31 Series · SOC 31-9011
Massage Therapists Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $58,450
- Median / year
- $100,200
- Top 10% earn
- +15.4%
- Growth '23–'33
- 98,790
- US workers
Massage Therapists earn a median of $58,450 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $58,450, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $33,640 (10th percentile) to $100,200 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 98,790 US workers. Alaska pays the most ($134,930), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Massage Therapists earn a median of $58,450, putting them below the typical US occupation and higher than 45% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Healthcare Support, it ranks #3 of 17 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 15.4% by 2033.
- $58,450
- Median annual wage
- Top 55%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #3 of 17
- in Healthcare Support
- 3.0×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: Alaska at $134,930. Typical entry-level education: Postsecondary nondegree award.
Massage Therapists (SOC 31-9011) pays a national median of $58,450 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $33,640 at the 10th percentile to $100,200 at the 90th, with a mean of $63,830 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 98,790 Americans work in this occupation across 52 reporting states and 290 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a +15.4% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as much faster than average relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 24,700 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is Postsecondary nondegree award. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of B for this role, with a fatality rate of 0.6 per 100,000 and injury rate of 5.5 per 100.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. Alaska pays the highest state median at $134,930, which is +131% above the national figure. The top metro is Alaska nonmetropolitan area at $135,630 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.
BLS OEWS May 2025 98,790 jobs Median $58,450/yr
Median Salary
$58,450
per year
Median Hourly
$28.10/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$63,830
average
Employment
98,790
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Massage Therapists pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$58,450 Bottom 45% higher than 45% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 31-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Massage Therapists; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 17 31-series occupations with growth data, Massage Therapists sits on the faster-growing side at +15.4% growth and $58,450 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
+15.4%
Much faster than average
Annual Openings
24,700
per year (projected)
Typical Education
Postsecondary nondegree award
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings → B
Safe
Safety Grade (BLS 2023)
Fatality Rate
0.6/100K
Injury Rate
5.5/100
Danger Index
22.3/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Massage Therapists roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Active Listening 3.6
Speaking 3.6
Social Perceptiveness 3.3
Service Orientation 3.3
Judgment and Decision Making 3.1
Reading Comprehension 3.0
Writing 3.0
Critical Thinking 3.0
Active Learning 3.0
Monitoring 3.0
Knowledge Areas
Customer and Personal Service 4.6
Biology 3.3
English Language 3.3
Psychology 3.3
Medicine and Dentistry 3.1
Sales and Marketing 3.0
Public Safety and Security 3.0
Administration and Management 2.7
Administrative 2.7
Education and Training 2.7
Key Tasks
- ▸ Confer with clients about their medical histories and problems with stress or pain to determine how massage will be most helpful.
- ▸ Massage and knead muscles and soft tissues of the body to provide treatment for medical conditions, injuries, or wellness maintenance.
- ▸ Maintain massage areas by restocking supplies or sanitizing equipment.
- ▸ Apply finger and hand pressure to specific points of the body.
- ▸ Develop and propose client treatment plans that specify which types of massage are to be used.
- ▸ Maintain treatment records.
- ▸ Assess clients' soft tissue condition, joint quality and function, muscle strength, and range of motion.
- ▸ Provide clients with guidance and information about techniques for postural improvement and stretching, strengthening, relaxation, and rehabilitative exercises.
- ▸ Treat clients in professional settings or travel to clients' offices and homes.
