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How much do mft trainee jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 26, 2026, the average yearly pay for mft trainee in the United States is $43,530.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $33,000.00 and $51,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is an MFT trainee?

An MFT trainee is an individual undergoing supervised training to become a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. During this period, they gain practical experience, often working under the supervision of licensed professionals, and may be required to complete a specific number of hours before licensure. The role involves developing skills in therapy, assessment, and client management within mental health settings.

What does the typical supervision process look like for an MFT Trainee?

As an MFT Trainee, you will work under the supervision of a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who provides regular guidance and feedback on your clinical cases. Supervision usually involves weekly individual or group meetings to review client sessions, discuss treatment planning, and address any challenges you encounter. This process is designed to help you develop your therapeutic skills, ensure that you adhere to ethical standards, and support your progress toward licensure. Supervisors also play a crucial role in fostering your professional growth and offering resources for managing complex cases.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Mft Trainee position, and why are they important?

To thrive as an MFT Trainee, you need a foundational understanding of psychological theories, therapeutic techniques, and enrollment in or completion of a graduate-level Marriage and Family Therapy program. Familiarity with electronic health record (EHR) systems, clinical documentation standards, and appropriate supervision protocols is typically required. Excellent listening, cultural sensitivity, and emotional intelligence are key soft skills that help build rapport with clients and collaborate effectively with supervisors and colleagues. These competencies ensure that MFT Trainees can provide ethical, effective support while developing their professional abilities within a clinical setting.

Can you teach with an MFT?

An MFT Trainee is typically not qualified to teach independently but may assist in educational settings under supervision. Gaining experience and completing required licensure or certification can lead to teaching roles in mental health or related fields. Teaching responsibilities depend on the specific job, employer, and state licensing requirements.

What jobs pay $10,000 a month without a degree?

For MFT trainees or similar roles, earning $10,000 a month without a degree is uncommon, as many high-paying jobs require advanced education or licensing. However, careers in sales, real estate, entrepreneurship, or skilled trades like plumbing or electrical work can reach that income level with experience and effort. Success often depends on skills, certifications, and market demand rather than formal degrees alone.

What is an MFT intern called?

An MFT intern is typically called a Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) trainee or intern. This individual is gaining supervised clinical experience required for licensure and may work under the supervision of a licensed therapist while completing necessary hours and training requirements.

What is an MFT Trainee job?

An MFT Trainee is a graduate-level student or recent graduate working toward licensure as a Marriage and Family Therapist. Under supervision, they provide therapy to individuals, couples, families, and groups while gaining the required clinical hours for licensure. Trainees typically work in mental health clinics, schools, or private practices, building hands-on experience in assessment, diagnosis, and treatment.

More about Mft Trainee jobs
What cities are hiring for Mft Trainee jobs? Cities with the most Mft Trainee job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Mft jobs? The most popular types of Mft jobs are:
What states have the most Mft Trainee jobs? States with the most job openings for Mft Trainee jobs include:
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Mft Trainee jobs near you
Infographic showing various Mft Trainee job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 93% Full Time, and 7% Part Time. Highlights an 98% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 1% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $43,530 per year, or $20.9 per hour.

