Massage Therapist Salary
Massage Therapists earn a median $58,450 a year nationally. Healthcare Support Occupations
U.S. median
$58,450
$28.10 per hour
Range
$33,640 – $100,200
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
98,790
across the U.S.
▲0.9%
Pay trend: The median for massage therapists in the U.S. rose from $57,950 (May 2024) to $58,450 (May 2025). That trailed inflation (2.4%), so buying power slipped about 1.5%.
What massage therapists do
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)
- Openings per year
- 20,400
- Self-employed
- 36%
Employment of massage therapists is projected to grow 15.3% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 20,400 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Massage Therapist take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$49,145
per year · effective tax rate 15.9%
$4,095Monthly
$2,048Twice a month
$1,890Every 2 weeks
$23.63Hourly
- Federal income tax$4,834
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,624
- Medicare (1.45%)$848
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$49,145
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $33,640 | $16.17 | $29,210 |
| 25th percentile | $43,480 | $20.90 | $37,116 |
| Median (50th) | $58,450 | $28.10 | $49,145 |
| 75th percentile | $78,320 | $37.65 | $63,928 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $100,200 | $48.17 | $79,321 |
Best cities for massage therapists (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dallas, TX | $59,010 | $49,595 | $48,108 | 2,930 |
| 2 | Chicago, IL | $61,200 | $48,470 | $46,788 | 3,890 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $50,600 | $40,702 | $36,159 | 5,420 |
| 4 | Miami, FL | $48,370 | $41,045 | $35,956 | 2,740 |
| 5 | Los Angeles, CA | $43,530 | $35,860 | $31,576 | 5,680 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- Chicago, IL — $61,200
- Dallas, TX — $59,010
- New York, NY — $50,600
- Miami, FL — $48,370
- Los Angeles, CA — $43,530
Massage Therapist salary by state
| State | Median | 1-yr change | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $134,930 | −0.2% | $103,491 | $34,140 – $161,400 | 570 |
| Washington | $87,360 | +5.5% | $70,288 | $61,850 – $115,800 | 3,740 |
| Oregon | $86,970 | +5.0% | $63,233 | $47,270 – $103,630 | 2,250 |
| Hawaii | $81,280 | +0.9% | $61,363 | $36,660 – $166,730 | 1,330 |
| New Hampshire | $80,360 | +27.9% | $65,363 | $36,500 – $114,400 | 270 |
| Rhode Island | $74,960 | — | $59,370 | $43,480 – $126,150 | 290 |
| North Dakota | $74,140 | +4.8% | $60,801 | $34,120 – $110,870 | 100 |
| Maine | $73,290 | +8.7% | $56,624 | $32,450 – $119,580 | 370 |
| Michigan | $70,960 | +30.2% | $55,985 | $32,610 – $89,950 | 2,410 |
| District of Columbia | $64,110 | +3.0% | $50,972 | $44,130 – $134,110 | 120 |
| Massachusetts | $63,390 | +6.6% | $50,164 | $40,420 – $104,510 | 2,830 |
| Minnesota | $63,070 | −16.5% | $50,091 | $28,320 – $97,870 | 1,690 |
| New York | $62,630 | +6.6% | $49,718 | $33,280 – $110,210 | 4,500 |
| Arizona | $62,400 | +4.8% | $50,967 | $37,800 – $90,780 | 2,530 |
| Maryland | $62,270 | +6.6% | $49,620 | $35,360 – $96,440 | 1,350 |
| Connecticut | $62,260 | +5.0% | $50,329 | $34,010 – $97,870 | 700 |
| Virginia | $62,220 | +9.4% | $49,410 | $38,070 – $119,570 | 2,730 |
| Utah | $62,130 | +1.8% | $50,272 | $23,160 – $97,970 | 1,840 |
| Missouri | $62,050 | −7.2% | $50,058 | $43,680 – $101,900 | 1,500 |
| Wyoming | $61,980 | +91.1% | $51,981 | $18,570 – $98,090 | 150 |
| Colorado | $61,060 | +2.5% | $49,263 | $35,990 – $101,710 | 3,950 |
