Marriage and family therapists
SOC Code: 21-1013
Marriage and family therapists carries a 32% AI exposure score (Medium automation risk), with a median annual wage of $63,780 and +12.6% projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034 (BLS), affecting approximately 77,800 workers. Full task breakdown, skills, and employer data are below.
Proportion of tasks susceptible to AI automation (O*NET analysis)
AI Exposure vs Industry Growth
Total occupations tracked
832
Covering all SOC major groups
Data currency
2024
BLS Employment Projections
AI exposure avg
40%
Fleet-wide median across all roles
Composite score weighing O*NET task data completeness, BLS projection methodology, and cross-validation with employer risk grades.
Employment Projections
Occupation Insight
Marriage and family therapists (SOC 21-1013) carries an AI exposure score of 32%, placing it in the Medium automation-risk tier. This score is computed from O*NET Database 30.0 task-level analysis, where each task an occupation performs is evaluated against current generative AI, robotic process automation, and machine-learning capabilities. A score below 40% reflects tasks anchored in physical dexterity, unstructured environments, or high-touch human interaction that current AI cannot reliably replicate.
The economic context matters alongside the risk score. BLS counted approximately 77,800 workers in this occupation in 2024, and projects a +12.6% change through 2034 — a strong growth outlook that compensates meaningfully for automation risk. Median annual compensation stands at $63,780, reflecting both skill scarcity and the value employers place on the tasks that remain difficult to automate. Entry typically requires Master's degree, plus None of related experience.
For career planners, this profile should be read alongside the task, skill, and knowledge breakdowns below and the list of employers whose workforce composition includes Marriage and family therapists. Adjacent occupations shown further down offer lateral moves that preserve industry knowledge while potentially reducing exposure. Pair the AI exposure score with the BLS employment projection and wage percentiles above for a complete career assessment.
Education & Entry Requirements
Top Tasks (O*NET)
- 1. Encourage individuals and family members to develop and use skills and strategies for confronting their problems in a constructive manner.
- 2. Ask questions that will help clients identify their feelings and behaviors.
- 3. Develop and implement individualized treatment plans addressing family relationship problems, destructive patterns of behavior, and other personal issues.
- 4. Maintain case files that include activities, progress notes, evaluations, and recommendations.
- 5. Counsel clients on concerns, such as unsatisfactory relationships, divorce and separation, child rearing, home management, or financial difficulties.
- 6. Collect information about clients, using techniques such as testing, interviewing, discussion, or observation.
- 7. Confer with clients to develop plans for posttreatment activities.
- 8. Confer with other counselors, doctors, and professionals to analyze individual cases and to coordinate counseling services.
- 9. Determine whether clients should be counseled or referred to other specialists in such fields as medicine, psychiatry, or legal aid.
- 10. Follow up on results of counseling programs and clients' adjustments to determine effectiveness of programs.
Key Skills Required
- Active Listening
- Social Perceptiveness
- Speaking
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
- Service Orientation
- Complex Problem Solving
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Critical Thinking
- Active Learning
Knowledge Areas
- Therapy and Counseling
- Psychology
- Customer and Personal Service
- Sociology and Anthropology
- English Language
- Administrative
- Law and Government
- Philosophy and Theology
- Education and Training
- Computers and Electronics
Frequently Asked Questions
Will AI replace Marriage and family therapists?
Marriage and family therapists has an AI exposure score of 32%, indicating a medium level of automation risk. The majority of tasks in this role require human judgment, creativity, or physical presence that AI cannot easily replicate.
What is the job outlook for Marriage and family therapists?
According to BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034, Marriage and family therapists is projected to grow by 12.6% over the decade. Current employment stands at approximately 77,800 workers.
What skills are needed for Marriage and family therapists?
Key skills for Marriage and family therapists include Active Listening, Social Perceptiveness, Speaking, and others. Typical entry-level education is Master's degree.
How much do Marriage and family therapists earn?
The median annual wage for Marriage and family therapists is $63,780, according to BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2024). Actual earnings vary by location, experience, industry, and employer. The BLS publishes detailed wage percentiles by region in its Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program.
What education is required for Marriage and family therapists?
The typical entry-level education for Marriage and family therapists is Master's degree. Employers generally expect None of related work experience. On-the-job training typically involves Internship/residency. Requirements can vary by employer and specialization.
Which companies employ Marriage and family therapists?
Marriage and family therapists roles exist across many industries and employers. Workforce composition is estimated from BLS industry-occupation employment distributions matched to SEC-registered public companies.
AI Exposure Rating
Medium automation risk based on 10 analyzed tasks. Most tasks require human judgment and are resistant to automation.
Related Occupations
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Data sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024–2034 and O*NET Database 30.0. Employment figures are rounded. Wage data from BLS Occupational Employment Statistics (OES).