SOC 31-9011 · May 2025
Massage Therapist Salary
Massage Therapists in the US earn a median of $58,450 a year ($30.69 an hour on average), according to the BLS May 2025 wage survey. Average Massage Therapist pay climbed from $47,180 in 2019 to $63,830 in 2025, a +35.3% change in 6 years.
Median annual
$58,450
Half of all Massage Therapists in the United States earn more than this figure, half earn less. From the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 release.
Wage trend
+35.3% since 2019 · +0.6% YoY
Hourly
$30.69
Job growth 2025-35
+15.3%
US workers
98,790
BLS series
Annual median wage for Massage Therapists in All Industries in the United States
Salary range
From entry to top decile
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread for Massage Therapists is $33,640 – $100,200.
Percentile distribution
USD · annual
10th
$33,640
25th
$43,480
Median
$58,450
75th
$78,320
90th
$100,200
Percentile bands
Where your pay would sit
Percentile bands
Annual wages at each point of the BLS distribution for Massage Therapists. Where you sit depends on experience, employer, location and credentials.
| Percentile | What it means | Annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | 10% earn less. Common for new entrants | $33,640 |
| 25th percentile | A quarter earn less | $43,480 |
| Median | Half earn more, half earn less | $58,450 |
| 75th percentile | A quarter earn more | $78,320 |
| 90th percentile | 10% earn more. Often senior or specialist staff | $100,200 |
Geography
Massage Therapist pay by state
Massage Therapists earn the most in Alaska ($134,930, +131% against the national median) and the least in Louisiana ($36,480). BLS publishes a May 2025 estimate for this occupation in 50 of 51 states and D.C.
National median
$58,450
Highest-paying states for massage therapists
| State | Annual median | vs national | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $134,930 | +131% | 570 |
| Washington | $87,360 | +49% | 3,740 |
| Oregon | $86,970 | +49% | 2,250 |
| Hawaii | $81,280 | +39% | 1,330 |
| New Hampshire | $80,360 | +37% | 270 |
| Rhode Island | $74,960 | +28% | 290 |
| North Dakota | $74,140 | +27% | 100 |
| Maine | $73,290 | +25% | 370 |
| Michigan | $70,960 | +21% | 2,410 |
| D.C. | $64,110 | +10% | 120 |
All 50 states, highest to lowest
| State | Annual median | 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 |
| D.C. | $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 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, state estimates, May 2025, all industries.
What affects this salary
Pay drivers for Massage Therapists
Massage therapists (BLS SOC 31-9011) treat clients by applying pressure to the muscles and soft tissues. Most states require licensure after completion of a 500–1,000-hour training program plus passage of the MBLEx exam. Spa, chiropractic, and physical-therapy-clinic settings carry different pay structures. OEWS figures reflect employer wages and miss the substantial private-practice and tip-income components common in this role.
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread is $33,640 – $100,200. That gap reflects experience, certification, employer type, geographic cost of living, and shift differentials where applicable.
Geography matters. The best-paying states for this role are Alaska, Washington and Oregon. Pay in Alaska runs 3.7 times the level in Louisiana, before any adjustment for cost of living.
Getting in. BLS lists the typical entry-level education as postsecondary nondegree award, and projects about 20,400 openings a year over 2025-35. Employment is projected to grow 15.3% over the same period, against 3.5% for all occupations.
Frequently asked
Questions readers ask
Frequently asked
What is the average Massage Therapist salary in the US?
How much does a Massage Therapist make an hour?
How much do Massage Therapists make at the low and high end?
Which state pays Massage Therapists the most?
Is the average Massage Therapist salary higher than the median?
Is Massage Therapist a growing career?
Open positions
Open Massage Therapist roles hiring now
Browse current Massage Therapist listings on Indeed and ZipRecruiter, filtered to your role.
Source & methodology
Wage and employment figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, May 2025 release. Standard Occupational Classification: 31-9011. Figures represent the national median, mean, and percentile distribution across all employers and industries. Hourly equivalents assume a 2,080-hour work year. Job growth, annual openings and typical education are from the BLS Employment Projections program, 2025-35; see the Occupational Outlook Handbook entry. Read our methodology for details on how the data is sourced, transformed, and refreshed.