| North Carolina | $60,650 | −1.7% | $49,001 | $31,050 – $96,510 | 2,460 |
| Illinois | $60,490 | −0.2% | $47,934 | $33,770 – $82,910 | 4,950 |
| Idaho | $60,420 | −14.3% | $48,633 | $35,360 – $94,610 | 170 |
| Kentucky | $59,790 | +8.9% | $48,246 | $30,210 – $95,290 | 780 |
| Texas | $59,370 | +5.0% | $49,884 | $34,870 – $109,970 | 8,630 |
| Delaware | $58,870 | +9.2% | $46,892 | $46,250 – $98,220 | 230 |
| Pennsylvania | $58,300 | +1.1% | $47,234 | $31,000 – $110,770 | 2,990 |
| Wisconsin | $58,070 | +0.9% | $47,065 | $20,280 – $105,360 | 1,520 |
| South Carolina | $58,000 | −7.7% | $46,460 | $17,340 – $95,540 | 1,840 |
| Iowa | $57,710 | −7.5% | $47,009 | $37,560 – $91,570 | 540 |
| Ohio | $55,990 | +11.0% | $46,411 | $40,340 – $78,520 | 1,760 |
| Indiana | $55,590 | +5.4% | $45,236 | $38,140 – $83,140 | 1,480 |
| Nebraska | $53,950 | −2.1% | $43,954 | $47,360 – $93,390 | 270 |
| Montana | $53,540 | +3.0% | $43,440 | $25,020 – $96,740 | 200 |
| Nevada | $53,540 | +3.0% | $45,199 | $25,230 – $121,980 | 1,620 |
| South Dakota | $52,000 | +27.5% | $43,962 | $35,720 – $56,310 | 180 |
| Georgia | $50,820 | −10.4% | $40,999 | $19,010 – $83,130 | 1,700 |
| New Jersey | $50,150 | −11.6% | $41,252 | $33,280 – $81,930 | 2,890 |
| Tennessee | $50,070 | +0.8% | $42,411 | $36,960 – $95,260 | 1,230 |
| Kansas | $49,990 | +4.3% | $40,357 | $31,490 – $81,760 | 780 |
| Florida | $49,680 | −0.4% | $42,098 | $30,310 – $79,220 | 9,280 |
| Alabama | $48,930 | −0.1% | $39,314 | $22,250 – $91,260 | 600 |
| West Virginia | $46,600 | +9.1% | $38,253 | $22,450 – $82,950 | 250 |
| California | $45,970 | −5.1% | $37,691 | $34,320 – $89,880 | 14,600 |
| Mississippi | $40,490 | −4.8% | $33,826 | $28,820 – $103,020 | 230 |
| Arkansas | $39,990 | +27.8% | $32,965 | $24,180 – $74,530 | 430 |
| New Mexico | $37,840 | −20.6% | $31,925 | $29,430 – $91,730 | 360 |
| Oklahoma | $36,630 | −23.9% | $30,509 | $24,790 – $101,100 | 520 |
| Louisiana | $36,480 | −37.1% | $30,784 | $18,080 – $59,680 | 890 |
Related jobs
| Job | Median salary | Education | Growth 2025–35 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Healthcare Support Workers, All Other | $48,430 | High school diploma or equivalent | +4.8% |
| Dental Assistant | $48,070 | Postsecondary nondegree award | +7.4% |
| Medical Equipment Preparer | $47,700 | High school diploma or equivalent | +10.8% |
| Medical Assistant | $45,690 | Postsecondary nondegree award | +12.9% |
| Phlebotomist | $45,230 | Postsecondary nondegree award | +6.8% |
| Medical Transcriptionist | $40,410 | Postsecondary nondegree award | -4.4% |
| Veterinary Assistant and Laboratory Animal Caretaker | $38,150 | High school diploma or equivalent | +9.1% |
| Pharmacy Aide | $37,680 | High school diploma or equivalent | -0.7% |
| Physical Therapist Assistant | $68,380 | Associate's degree | +23.0% |
| Psychiatric Aide | $44,910 | High school diploma or equivalent | +1.9% |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a massage therapist make?
The national median salary for massage therapists is $58,450 a year ($28.10 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $33,640 and the top 10% earn over $100,200. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays massage therapists the most?
Alaska has the highest median pay at $134,930. After taxes and local prices, Dallas, TX offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many massage therapists are there in the U.S.?
About 98,790 people work as massage therapists nationwide.