the national median) and the least in Wisconsin ($37,870). BLS publishes a May 2025 estimate for this occupation in 45 of 51 states and D.C.
National median
$66,940
Highest-paying states for therapists
| State | Annual median | vs national | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $141,960 | +112% | 220 |
| New Jersey | $92,150 | +38% | 4,040 |
| Georgia | $91,550 | +37% | – |
| Oregon | $91,520 | +37% | 850 |
| Connecticut | $86,250 | +29% | 260 |
| Utah | $84,980 | +27% | 2,390 |
| Virginia | $79,900 | +19% | 930 |
| Delaware | $76,580 | +14% | 400 |
| Minnesota | $72,470 | +8% | 4,870 |
| Maine | $71,680 | +7% | 180 |
All 45 states, highest to lowest
| State | Annual median | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $141,960 | 220 |
| New Jersey | $92,150 | 4,040 |
| Georgia | $91,550 | – |
| Oregon | $91,520 | 850 |
| Connecticut | $86,250 | 260 |
| Utah | $84,980 | 2,390 |
| Virginia | $79,900 | 930 |
| Delaware | $76,580 | 400 |
| Minnesota | $72,470 | 4,870 |
| Maine | $71,680 | 180 |
| New Mexico | $70,630 | 160 |
| Ohio | $70,240 | 460 |
| Maryland | $69,900 | 460 |
| Kansas | $68,710 | 190 |
| Massachusetts | $67,370 | 600 |
| California | $67,300 | 34,970 |
| Iowa | $67,180 | 240 |
| Pennsylvania | $66,040 | 2,350 |
| Arizona | $65,290 | – |
| New York | $64,430 | 770 |
| Arkansas | $64,340 | 80 |
| Vermont | $62,780 | – |
| Idaho | $62,700 | 140 |
| Nebraska | $62,610 | 260 |
| Illinois | $60,970 | 860 |
| Colorado | $60,700 | 900 |
| Missouri | $60,440 | 390 |
| New Hampshire | $60,030 | 70 |
| Alaska | $60,010 | 60 |
| Washington | $60,000 | – |
| Oklahoma | $57,670 | – |
| Indiana | $56,810 | 510 |
| Florida | $56,400 | 930 |
| West Virginia | $55,700 | 90 |
| South Carolina | $55,430 | 380 |
| Kentucky | $52,420 | 330 |
| Michigan | $52,270 | 590 |
| Mississippi | $51,440 | 140 |
| Alabama | $49,990 | 190 |
| North Carolina | $48,100 | 1,400 |
| Montana | $46,960 | 100 |
| Tennessee | $46,700 | 1,440 |
| Texas | $46,300 | 1,380 |
| South Dakota | $44,870 | 80 |
| Wisconsin | $37,870 | 180 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, state estimates, May 2025, all industries.
What affects this salary
Pay drivers for Therapists
Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors (BLS SOC 21-1018) help individuals manage and overcome addiction, mental illness, and behavioral disorders. The role requires varying levels of education depending on state and specialty, typically a master's degree in counseling for licensed clinical positions (LPC, LCSW, LMFT). Hospital and group-practice positions typically pay above community-mental-health agency roles.
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread is $44,650 – $123,730. That gap reflects experience, certification, employer type, geographic cost of living, and shift differentials where applicable.
Geography matters. The best-paying states for this role are Hawaii, New Jersey and Georgia. Pay in Hawaii runs 3.7 times the level in Wisconsin, before any adjustment for cost of living.
Getting in. BLS lists the typical entry-level education as master's degree, and projects about 6,900 openings a year over 2025-35. Employment is projected to grow 13.5% over the same period, against 3.5% for all occupations.
Frequently asked
Questions readers ask
Frequently asked
What is the average Therapist salary in the US?
How much does a Therapist make an hour?
How much do Therapists make at the low and high end?
Which state pays Therapists the most?
Is the average Therapist salary higher than the median?
Is Therapist a growing career?
Open positions
Open Therapist roles hiring now
Browse current Therapist listings on Indeed and ZipRecruiter, filtered to your role.
Source & methodology
Wage and employment figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, May 2025 release. Standard Occupational Classification: 21-1013. Figures represent the national median, mean, and percentile distribution across all employers and industries. Hourly equivalents assume a 2,080-hour work year. Job growth, annual openings and typical education are from the BLS Employment Projections program, 2025-35; see the Occupational Outlook Handbook entry. Read our methodology for details on how the data is sourced, transformed, and refreshed.