- ▸ Refer clients to other types of therapists when necessary.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
10th Percentile
$33,640
25th Percentile
$43,480
Median
$58,450
75th Percentile
$78,320
90th Percentile
$100,200
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
View all 52 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $134,930 | +131% above national |
| 2 | Washington | $87,360 | +49% above national |
| 3 | Oregon | $86,970 | +49% above national |
| 4 | Hawaii | $81,280 | +39% above national |
| 5 | New Hampshire | $80,360 | +37% above national |
| 6 | Rhode Island | $74,960 | +28% above national |
| 7 | North Dakota | $74,140 | +27% above national |
| 8 | Maine | $73,290 | +25% above national |
| 9 | Michigan | $70,960 | +21% above national |
| 10 | District of Columbia | $64,110 | +10% above national |
| 11 | Massachusetts | $63,390 | +8% above national |
| 12 | Minnesota | $63,070 | +8% above national |
| 13 | New York | $62,630 | +7% above national |
| 14 | Arizona | $62,400 | +7% above national |
| 15 | Maryland | $62,270 | +7% above national |
| 16 | Connecticut | $62,260 | +7% above national |
| 17 | Virginia | $62,220 | +6% above national |
| 18 | Utah | $62,130 | +6% above national |
| 19 | Missouri | $62,050 | +6% above national |
| 20 | Wyoming | $61,980 | +6% above national |
| 21 | Colorado | $61,060 | +4% above national |
| 22 | North Carolina | $60,650 | +4% above national |
| 23 | Illinois | $60,490 | +3% above national |
| 24 | Idaho | $60,420 | +3% above national |
| 25 | Guam | $60,420 | +3% above national |
| 26 | Kentucky | $59,790 | +2% above national |
| 27 | Texas | $59,370 | +2% above national |
| 28 | Delaware | $58,870 | +1% above national |
| 29 | Pennsylvania | $58,300 | same as national |
| 30 | Wisconsin | $58,070 | 1% below national |
| 31 | South Carolina | $58,000 | 1% below national |
| 32 | Iowa | $57,710 | 1% below national |
| 33 | Ohio | $55,990 | 4% below national |
| 34 | Indiana | $55,590 | 5% below national |
| 35 | Nebraska | $53,950 | 8% below national |
| 36 | Montana | $53,540 | 8% below national |
| 37 | Nevada | $53,540 | 8% below national |
| 38 | South Dakota | $52,000 | 11% below national |
| 39 | Georgia | $50,820 | 13% below national |
| 40 | New Jersey | $50,150 | 14% below national |
| 41 | Tennessee | $50,070 | 14% below national |
| 42 | Kansas | $49,990 | 14% below national |
| 43 | Florida | $49,680 | 15% below national |
| 44 | Alabama | $48,930 | 16% below national |
| 45 | West Virginia | $46,600 | 20% below national |
| 46 | California | $45,970 | 21% below national |
| 47 | Mississippi | $40,490 | 31% below national |
| 48 | Arkansas | $39,990 | 32% below national |
| 49 | New Mexico | $37,840 | 35% below national |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $36,630 | 37% below national |
| 51 | Louisiana | $36,480 | 38% below national |
| 52 | Puerto Rico | $29,000 | 50% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 290 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska nonmetropolitan area | $135,630 | +132% above national |
| 2 | Fairbanks-College, AK | $130,590 | +123% above national |
| 3 | Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area | $125,280 | +114% above national |
| 4 | Pittsfield, MA | $102,120 | +75% above national |
| 5 | Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $96,820 | +66% above national |
| 6 | Salem, OR | $96,080 | +64% above national |
| 7 | Grants Pass, OR | $94,610 | +62% above national |
| 8 | Bend, OR | $94,580 | +62% above national |
| 9 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $94,220 | +61% above national |
| 10 | Upper Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $86,160 | +47% above national |
| 11 | Bozeman, MT | $85,670 | +47% above national |
| 12 | Central Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $85,670 | +47% above national |
| 13 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $84,730 | +45% above national |
| 14 | Yakima, WA | $84,100 | +44% above national |
| 15 | Eugene-Springfield, OR | $83,880 | +44% above national |
| 16 | Bellingham, WA | $83,790 | +43% above national |
| 17 | Sheboygan, WI | $83,200 | +42% above national |
| 18 | Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $82,690 | +41% above national |
| 19 | State College, PA | $82,490 | +41% above national |
| 20 | Medford, OR | $82,370 | +41% above national |
| 21 | Wilmington, NC | $81,390 | +39% above national |
| 22 | Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | $81,030 | +39% above national |
| 23 | Western Washington nonmetropolitan area | $80,660 | +38% above national |
| 24 | Manchester-Nashua, NH | $80,360 | +37% above national |
| 25 | Ithaca, NY | $80,340 | +37% above national |
| 26 | Kennewick-Richland, WA | $79,950 | +37% above national |
| 27 | Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ | $79,600 | +36% above national |
| 28 | Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $78,320 | +34% above national |
| 29 | Portland-South Portland, ME | $78,090 | +34% above national |
| 30 | Connecticut nonmetropolitan area | $77,660 | +33% above national |
| 31 | Kingston, NY | $77,150 | +32% above national |
| 32 | Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $77,150 | +32% above national |
