Checked
Massage Therapists Salary
Massage Therapists earn a median $58,450 a year in the U.S., with 98,790 jobs (May 2025).
- Median wage
- $58,450 a year
- Employment
- 98,790
- Excludes self-employed
- Projected growth
- +15.3%
- 2025 to 2035
- Openings per year
- 20,400
- Average, including replacements
Pay range nationally
The middle half of workers earn between the 25th and 75th percentile (shaded)
- Median (50%)
- $58,450 · $28.10 an hour
- Mean (average)
- $63,830 · $30.69 an hour (estimate error ±1.3%)
- 10th percentile
- $33,640 · $16.17 an hour
- 25th percentile
- $43,480 · $20.91 an hour
- 75th percentile
- $78,320 · $37.66 an hour
- 90th percentile
- $100,200 · $48.17 an hour
- Employment
- 98,790 (estimate error ±2.6%)
What they do
Standard Occupational Classification definition
Perform therapeutic massages of soft tissues and joints. May assist in the assessment of range of motion and muscle strength, or propose client therapy plans.
Job outlook
BLS Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035
- Jobs in 2025
- 155,400
- Projected for 2035
- 179,100
- Change
- +23,700 (+15.3%)
- Openings each year
- 20,400
- Typical education
- Postsecondary nondegree award
- Work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- None
- Self-employed
- 35.6%
Occupational Outlook Handbook (duties, how to become one, work environment)
Highest paying states
Median wage for this occupation
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| # | State | Median wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $134,930 | 570 |
| 2 | Washington | $87,360 | 3,740 |
| 3 | Oregon | $86,970 | 2,250 |
| 4 | Hawaii | $81,280 | 1,330 |
| 5 | New Hampshire | $80,360 | 270 |
| 6 | Rhode Island | $74,960 | 290 |
| 7 | North Dakota | $74,140 | 100 |
| 8 | Maine | $73,290 | 370 |
| 9 | Michigan | $70,960 | 2,410 |
| 10 | District of Columbia | $64,110 | 120 |
States with the most jobs
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| State | Employment | Median wage |
|---|---|---|
| California | 14,600 | $45,970 |
| Florida | 9,280 | $49,680 |
| Texas | 8,630 | $59,370 |
| Illinois | 4,950 | $60,490 |
| New York | 4,500 | $62,630 |
| Colorado | 3,950 | $61,060 |
| Washington | 3,740 | $87,360 |
| Pennsylvania | 2,990 | $58,300 |
| New Jersey | 2,890 | $50,150 |
| Massachusetts | 2,830 | $63,390 |
Highest paying metro areas
Metro areas with at least 100 jobs in this occupation
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| # | Metro area | Median wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $96,820 | 330 |
| 2 | Salem, OR | $96,080 | 160 |
| 3 | Bend, OR | $94,580 | 210 |
| 4 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $94,220 | 2,230 |
| 5 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $84,730 | 1,580 |
| 6 | Eugene-Springfield, OR | $83,880 | 180 |
| 7 | Bellingham, WA | $83,790 | 140 |
| 8 | Medford, OR | $82,370 | 150 |
| 9 | Wilmington, NC | $81,390 | 120 |
| 10 | Manchester-Nashua, NH | $80,360 | 110 |
| 11 | Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ | $79,600 | 110 |
| 12 | Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $78,320 | 200 |
Metro areas with the most jobs
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| Metro area | Employment | Median wage |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 5,680 | $43,530 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 5,420 | $50,600 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 3,890 | $61,200 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 2,930 | $59,010 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 2,740 | $48,370 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 2,230 | $94,220 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 2,180 | $75,160 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 1,930 | $59,150 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 1,890 | $60,490 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 1,890 | $63,080 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 1,820 | $45,200 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 1,800 | $40,280 |
Visa filings for this occupation
Wages employers offered on Department of Labor filings
- PERM green card (FY 2026 through Q3)4 certified filingsMedian offered wage $32,500
Massage Therapists pay by state
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Guam
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Puerto Rico
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Related occupations
Frequently asked questions
- How much do massage therapists make?
- The median wage for massage therapists in the U.S. is $58,450 a year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $43,480 and $78,320.
- Which state pays massage therapists the most?
- Alaska has the highest median wage for this occupation at $134,930 a year.
- What is the job outlook for massage therapists?
- BLS projects employment to grow 15.3% from 2025 to 2035, with about 20,400 openings each year on average.
- What education do massage therapists need?
- The typical entry-level education is: postsecondary nondegree award.