Marriage and Family Therapist (BHIP) - EDRP Approved

SD Department of Veterans Affairs

Harlingen, TX • On-site

$63K/yr

Other

Posted 14 days ago

Job description

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.
Qualifications:Health Profession Trainees (HPT's) pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.
All applicants pending licensure as a MFT may be appointed at the GS-9 level while completing pre-license requirements.
Basic Requirements:
  • United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
  • English Language Proficiency. In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English.
Education - Master's or doctoral degree in one of the following:
  • Marriage and Family Therapy from a program approved by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE), OR
  • Marriage and Family Therapy from a MFT program from a regionally accredited institution, OR
  • A comparable mental health degree (Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor, Social Work, Psychiatric Nursing, Psychology, and Psychiatry) that meets the current VA qualification standard of that profession.
Licensure - Must hold full, current, and unrestricted Marriage and Family Therapy license to independently practice marriage and family therapy in a state or pending completion of state prerequisites for licensure. GS-9 Only: VA may waive the requirement of licensure for a period not to exceed 3 years for a Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT) that provides care under the clinical supervision of a licensed MFT who is at or above the full performance level. Failure to become licensed within three years from date of appointment will result in removal from the GS-0182 MFT series and may result in termination of employment.
May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).
Grandfather Provision - An MFT employed in VHA on the effective date of the qualification standard (4/18/2018) who did not meet all the basic requirements in this standard may not be promoted beyond the full performance level (GS-11) or be newly placed in supervisory or managerial positions until meeting all qualification requirements.
Grade Determinations:
GS-09 MFT (Entry Level) Requirements: Along with meeting the basic education requirements for this position you must demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
  • Knowledge of human development throughout the lifespan, interventions based on research and family systems theory and therapy, formal diagnostic criteria, risk assessment, evidence-based practice and assessment tools.
  • Ability to assess, with supervision, the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and their family members.
  • Knowledge to formulate, implement, and re-evaluate a treatment plan through continuous assessment identifying the Veteran's challenges, strengths, readiness to change, external influences and current events surrounding the origins and maintenance of the presenting issue, and interactional patterns within the client system.
  • Ability to provide counseling and, or psychotherapy services, under supervision, to individuals, groups, couples and families in a manner that facilitates change through restructuring and reorganizing of the client system.
  • Basic knowledge and understanding of existing relevant statutes, case law, ethical codes, and regulations affecting professional practice of marriage and family therapy.
  • Ability to draft documents, manage data, maintain accurate, timely and thorough clinical documentation, and track quality improvements.
GS-11 MFT (Full Performance Level) Requirements: In addition to meeting the basic requirements, to qualify for the GS-11 you must have at least one year of post-master's degree experience in the field marriage and family therapy work (VA or non-VA experience) OR a doctoral degree in marriage and family therapy or comparable degree in mental health that meets the current VA qualification standard of that profession (Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor, Social Work, Psychiatric Nursing, Psychology, and Psychiatry) which may be substituted for the required one year of marriage and family therapy experience in a clinical setting that demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
  1. Skill to independently assess the psychosocial functioning and needs of Veterans and their family members.
  2. Ability to provide counseling and, or psychotherapy services to individuals, groups, couples and families that facilitates change through restructuring and reorganizing the client system.
  3. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with Veterans and their families, colleagues, and other professionals in collaboration throughout treatment regarding clinical, ethical and legal issues and concerns.
  4. Knowledge and understanding of existing relevant statutes, case law, ethical codes, regulations and VA policies affecting the practice of marriage and family therapy. This includes the ability to assist Veterans and their families in making informed decisions relevant to treatment to include limits of confidentiality.
  5. Ability to provide orientation, training and consultation to new MFTs including clinical oversight of MFT graduate students, and/or provide clinical supervision to pre-licensure MFTs.
  6. Skill in the use of computer software applications for drafting documents, data management, maintaining accurate, timely and thorough clinical documentation, and tracking quality improvements.

Preferred Experience:
  • VA or DOD experience
  • Work experience in community settings
  • Experience incorporating outcome measurement based care into treatment.
  • Experience with evidence-based psychotherapies for individuals, groups, couples, and families
  • Experience in case management in complex settings.
  • Experience in outpatient general mental health clinics.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.
The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-9 to GS-11.
Physical Requirements:
Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation and would generally not require a pre-placement examination.Education:Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.
Education - Master's or doctoral degree in one of the following:
  • Marriage and Family Therapy from a program approved by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE), OR
  • Marriage and Family Therapy from a MFT program from a regionally accredited institution, OR
  • A comparable mental health degree that meets the current VA qualification standard of that profession.
    • (Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor: https://www.cacrep.org/directory/
    • Social Work: https://www.cswe.org/accreditation/about/directory/,
    • Psychiatric Nursing, Psychology, and Psychiatry: https://ope.ed.gov/dapip/#/home
NOTE: If your school has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this information in your application.
NOTE: If your school was accredited by one of the accrediting bodies listed above or recognized by the US Department of Education at the time of graduation but is no longer listed on the website, you must provide documentation of accreditation with your application packet.
Employment Type: OTHER

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