| 33 | Eastern Washington nonmetropolitan area | $76,950 | +32% above national |
| 34 | Lexington-Fayette, KY | $76,250 | +30% above national |
| 35 | Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $76,090 | +30% above national |
| 36 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $75,340 | +29% above national |
| 37 | Central East New York nonmetropolitan area | $75,300 | +29% above national |
| 38 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $75,160 | +29% above national |
| 39 | Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $74,880 | +28% above national |
| 40 | Fargo, ND-MN | $74,140 | +27% above national |
| 41 | Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $73,540 | +26% above national |
| 42 | Athens-Clarke County, GA | $73,330 | +25% above national |
| 43 | Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $73,260 | +25% above national |
| 44 | Northern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $72,800 | +25% above national |
| 45 | St. George, UT | $72,780 | +25% above national |
| 46 | Waco, TX | $72,560 | +24% above national |
| 47 | Flint, MI | $72,100 | +23% above national |
| 48 | Boulder, CO | $71,870 | +23% above national |
| 49 | Raleigh-Cary, NC | $71,480 | +22% above national |
| 50 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $70,960 | +21% above national |
| 51 | Ogden, UT | $70,430 | +20% above national |
| 52 | Winston-Salem, NC | $70,120 | +20% above national |
| 53 | Niles, MI | $69,580 | +19% above national |
| 54 | Abilene, TX | $68,730 | +18% above national |
| 55 | Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $68,640 | +17% above national |
| 56 | Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $68,470 | +17% above national |
| 57 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $68,230 | +17% above national |
| 58 | Savannah, GA | $67,470 | +15% above national |
| 59 | Springfield, MO | $66,150 | +13% above national |
| 60 | Rochester, NY | $66,110 | +13% above national |
| 61 | Saginaw, MI | $66,090 | +13% above national |
| 62 | Lincoln, NE | $65,860 | +13% above national |
| 63 | Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan area | $65,710 | +12% above national |
| 64 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $65,220 | +12% above national |
| 65 | Capital/Northern New York nonmetropolitan area | $64,860 | +11% above national |
| 66 | Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $64,740 | +11% above national |
| 67 | Appleton, WI | $64,360 | +10% above national |
| 68 | Southeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $64,250 | +10% above national |
| 69 | Greeley, CO | $64,020 | +10% above national |
| 70 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $63,820 | +9% above national |
| 71 | Western Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $63,700 | +9% above national |
| 72 | Chico, CA | $63,290 | +8% above national |
| 73 | Greensboro-High Point, NC | $63,250 | +8% above national |
| 74 | New Haven, CT | $63,160 | +8% above national |
| 75 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $63,080 | +8% above national |
| 76 | Roanoke, VA | $63,070 | +8% above national |
| 77 | Grand Junction, CO | $62,550 | +7% above national |
| 78 | Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $62,400 | +7% above national |
| 79 | Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $62,310 | +7% above national |
| 80 | Western Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $62,170 | +6% above national |
| 81 | Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $62,140 | +6% above national |
| 82 | Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | $62,120 | +6% above national |
| 83 | Southern Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $62,010 | +6% above national |
| 84 | Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $61,980 | +6% above national |
| 85 | Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $61,890 | +6% above national |
| 86 | Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | $61,870 | +6% above national |
| 87 | Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $61,830 | +6% above national |
| 88 | Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $61,770 | +6% above national |
| 89 | Salinas, CA | $61,400 | +5% above national |
| 90 | Coeur d'Alene, ID | $61,310 | +5% above national |
| 91 | Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT | $61,290 | +5% above national |
| 92 | Springfield, IL | $61,280 | +5% above national |
| 93 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $61,200 | +5% above national |
| 94 | Champaign-Urbana, IL | $61,170 | +5% above national |
| 95 | Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $61,170 | +5% above national |
| 96 | La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $61,050 | +4% above national |
| 97 | Rockford, IL | $60,880 | +4% above national |
| 98 | Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $60,840 | +4% above national |
| 99 | North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $60,660 | +4% above national |
| 100 | San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $60,640 | +4% above national |
| 101 | North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $60,600 | +4% above national |
| 102 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $60,490 | +3% above national |
