How much does a massage therapist make?
The median massage therapist in the United States earns $58,450 per year, about $28.10 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all massage therapists earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 31-9011.
Massage therapist salary range
Pay for massage therapists spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $33,640 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $100,200. The average (mean) wage of $63,830 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $33,640 | $16.17 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $43,480 | $20.91 | |
| Median (50th) | $58,450 | $28.10 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $78,320 | $37.66 | |
| 90th percentile | $100,200 | $48.17 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for massage therapists (SOC 31-9011), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Massage therapist salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Massage therapists earn the most in Alaska at $134,930 a year, and the least in Louisiana at $36,480. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $134,930 | 570 |
| Washington | $87,360 | 3,740 |
| Oregon | $86,970 | 2,250 |
| Hawaii | $81,280 | 1,330 |
| New Hampshire | $80,360 | 270 |
| Rhode Island | $74,960 | 290 |
| North Dakota | $74,140 | 100 |
| Maine | $73,290 | 370 |
| Michigan | $70,960 | 2,410 |
| District of Columbia | $64,110 | 120 |
| Massachusetts | $63,390 | 2,830 |
| Minnesota | $63,070 | 1,690 |
| New York | $62,630 | 4,500 |
| Arizona | $62,400 | 2,530 |
| Maryland | $62,270 | 1,350 |
| Connecticut | $62,260 | 700 |
| Virginia | $62,220 | 2,730 |
| Utah | $62,130 | 1,840 |
| Missouri | $62,050 | 1,500 |
| Wyoming | $61,980 | 150 |
| Colorado | $61,060 | 3,950 |
| North Carolina | $60,650 | 2,460 |
| Illinois | $60,490 | 4,950 |
| Idaho | $60,420 | 170 |
| Kentucky | $59,790 | 780 |
| Texas | $59,370 | 8,630 |
| Delaware | $58,870 | 230 |
| Pennsylvania | $58,300 | 2,990 |
| Wisconsin | $58,070 | 1,520 |
| South Carolina | $58,000 | 1,840 |
| Iowa | $57,710 | 540 |
| Ohio | $55,990 | 1,760 |
| Indiana | $55,590 | 1,480 |
| Nebraska | $53,950 | 270 |
| Montana | $53,540 | 200 |
| Nevada | $53,540 | 1,620 |
| South Dakota | $52,000 | 180 |
| Georgia | $50,820 | 1,700 |
| New Jersey | $50,150 | 2,890 |
| Tennessee | $50,070 | 1,230 |
| Kansas | $49,990 | 780 |
| Florida | $49,680 | 9,280 |
| Alabama | $48,930 | 600 |
| West Virginia | $46,600 | 250 |
| California | $45,970 | 14,600 |
| Mississippi | $40,490 | 230 |
| Arkansas | $39,990 | 430 |
| New Mexico | $37,840 | 360 |
| Oklahoma | $36,630 | 520 |
| Louisiana | $36,480 | 890 |
State median wages for massage therapists (SOC 31-9011), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for massage therapists
The BLS projects employment of massage therapists to grow 15.3% from 2025 to 2035. That is much faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. That works out to roughly 155,400 jobs in 2025 moving toward 179,100 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 20,400 openings a year for massage therapists. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a massage therapist
The typical entry-level education for massage therapists is a postsecondary nondegree award, such as a certificate, according to the BLS.
A four-year college degree is usually not required to start, which makes this one of the jobs you can enter without a bachelor's degree. See more high paying jobs without a degree .
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a massage therapist earns
Certification, work setting, shift, and region shape pay. Hospitals and high cost metros pay above clinics, nursing homes, and rural facilities.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (Alaska, $134,930) and the lowest (Louisiana, $36,480) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 98,790 people work as massage therapists in the United States. At $58,450 a year, the job pays above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Massage therapist salary FAQ
How much does a massage therapist make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a massage therapist is $28.10. The middle half of massage therapists earn between $20.91 and $37.66 per hour.
What is the highest massage therapist salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of massage therapists earn more than $100,200 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a massage therapist make a year?
The median annual salary for a massage therapist is $58,450. The average (mean) wage of $63,830 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a massage therapist a well paid job?
At $58,450 a year, a massage therapist earns above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 98,790 people work as massage therapists in the United States.
Which state pays massage therapists the most?
Alaska has the highest median salary for massage therapists at $134,930 a year. Washington ($87,360) and Oregon ($86,970) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being a massage therapist a good career?
Employment of massage therapists is projected to grow 15.3% from 2025 to 2035, much faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. The BLS projects about 20,400 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a massage therapist?
No. The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for massage therapists as a postsecondary nondegree award, such as a certificate, so a four-year degree is usually not required to start.
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