Massage therapist salary

Massage therapists in the U.S. earn a median $58,450 a year.

Median pay
$58,450
Median hourly
$28.10
Typical range
$33,640–$100,200
Jobs
98,790

Pay range

Annual pay percentiles for massage therapists in the U.S.
PercentileAnnual pay
10th (entry level)$33,640
25th$43,480
Median$58,450
75th$78,320
90th (top earners)$100,200

Pay in the biggest metro areas

Median pay by metro area
Metro areaMedian payJobs
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$43,5305,680
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ$50,6005,420
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN$61,2003,890
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX$59,0102,930
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL$48,3702,740
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$94,2202,230
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH$75,1602,180
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX$59,1501,930
Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO$60,4901,890
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ$63,0801,890

Massage therapist salary by state

  1. 1Alaska$134,930
  2. 2Washington$87,360
  3. 3Oregon$86,970
  4. 4Hawaii$81,280
  5. 5New Hampshire$80,360
  6. 6Rhode Island$74,960
  7. 7North Dakota$74,140
  8. 8Maine$73,290
  9. 9Michigan$70,960
  10. –District of Columbia$64,110
  11. 10Massachusetts$63,390
  12. 11Minnesota$63,070
  13. 12New York$62,630
  14. 13Arizona$62,400
  15. 14Maryland$62,270
  16. 15Connecticut$62,260
  17. 16Virginia$62,220
  18. 17Utah$62,130
  19. 18Missouri$62,050
  20. 19Wyoming$61,980
  21. 20Colorado$61,060
  22. 21North Carolina$60,650
  23. 22Illinois$60,490
  24. 23Idaho$60,420
  25. 24Kentucky$59,790
  26. 25Texas$59,370
  27. 26Delaware$58,870
  28. 27Pennsylvania$58,300
  29. 28Wisconsin$58,070
  30. 29South Carolina$58,000
  31. 30Iowa$57,710
  32. 31Ohio$55,990
  33. 32Indiana$55,590
  34. 33Nebraska$53,950
  35. 34Montana$53,540
  36. 35Nevada$53,540
  37. 36South Dakota$52,000
  38. 37Georgia$50,820
  39. 38New Jersey$50,150
  40. 39Tennessee$50,070
  41. 40Kansas$49,990
  42. 41Florida$49,680
  43. 42Alabama$48,930
  44. 43West Virginia$46,600
  45. 44California$45,970
  46. 45Mississippi$40,490
  47. 46Arkansas$39,990
  48. 47New Mexico$37,840
  49. 48Oklahoma$36,630
  50. 49Louisiana$36,480
  51. –Puerto Rico$29,000

Start training

See what the work is like and how long training takes, then compare schools.

Massage therapy schoolsHow to become a massage therapist

Frequently asked questions

How much do massage therapists make?

The median pay for massage therapists in the U.S. is $58,450 a year ($28.10 an hour), according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $33,640, and the top 10% earn over $100,200.

Which states pay massage therapists the most?

The top-paying states are Alaska ($134,930), Washington ($87,360), Oregon ($86,970), Hawaii ($81,280), New Hampshire ($80,360).

How can a massage therapist earn more?

Pay rises with experience, certifications, specialized skills, overtime and willingness to travel. Union jobs and employers in high-cost metro areas often pay more. Our guide on how to become a massage therapist covers the certifications that matter most.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (Massage Therapists, SOC 31-9011). Figures exclude self-employed workers.