| 103 | Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $60,460 | +3% above national |
| 104 | Boise City, ID | $60,420 | +3% above national |
| 105 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $60,420 | +3% above national |
| 106 | Pueblo, CO | $60,410 | +3% above national |
| 107 | Ann Arbor, MI | $60,370 | +3% above national |
| 108 | Janesville-Beloit, WI | $60,320 | +3% above national |
| 109 | Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL | $60,160 | +3% above national |
| 110 | Spartanburg, SC | $60,100 | +3% above national |
| 111 | Colorado Springs, CO | $60,030 | +3% above national |
| 112 | Green Bay, WI | $59,630 | +2% above national |
| 113 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $59,560 | +2% above national |
| 114 | Duluth, MN-WI | $59,550 | +2% above national |
| 115 | York-Hanover, PA | $59,540 | +2% above national |
| 116 | Coast Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $59,390 | +2% above national |
| 117 | Columbia, SC | $59,310 | +1% above national |
| 118 | Pittsburgh, PA | $59,290 | +1% above national |
| 119 | Eastern North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $59,170 | +1% above national |
| 120 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $59,150 | +1% above national |
| 121 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $59,020 | +1% above national |
| 122 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $59,010 | +1% above national |
| 123 | Lancaster, PA | $59,000 | +1% above national |
| 124 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $58,930 | +1% above national |
| 125 | Vallejo, CA | $58,870 | +1% above national |
| 126 | Southwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $58,810 | +1% above national |
| 127 | Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $58,800 | +1% above national |
| 128 | Montgomery, AL | $58,750 | +1% above national |
| 129 | Tucson, AZ | $58,610 | same as national |
| 130 | Erie, PA | $58,600 | same as national |
| 131 | Springfield, MA | $58,500 | same as national |
| 132 | Charlottesville, VA | $58,450 | same as national |
| 133 | Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $58,380 | same as national |
| 134 | North Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $58,380 | same as national |
| 135 | Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $58,050 | 1% below national |
| 136 | Northwestern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $58,000 | 1% below national |
| 137 | Northeastern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $57,800 | 1% below national |
| 138 | Richmond, VA | $57,730 | 1% below national |
| 139 | Columbus, OH | $57,580 | 1% below national |
| 140 | Hill Country Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $57,540 | 2% below national |
| 141 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $57,510 | 2% below national |
| 142 | Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $57,300 | 2% below national |
| 143 | Youngstown-Warren, OH | $57,130 | 2% below national |
| 144 | Kokomo, IN | $57,060 | 2% below national |
| 145 | Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $57,010 | 2% below national |
| 146 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $56,870 | 3% below national |
| 147 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $56,850 | 3% below national |
| 148 | Punta Gorda, FL | $56,800 | 3% below national |
| 149 | Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $56,720 | 3% below national |
| 150 | Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $56,690 | 3% below national |
| 151 | Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $56,350 | 4% below national |
| 152 | Tyler, TX | $56,300 | 4% below national |
| 153 | Peoria, IL | $56,270 | 4% below national |
| 154 | Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $56,260 | 4% below national |
| 155 | Fayetteville, NC | $56,230 | 4% below national |
| 156 | Rochester, MN | $56,220 | 4% below national |
| 157 | Corpus Christi, TX | $56,210 | 4% below national |
| 158 | North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) | $56,100 | 4% below national |
| 159 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $55,990 | 4% below national |
| 160 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $55,810 | 5% below national |
| 161 | Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $55,730 | 5% below national |
| 162 | Naples-Marco Island, FL | $55,160 | 6% below national |
| 163 | Bloomington, IL | $55,150 | 6% below national |
| 164 | Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $55,010 | 6% below national |
| 165 | Toledo, OH | $54,850 | 6% below national |
| 166 | Cleveland, OH | $54,770 | 6% below national |
| 167 | Longview, TX | $54,480 | 7% below national |
| 168 | Fort Wayne, IN | $54,470 | 7% below national |
| 169 | Lubbock, TX | $54,200 | 7% below national |
| 170 | Killeen-Temple, TX | $54,120 | 7% below national |
| 171 | Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $53,920 | 8% below national |
| 172 | Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $53,540 | 8% below national |
| 173 | South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $53,230 | 9% below national |
| 174 | Rapid City, SD | $52,970 | 9% below national |
