Child Therapist Jobs in California

Child Therapist jobs in California are among the most active in the country, with strong demand from school districts, community mental health centers, and pediatric outpatient clinics serving roles from associate-level trainees through licensed clinical supervisors. The largest concentrations of hiring are in Los Angeles, San Diego, and the San Francisco Bay Area, where organizations like Kaiser Permanente, Cedars-Sinai, and the Los Angeles Unified School District maintain consistent child therapist rosters. The most sought-after specialties in California are trauma-focused CBT, autism spectrum disorder intervention, and school-based mental health services. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.

Find Child Therapist Jobs

Overview

Open roles14
Top employerHazel Health
Top cityBurbank, CA
Cities hiring12
Work type56% On-site
Top industryHealthcare

Showing 5 of 14+ Child Therapist jobs

(B.E.S.T.) BEHAVIOR EDUCATION SERVICES TEAM
ABA Behavior Therapist - Bilingual (Child Care Coach / Mentor)
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(B.E.S.T.) BEHAVIOR EDUCATION SERVICES TEAM
Added 1d ago
ABA Behavior Therapist - Bilingual (Child Care Coach / Mentor)
(B.E.S.T.) BEHAVIOR EDUCATION SERVICES TEAM
Palmdale, California
Healthcare Administration
Mental & Behavioral Health
Social Work & Counseling
$23 - $25/hr
On-Site
High school diploma or GED
51-200

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(B.E.S.T.) BEHAVIOR EDUCATION SERVICES TEAM
ABA Behavior Therapist - Bilingual (Child Care Coach / Mentor)
We won't show you this job again
(B.E.S.T.) BEHAVIOR EDUCATION SERVICES TEAM
Added 1d ago
ABA Behavior Therapist - Bilingual (Child Care Coach / Mentor)
(B.E.S.T.) BEHAVIOR EDUCATION SERVICES TEAM
Canyon Country, California
Healthcare Administration
Mental & Behavioral Health
Social Work & Counseling
$23 - $25/hr
On-Site
High school diploma or GED
51-200

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Life Applied
Child Development Specialist - ABA Therapist
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Life Applied
Added 6d ago
Child Development Specialist - ABA Therapist
Life Applied
Salinas, California
Administrative & Office Support
Business Analysis
Project Management
$20 - $27/hr
On-Site
CPR Certification

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Hazel Health
Little Otter Licensed Child & Family Therapist (Measurement-Based Care) – Part-Time, California
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Hazel Health
Added 3w ago
Little Otter Licensed Child & Family Therapist (Measurement-Based Care) – Part-Time, California
Hazel Health
Irvine, California
Community & Nonprofit Services
Mental & Behavioral Health
Social Work & Counseling
Remote (US)
Master's degree
201-500

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LifeStance Health
Child and Adolescent Therapist (LMFT, LCSW, LPCC)
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LifeStance Health
Added 3w ago
Child and Adolescent Therapist (LMFT, LCSW, LPCC)
LifeStance Health
Burbank, California
Healthcare Administration
Patient Services & Wellbeing
Public Health
$117k - $134k/yr
Hybrid
5,001-10,000

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Child Therapist Jobs by City in California

Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Burbank
2 jobs
San Leandro
2 jobs
Irvine
1 job
Orange
1 job
Modesto
1 job
Salinas
1 job
Ventura
1 job
Palmdale
1 job
San Jose
1 job

Child Therapist Job Market in California

A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.

Who's Hiring

Hazel Health
Hazel Health2 open roles
Kaiser Permanente
Kaiser Permanente2 open roles
LifeStance Health
LifeStance Health2 open roles

Top Industries Hiring

  • Healthcare & Medical Services

What California Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in child therapist jobs across California.

  • Active California LPCC, LCSW, or MFT license issued by the BBS required
  • Master's degree in counseling, social work, marriage and family therapy, or psychology
  • Experience delivering evidence-based modalities such as TF-CBT or play therapy
  • Familiarity with Medi-Cal documentation, billing codes, and compliance requirements
  • Ability to collaborate with school staff, parents, and interdisciplinary treatment teams
  • Bilingual fluency in Spanish preferred for many California community and school settings

Child Therapist Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a child therapist in California?

You become a child therapist in California by earning a master's degree in counseling, social work, or marriage and family therapy, then registering with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences as an Associate LCSW, AMFT, or APCC while accumulating supervised hours. After completing your hours, you pass the California Clinical Examination to earn full licensure as an LCSW, MFT, or LPCC, which is required to practice independently in the state.

How much do child therapists make in California?

Child therapists in California earn a median of about $67,300 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $46,350 for the lowest 10% to over $130,340 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.

Which companies hire child therapists in California?

Employers hiring child therapists in California right now include Hazel Health, Kaiser Permanente, and LifeStance Health, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. California's large integrated health systems, county behavioral health departments, and charter school networks are also consistent sources of child therapist openings across the state.

Which California cities have the most child therapist jobs?

Burbank, San Leandro, and Irvine have the most child therapist openings in California. Los Angeles drives the largest share of demand given its scale of community mental health infrastructure and school district size, while San Diego's military family population and the Bay Area's dense network of pediatric clinics and tech-employer EAP contracts sustain strong hiring in those metros as well.

Are there remote child therapist jobs in California?

Yes, and more than many clinical roles, because telehealth has become a widely accepted delivery model for child therapy in California. About 44% of child therapist openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, reflecting the state's early adoption of telehealth policy. Diagnostic intake, follow-up counseling sessions, and parent consultations are the parts of the role most commonly delivered remotely.

How can I get hired as a child therapist in California with little or no experience?

The most realistic entry path is registering as an Associate MFT, APCC, or Associate LCSW with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences and applying to county behavioral health departments or large nonprofits such as Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services or Uplift Family Services, which regularly hire associates into supervised trainee roles. School district internship programs and Head Start agencies are another California-specific entry point that counts toward licensure hours and often converts to full employment.

Where can I find and apply to child therapist jobs in California?

You can find and apply to child therapist jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from employers actively hiring in the state. Search the listings, find the roles that fit your license level and specialization, and apply directly to the employers that interest you.

See All 14 Child Therapist Jobs in California

Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

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