Massage therapists salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $33,640 | $16.17 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $58,450 | $28.10 |
| Mean (average) | $63,830 | $30.69 |
| 90th percentile | $100,200 | $48.17 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Massage therapists pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 52 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $48,930 | $22,250 | $91,260 | 600 | 0.45 |
| Alaska | $134,930 | $34,140 | $161,400 | 570 | 2.78 |
| Arizona | $62,400 | $37,800 | $90,780 | 2,530 | 1.23 |
| Arkansas | $39,990 | $24,180 | $74,530 | 430 | 0.52 |
| California | $45,970 | $34,320 | $89,880 | 14,600 | 1.26 |
| Colorado | $61,060 | $35,990 | $101,710 | 3,950 | 2.16 |
| Connecticut | $62,260 | $34,010 | $97,870 | 700 | 0.65 |
| Delaware | $58,870 | $46,250 | $98,220 | 230 | 0.75 |
| District of Columbia | $64,110 | $44,130 | $134,110 | 120 | 0.27 |
| Florida | $49,680 | $30,310 | $79,220 | 9,280 | 1.47 |
| Georgia | $50,820 | $19,010 | $83,130 | 1,700 | 0.55 |
| Guam | $60,420 | $23,760 | $62,400 | 50 | 1.17 |
| Hawaii | $81,280 | $36,660 | $166,730 | 1,330 | 3.34 |
| Idaho | $60,420 | $35,360 | $94,610 | 170 | 0.31 |
| Illinois | $60,490 | $33,770 | $82,910 | 4,950 | 1.28 |
| Indiana | $55,590 | $38,140 | $83,140 | 1,480 | 0.73 |
| Iowa | $57,710 | $37,560 | $91,570 | 540 | 0.55 |
| Kansas | $49,990 | $31,490 | $81,760 | 780 | 0.85 |
| Kentucky | $59,790 | $30,210 | $95,290 | 780 | 0.61 |
| Louisiana | $36,480 | $18,080 | $59,680 | 890 | 0.72 |
| Maine | $73,290 | $32,450 | $119,580 | 370 | 0.91 |
| Maryland | $62,270 | $35,360 | $96,440 | 1,350 | 0.77 |
| Massachusetts | $63,390 | $40,420 | $104,510 | 2,830 | 1.23 |
| Michigan | $70,960 | $32,610 | $89,950 | 2,410 | 0.86 |
| Minnesota | $63,070 | $28,320 | $97,870 | 1,690 | 0.9 |
| Mississippi | $40,490 | $28,820 | $103,020 | 230 | 0.32 |
| Missouri | $62,050 | $43,680 | $101,900 | 1,500 | 0.8 |
| Montana | $53,540 | $25,020 | $96,740 | 200 | 0.6 |
| Nebraska | $53,950 | $47,360 | $93,390 | 270 | 0.42 |
| Nevada | $53,540 | $25,230 | $121,980 | 1,620 | 1.64 |
| New Hampshire | $80,360 | $36,500 | $114,400 | 270 | 0.62 |
| New Jersey | $50,150 | $33,280 | $81,930 | 2,890 | 1.06 |
| New Mexico | $37,840 | $29,430 | $91,730 | 360 | 0.66 |
| New York | $62,630 | $33,280 | $110,210 | 4,500 | 0.73 |
| North Carolina | $60,650 | $31,050 | $96,510 | 2,460 | 0.78 |
| North Dakota | $74,140 | $34,120 | $110,870 | 100 | 0.37 |
| Ohio | $55,990 | $40,340 | $78,520 | 1,760 | 0.5 |
| Oklahoma | $36,630 | $24,790 | $101,100 | 520 | 0.48 |
| Oregon | $86,970 | $47,270 | $103,630 | 2,250 | 1.8 |
| Pennsylvania | $58,300 | $31,000 | $110,770 | 2,990 | 0.78 |
| Puerto Rico | $29,000 | $23,020 | $54,610 | 80 | 0.14 |
| Rhode Island | $74,960 | $43,480 | $126,150 | 290 | 0.92 |
| South Carolina | $58,000 | $17,340 | $95,540 | 1,840 | 1.25 |
| South Dakota | $52,000 | $35,720 | $56,310 | 180 | 0.63 |
| Tennessee | $50,070 | $36,960 | $95,260 | 1,230 | 0.59 |
| Texas | $59,370 | $34,870 | $109,970 | 8,630 | 0.97 |
| Utah | $62,130 | $23,160 | $97,970 | 1,840 | 1.66 |
| Virginia | $62,220 | $38,070 | $119,570 | 2,730 | 1.04 |
| Washington | $87,360 | $61,850 | $115,800 | 3,740 | 1.66 |
| West Virginia | $46,600 | $22,450 | $82,950 | 250 | 0.57 |
| Wisconsin | $58,070 | $20,280 | $105,360 | 1,520 | 0.82 |
| Wyoming | $61,980 | $18,570 | $98,090 | 150 | 0.86 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for massage therapists
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 20,400. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 35.6%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for massage therapists
- Typical entry education
- Postsecondary nondegree award
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- None
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Massage Therapy/Therapeutic Massage CIP 51.3501
- Asian Bodywork Therapy CIP 51.3502
- Somatic Bodywork CIP 51.3503
- Somatic Bodywork and Related Therapeutic Services, Other CIP 51.3599
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Massage and knead muscles and soft tissues of the body to provide treatment for medical conditions, injuries, or wellness maintenance.
- Apply finger and hand pressure to specific points of the body.
- Confer with clients about their medical histories and problems with stress or pain to determine how massage will be most helpful.
- Maintain massage areas by restocking supplies or sanitizing equipment.
- Treat clients in professional settings or travel to clients' offices and homes.
- Develop and propose client treatment plans that specify which types of massage are to be used.
- Provide clients with guidance and information about techniques for postural improvement and stretching, strengthening, relaxation, and rehabilitative exercises.
- Maintain treatment records.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- AppointmentQuest Online Appointment Manager
- ICS Software SammyUSA
- Land Software Customer Pro-File
- Massage Suite
- Scheduling software
- WinCity Custom Software WinCity Massage SOAP Notes
Transferable skills for career changers: Social Perceptiveness, Service Orientation, Judgment and Decision Making, Complex Problem Solving, Time Management, Coordination.
Common job titles: BCMT (Board Certified Massage Therapist), Bodywork Therapist, Certified Massage Therapist (CMT), Clinical Massage Therapist, Licensed Massage Practitioner (LMP), Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT), Medical Massage Practitioner, MMT (Medical Massage Therapist), Registered Massage Therapist (RMT), Soft Tissue Specialist.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do massage therapists make?
The national median annual wage for massage therapists was $58,450 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $33,640 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $100,200. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do massage therapists need?
BLS lists postsecondary nondegree award as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and none on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is massage therapists a growing career?
BLS projects employment of massage therapists to change +15.3% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 20,400 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay massage therapists the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Alaska ($134,930), Washington ($87,360), Oregon ($86,970). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.