| 175 | Northwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $52,970 | 9% below national |
| 176 | Barnstable Town, MA | $52,560 | 10% below national |
| 177 | Evansville, IN | $52,560 | 10% below national |
| 178 | Johnson City, TN | $52,410 | 10% below national |
| 179 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $52,140 | 11% below national |
| 180 | South Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $52,000 | 11% below national |
| 181 | East South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $52,000 | 11% below national |
| 182 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $51,980 | 11% below national |
| 183 | Omaha, NE-IA | $51,950 | 11% below national |
| 184 | Wildwood-The Villages, FL | $51,770 | 11% below national |
| 185 | St. Cloud, MN | $51,760 | 11% below national |
| 186 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $51,470 | 12% below national |
| 187 | Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $51,400 | 12% below national |
| 188 | Eastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $51,090 | 13% below national |
| 189 | Canton-Massillon, OH | $50,980 | 13% below national |
| 190 | Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor, FL | $50,980 | 13% below national |
| 191 | Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $50,860 | 13% below national |
| 192 | Redding, CA | $50,690 | 13% below national |
| 193 | West Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $50,660 | 13% below national |
| 194 | Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $50,620 | 13% below national |
| 195 | Jacksonville, FL | $50,600 | 13% below national |
| 196 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $50,600 | 13% below national |
| 197 | Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $50,530 | 14% below national |
| 198 | Altoona, PA | $50,480 | 14% below national |
| 199 | Reading, PA | $50,430 | 14% below national |
| 200 | Mid Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $50,420 | 14% below national |
| 201 | Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $50,300 | 14% below national |
| 202 | Gainesville, FL | $50,270 | 14% below national |
| 203 | Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $50,240 | 14% below national |
| 204 | Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | $50,190 | 14% below national |
| 205 | Maryland nonmetropolitan area | $50,150 | 14% below national |
| 206 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $50,060 | 14% below national |
| 207 | Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | $50,010 | 14% below national |
| 208 | Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $49,940 | 15% below national |
| 209 | North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $49,830 | 15% below national |
| 210 | Port St. Lucie, FL | $49,760 | 15% below national |
| 211 | Worcester, MA | $49,600 | 15% below national |
| 212 | Tuscaloosa, AL | $49,560 | 15% below national |
| 213 | Huntsville, AL | $49,410 | 15% below national |
| 214 | Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | $49,360 | 16% below national |
| 215 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $49,350 | 16% below national |
| 216 | College Station-Bryan, TX | $49,320 | 16% below national |
| 217 | Fresno, CA | $49,290 | 16% below national |
| 218 | Madison, WI | $49,080 | 16% below national |
| 219 | Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | $48,960 | 16% below national |
| 220 | Lawrence, KS | $48,880 | 16% below national |
| 221 | Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | $48,850 | 16% below national |
| 222 | Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $48,730 | 17% below national |
| 223 | Southeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $48,730 | 17% below national |
| 224 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $48,610 | 17% below national |
| 225 | Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $48,480 | 17% below national |
| 226 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $48,370 | 17% below national |
| 227 | South Florida nonmetropolitan area | $48,200 | 18% below national |
| 228 | Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $48,190 | 18% below national |
| 229 | South Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $48,190 | 18% below national |
| 230 | Topeka, KS | $48,140 | 18% below national |
| 231 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $48,030 | 18% below national |
| 232 | Akron, OH | $47,990 | 18% below national |
| 233 | Middle Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $47,880 | 18% below national |
| 234 | Asheville, NC | $47,780 | 18% below national |
| 235 | Reno, NV | $47,560 | 19% below national |
| 236 | Ocala, FL | $47,550 | 19% below national |
| 237 | McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $47,410 | 19% below national |
| 238 | Sussex Delaware nonmetropolitan area | $47,410 | 19% below national |
| 239 | Santa Fe, NM | $47,390 | 19% below national |
| 240 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $47,320 | 19% below national |
| 241 | Knoxville, TN | $47,120 | 19% below national |
| 242 | South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $47,090 | 19% below national |
| 243 | El Paso, TX | $46,820 | 20% below national |
