Massage Therapist Salary in Los Angeles, CA
Massage Therapists in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn a median $43,530 a year — 26% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $35,860 take-home, or $2,988 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median massage therapist salary in Los Angeles, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,044
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,699
- Medicare (1.45%)$631
- California income tax$731
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$566
- Take-home pay$35,860
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Massage Therapist pay by experience in Los Angeles, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,320 | $16.50 | $28,948 | $2,412 |
| 25th percentile | $34,320 | $16.50 | $28,948 | $2,412 |
| Median (50th) | $43,530 | $20.93 | $35,860 | $2,988 |
| 75th percentile | $60,900 | $29.28 | $48,618 | $4,051 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $78,320 | $37.65 | $59,856 | $4,988 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $43,530 buys in Los Angeles, CA
Prices in Los Angeles, CA are 13.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.70× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median massage therapist's $35,860 take-home pay has the buying power of $31,576 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Los Angeles, CA has 1.4× the national concentration of massage therapist jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for massage therapists, adjusted for cost of living
Los Angeles, CA ranks #5 of 5 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dallas, TX | $59,010 | $49,595 | $48,108 |
| 2 | Chicago, IL | $61,200 | $48,470 | $46,788 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $50,600 | $40,702 | $36,159 |
| 4 | Miami, FL | $48,370 | $41,045 | $35,956 |
| 5 | Los Angeles, CA | $43,530 | $35,860 | $31,576 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 5 metros →
About the job: massage therapists
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.
- Typical education
- Postsecondary nondegree award
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +15.3% (much faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a massage therapist make in Los Angeles, CA?
The median massage therapist salary in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $43,530 a year, or about $20.93 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $34,320 and $60,900.
What is a massage therapist’s take-home pay in Los Angeles, CA?
On the median $43,530 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $35,860 a year ($2,988 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,296 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Los Angeles, CA a good place to work as a massage therapist?
Pay here is 26% below the national median of $58,450. Local prices are 13.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $31,576 would in a typical U.S. city. Los Angeles, CA ranks #5 of 5 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a massage therapist afford rent in Los Angeles, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Los Angeles, CA is $2,245 a month ($2,755 for two bedrooms) — 75% of a median massage therapist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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