Salary progression Family therapist

Average salary 37 100 kr
Males 37 400 kr
Females 36 800 kr

What does a family support therapist do? – Tasks and work environment

Family support therapists work to support and guide individuals who are close to someone with illness, dependency issues, or mental health problems. Tasks include talk therapy, counseling, and designing and implementing support programs for relatives. The role often involves collaborating with social services, healthcare providers, and other actors to create a functioning network around the family member. The work environment is varied and can include individual conversations, group meetings, and training sessions. Family support therapists are primarily found within municipal services, but also within regional authorities, non-profit organizations, and private providers.

Salary development over time

The salary for family support therapists has shown a clear positive trend over the past three years. In 2022, the average salary was 33,200 SEK per month, increasing to 36 100 SEK in 2023. The latest recorded salary level for 2024 is 37 100 SEK, representing an overall increase of approximately 8.7% over the three-year period. This development reflects an increased demand for qualified psychosocial support and a growing focus on the role of relatives in care and support. Salary increases have also been influenced by higher demands for formal education and specialization, as well as general wage trends within social work.

Family support therapist salary – comprehensive overview

  • Average salary: 37 100 SEK/month
  • Lowest salary: 31,800 SEK (female, government sector)
  • Highest salary: 41,500 SEK (female, municipal sector, doctoral degree)
  • Highest male salary: 39,200 SEK
  • Lowest male salary: 32,400 SEK
  • Hourly wage (average): 217 SEK
  • Women earn: 36 800 SEK (98% of men's salary)
  • Men earn: 37 400 SEK

Education and qualifications

To work as a family support therapist, a post-secondary education in social work, behavioral sciences, or psychology is usually required. Many employers prefer applicants with additional training in talk therapy or specific family support skills. Practical experience from healthcare, social services, or support work is often advantageous and can be supplemented with courses in supervision or crisis support.

  • Formal education: University degree in social work, behavioral sciences, or psychology (3–4 years)
  • Further training: Courses in talk therapy, crisis support, and family support
  • Internships: Field studies or internships within social services, healthcare, or support organizations
  • Certifications: Certification in CBT, MI, or similar methods is advantageous
  • Prerequisites: Broad experience working with people in vulnerable situations

Working as a family support therapist often involves meeting people in existential crises and navigating complex family situations. The ability to build trust and be present is essential—many relatives lack prior experience seeking support, making this role especially important and meaningful.

– statsskuld.se

Common benefits and compensations

Family support therapists are often offered collective agreements, wellness allowances, and opportunities for professional development. Other common benefits may include flexible working hours, occupational pension, and supervision, especially within the municipal sector. Some employers also provide support for further training and options for remote work if needed.

Challenges and competition

The job market for family support therapists is characterized by balance, with moderate opportunities to find employment nationwide. Challenges include managing emotionally demanding situations and working with limited resources in some municipalities. The role is often broad and requires both specialist knowledge and flexibility. Despite steady demand, competition for positions can be high in certain regions, especially where the population is smaller. Continuing professional development and networking are important to strengthen one's position in the job market.

Tips for aspiring family support therapists

To succeed as a family support therapist, it’s important to be empathetic and attentive, as the work is based on understanding and meeting relatives' feelings and needs. A structured approach helps handle complex cases, so developing good routines for documentation and follow-up early is wise. Flexibility and adaptability are key, as no two days are the same and different families require different types of support. Further training in counseling methods and crisis support increases chances of employment and making a difference. Building networks within social services and healthcare is also beneficial, as collaboration is often a central part of the work. Finally, resilience and the ability to handle difficult situations without taking work home are important qualities, which can be trained through supervision and reflection.

Key facts about family support therapists

  • Education level: University degree in social work or psychology
  • Work environment: Municipal sector, often in teams with other professionals
  • Demand: Moderate and stable, 237 job openings within the profession
  • Special skills: Talk therapy and family support

Career paths and future prospects

After three to five years as a family support therapist, there are opportunities to move into more specialized roles, such as coordinator for family support, method developer, or supervisor for colleagues. Some choose to further their education to become therapists in other fields, such as family therapy or addiction therapy. The Employment Service's prognosis for the group of treatment assistants and social pedagogues, which includes family support therapists, indicates that demand will remain unchanged over the next five years. Nationally, the job market is balanced, and opportunities for employment are considered moderate. Continued professional development and specialization in counseling methods can further improve career prospects.

Common questions about family support therapists

  • What does a family support therapist earn?
    - The average salary is 37 100 SEK per month, with variation depending on experience, education, and sector.
  • What education is required to become a family support therapist?
    - A university degree in social work, behavioral sciences, or psychology is most common, often supplemented with courses in talk therapy.
  • Are there salary differences between men and women?
    - Yes, women earn an average of 36 800 SEK and men 37 400 SEK, meaning women earn 98% of men's salaries.
  • What is the job market like for family support therapists?
    - Opportunities for employment are considered moderate, and the labor market is balanced according to the Employment Service.
  • What is the highest salary for a family support therapist?
    - The highest salary is 41,500 SEK and belongs to a woman in the municipal sector with a doctoral degree.
  • What personal qualities are important in this profession?
    - Empathy, attentiveness, flexibility, and the ability to handle emotionally demanding situations are crucial.
  • What benefits are usually offered?
    - Common benefits include collective agreements, wellness allowances, supervision, and opportunities for professional development.

Who has the highest salary?
The highest salary for a Family therapist is 46600 kr. This salary belongs to a woman working in the Municipal sector with a postgraduate education. The highest salary for a man in this profession is 40000 kr.
Who has the lowest salary?
The lowest salary for a Family therapist is 33500 kr. This salary belongs to a woman also working in the Privately employed workers. The lowest salary for a man in this profession is 34700 kr.
Salary distributed by age and sector
Age Women's salary as a percentage of men's Base salary Monthly salary
18-24 29700 kr 32800 kr
25-34 94% 33500 kr 35900 kr
35-44 99% 34800 kr 37100 kr
45-54 99% 35500 kr 38100 kr
55-64 101% 36000 kr 37900 kr
65-68 104% 34700 kr 37500 kr
Snitt 98% 34700 kr 37100 kr
Salary per sector
Salary based on education
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About the data

All information displayed on this page is based on data from the Swedish Central Bureau of Statistics (SCB), the Swedish Tax Agency and the Swedish employment agency. Learn more about our data and data sources here.

All figures are gross salaries, meaning salaries before tax. The average salary, or mean salary, is calculated by adding up the total salary for all individuals within the profession and dividing it by the number of individuals. For specific job categories, we have also considered various criteria such as experience and education.

Profession Family therapist has the SSYK code 3411, which we use to match against the SCB database to obtain the latest salary statistics.

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