| 244 | Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | $46,810 | 20% below national |
| 245 | Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $46,750 | 20% below national |
| 246 | Wichita, KS | $46,560 | 20% below national |
| 247 | Kansas nonmetropolitan area | $46,550 | 20% below national |
| 248 | Auburn-Opelika, AL | $46,060 | 21% below national |
| 249 | Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $45,700 | 22% below national |
| 250 | Stockton-Lodi, CA | $45,400 | 22% below national |
| 251 | Modesto, CA | $45,360 | 22% below national |
| 252 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $45,200 | 23% below national |
| 253 | Jackson, MS | $45,090 | 23% below national |
| 254 | Terre Haute, IN | $44,830 | 23% below national |
| 255 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $44,760 | 23% below national |
| 256 | High Desert Utah nonmetropolitan area | $44,340 | 24% below national |
| 257 | Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $44,150 | 24% below national |
| 258 | Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $43,920 | 25% below national |
| 259 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $43,530 | 26% below national |
| 260 | Eau Claire, WI | $43,480 | 26% below national |
| 261 | Syracuse, NY | $43,480 | 26% below national |
| 262 | Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $43,030 | 26% below national |
| 263 | Lake Charles, LA | $42,830 | 27% below national |
| 264 | Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $42,590 | 27% below national |
| 265 | Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $42,130 | 28% below national |
| 266 | Billings, MT | $42,090 | 28% below national |
| 267 | Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $41,920 | 28% below national |
| 268 | Bloomington, IN | $41,350 | 29% below national |
| 269 | North Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $40,740 | 30% below national |
| 270 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $40,280 | 31% below national |
| 271 | Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | $39,780 | 32% below national |
| 272 | East Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $39,550 | 32% below national |
| 273 | Charleston, WV | $39,520 | 32% below national |
| 274 | New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $39,500 | 32% below national |
| 275 | Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $39,360 | 33% below national |
| 276 | Napa, CA | $39,330 | 33% below national |
| 277 | Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA | $38,130 | 35% below national |
| 278 | Tulsa, OK | $37,500 | 36% below national |
| 279 | Fort Smith, AR-OK | $37,110 | 37% below national |
| 280 | Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | $36,920 | 37% below national |
| 281 | Albuquerque, NM | $36,440 | 38% below national |
| 282 | Oklahoma City, OK | $36,380 | 38% below national |
| 283 | Lafayette, LA | $35,610 | 39% below national |
| 284 | Wasatch Front Fringe Utah nonmetropolitan area | $35,340 | 40% below national |
| 285 | Baton Rouge, LA | $30,820 | 47% below national |
| 286 | Northwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $30,400 | 48% below national |
| 287 | San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | $29,770 | 49% below national |
| 288 | Mobile, AL | $28,010 | 52% below national |
| 289 | Hot Springs, AR | $27,040 | 54% below national |
| 290 | Monroe, LA | $21,730 | 63% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 31 (healthcare support) with comparable pay and career paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Massage Therapists make? ▼
The median annual salary for Massage Therapists is $58,450 ($28.10/hour). The salary range spans from $33,640 at the 10th percentile to $100,200 at the 90th percentile.
What state pays Massage Therapists the most? ▼
Alaska pays the highest median salary for Massage Therapists at $134,930/year, which is +131% above the national median.
What education do you need to become a Massage Therapists? ▼
The typical entry-level education for Massage Therapists is Postsecondary nondegree award.
How dangerous is being a Massage Therapists? ▼
Massage Therapists has a safety grade of B (Safe) based on BLS data. The fatality rate is 0.6 per 100,000 workers and the injury rate is 5.5 per 100 workers.
Is Massage Therapists a good career? ▼
Employment for Massage Therapists is projected to grow 15.4% from 2024 to 2034, which is much faster than average. About 24,700 openings are projected each year.
How does Massage Therapists pay vary by state? ▼
Massage Therapists salaries vary significantly by state. The highest-paying state is Alaska at $134,930/year, while Arkansas pays the least at $39,990/year. BLS data covers 52 states and territories.
Which metro areas pay the most for Massage Therapists? ▼
The highest-paying metro area for Massage Therapists is Alaska nonmetropolitan area at $135,630/year. BLS reports wage data for 290 metro areas for this occupation, with pay varying based on local demand and cost of living.
What to do with this data
How to use Massage Therapists pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $78,320/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: Alaska leads at $134,930/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.