Marriage and Family Therapists Salary in Santa Cruz, CA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA

Median annual salary $78,700 +23.4% vs national
Median hourly $37.84
10th percentile $49,350
90th percentile $128,110
Employed locally 90
National median $63,780

Compare Marriage and Family Therapists salary & buying power

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Marriage and Family Therapists
in
Santa Cruz, CA
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $49,350
    25th
    $61,440
    50th (median)
    $78,700
    75th
    $102,910
    90th
    $128,110

    Santa Cruz economic context

    Unemployment rate 5.90% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $109,266 2023 • Census ACS
    Marriage and Family Therapists salary vs area income 72% Median Marriage and Family Therapists salary is 28% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Marriage and Family Therapists

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Urban Honolulu, HI $141,960
    Hawaii $135,870
    New Haven, CT $120,280
    Charlottesville, VA $106,870
    Greensboro-High Point, NC $105,530
    Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $95,100

    Nearby metros — Marriage and Family Therapists salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Vallejo, CA $93,810
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $88,950
    Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $80,470
    Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $80,090
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $76,980
    Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area $76,390

    Related occupations in Santa Cruz, CA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors $83,300
    Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors $58,310
    Social and Human Service Assistants $51,590
    Child, Family, and School Social Workers $61,310
    Rehabilitation Counselors $50,400
    Healthcare Social Workers $93,230

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Marriage and Family Therapists make per hour in Santa Cruz?

    The median hourly wage for Marriage and Family Therapists in Santa Cruz, CA is $37.84, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $71.26 or more per hour.

    Is Santa Cruz above or below average for Marriage and Family Therapists salaries?

    The median Marriage and Family Therapists salary in Santa Cruz, CA is 23.4% above the national median of $63,780. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Marriage and Family Therapists in Santa Cruz?

    Entry-level Marriage and Family Therapists (10th percentile) earn around $49,350 per year in Santa Cruz, CA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $61,440.