Career Explorer Community and social care
Grows with AI
Marriage and family therapists
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.
Among the most resilient careers: more resilient than 90% of the 831 careers we score. AI exposure is moderate (the Bureau of Labor Statistics rates it high), and US jobs are projected to change by +13.5% by 2035, much faster than average. The work leans on emotional intelligence and creative vision.
AI can help with many of the tasks, and demand is still growing. Being fluent with AI is the edge here.
- Median pay (2025)
- $66,940
- Job growth to 2035
- +13.5%
- Openings a year
- 6,900
- People doing it (2025)
- 76,300
- Usual route in
- Master's degree, then an internship or residency
Where people already use AI for this work
- Counsel others about personal matters
- Assist others to access additional services or resources
- Teach life skills
From Microsoft Research, Working with AI (2025).
Work AI rarely helps with
- Collect information about patients or clients
- Develop patient or client care or treatment plans
- Maintain health or medical records
What the work looks like
- Ask questions that will help clients identify their feelings and behaviors.
- Encourage individuals and family members to develop and use skills and strategies for confronting their problems in a constructive manner.
- Develop and implement individualized treatment plans addressing family relationship problems, destructive patterns of behavior, and other personal issues.
- Maintain case files that include activities, progress notes, evaluations, and recommendations.
- Counsel clients on concerns, such as unsatisfactory relationships, divorce and separation, child rearing, home management, or financial difficulties.
From O*NET 31.0, US Department of Labor.
Careers using similar strengths, with a stronger outlook
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Also known as: Family Therapist, LMFT (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist), Marriage and Family Counselor, Therapist, Clinical Therapist, Couple and Family Therapist, Family Specialist, LCMFT (Licensed Clinical Marriage and Family Therapist).
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Sources: US Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2025 to 2035; O*NET 31.0; Microsoft Research (2025); Anthropic Economic Index (2026); Eloundou and colleagues (Science, 2024); Felten, Raj and Seamans (2023). How we score. Updated 12 October 2026.