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Counselors help individuals overcome obstacles and obtain goals in all aspects of their lives. Child and family counselors work specifically with parents and children to improve communication, modify perceptions and, as needed, work through family crises. Depending on their child and family counselor training, these professionals may also provide marriage therapy services.

Child and family counselor salary information

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) classifies child and family counselors with marriage therapists for purposes of collecting income information. According to the Bureau's 2009 data, marriage and family therapists nationwide earned a mean annual wage of $49,020. Top wage earners in the highest percentile brought in incomes of $73,610.

Child and family counselor salary averages were highest in Hawaii where therapists earned a mean annual salary of $74,070 in 2009. However, as the state with the highest cost of living in the nation in the fourth quarter of 2010, that income may not go as far in Hawaii as it would elsewhere. Job seekers may be better advised to focus on states that have lower costs of living while still offering relatively high incomes. For example, Georgia had the 9^th lowest cost of living in the last quarter of 2010, but the 2009 mean annual income for family and marriage therapists was $63,510.

In addition, several metropolitan areas offer higher incomes for child and family counselors while also being located in states with low costs of living. The highest child and family counselor salary averages can be found in all regions of the nation, according to the BLS:

• Houston, Texas: $68,350
• Trenton, N.J.: $67,460
• St. Louis, Missouri: $67,380
• Santa Rosa, Calif: $64,500

Another source for income information is glassdoor.com. Visitors to the site report salary and wage figures anonymously, which allows the website to publish average income and benefits data for companies across the country. For family counselors, the website indicates that real-world salaries for many may be slightly lower than the averages determined by the BLS.

According to glassdoor.com, family counselors at a Tennessee non-profit earn an average of $33,521. Meanwhile, at a clinic in California, marriage and family counselors earn average annual incomes of $39,000.

Degree programs at child and family counselor schools

The BLS reports that all 50 states and the District of Columbia require licensure of family and marriage therapists. Although education requirements may differ state to state, most mandate that these counselors have at least a master's degree plus a minimum amount of clinical experience. In addition, individuals must pass a state-approved exam and complete continuing education credits to work as a child and family counselor.

Since this profession requires an advanced education, some students may prefer to complete some or all of their child and family counselor training online. Before enrolling in any distance learning program, students should first consult with their state licensing agency to confirm its education requirements.

Job outlook for child and family counselors

Graduates of child and family counselor schools may go on to work for government agencies, group private practices or their own individual practice. The BLS estimates that demand for marriage and family therapists will grow at a faster than average rate. From 2008 to 2018, job growth is this occupation is expected to be 14 percent.

For more helpful career information from Schools.com, see:

• Career comparison tool: Compare careers by salary and education
• Interview with Dr. Marian Berryhill, Assistant Professor of Psychology at the University of Nevada, Reno (video)
• Report: Which college majors make you the most money?
• School guidance counselor salary & career outlook