$ PaycheckDecoded

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.

Massage Therapist take-home pay calculator

Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.

Massage Therapist
Deductions, kids & local tax

2026 tax year. Federal brackets from IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32.

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

PercentileSalaryHourlyTake-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 areaMedianTake-homeReal value*Jobs
1Seattle, WA$94,220$75,114$67,5892,230
2Portland, OR$84,730$61,853$58,6731,580
3Raleigh, NC$71,480$56,773$57,839650
4Detroit, MI$70,960$55,985$55,8191,310
5Minneapolis, MN$75,340$58,232$55,5531,290
6Boston, MA$75,160$58,167$53,7262,180
7Austin, TX$60,460$50,760$51,7611,360
8Pittsburgh, PA$59,290$47,999$50,701560
9San Antonio, TX$56,870$47,875$50,546790
10Provo, UT$61,290$49,634$50,528480
11Houston, TX$59,150$49,707$50,3981,930
12St. Louis, MO$59,020$47,766$50,2331,010
13Phoenix, AZ$63,080$51,497$49,8441,890
14Salt Lake City, UT$61,980$50,158$49,726610
15Kansas City, MO$55,810$45,338$48,991650
16Charlotte, NC$58,930$47,688$48,987930
17Cincinnati, OH$55,990$46,411$48,664440
18Baltimore, MD$63,820$50,792$48,610840
19Indianapolis, IN$56,850$46,211$48,290660
20Providence, RI$60,420$49,079$48,224440
21Colorado Springs, CO$60,030$48,481$48,141630
22Dallas, TX$59,010$49,595$48,1082,930
23Washington, DC$65,220$51,791$47,5661,540
24Milwaukee, WI$56,350$45,759$47,205440
25Richmond, VA$57,730$46,061$47,069490

*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).

Highest-paying cities

Massage Therapist salary by state

StateMedianTake-homeRangeJobs
Alaska $134,930$103,491 $34,140 – $161,400570
Washington $87,360$70,288 $61,850 – $115,8003,740
Oregon $86,970$63,233 $47,270 – $103,6302,250
Hawaii $81,280$61,363 $36,660 – $166,7301,330
New Hampshire $80,360$65,363 $36,500 – $114,400270
Rhode Island $74,960$59,370 $43,480 – $126,150290
North Dakota $74,140$60,801 $34,120 – $110,870100
Maine $73,290$56,624 $32,450 – $119,580370
Michigan $70,960$55,985 $32,610 – $89,9502,410
District of Columbia $64,110$50,972 $44,130 – $134,110120
Massachusetts $63,390$50,164 $40,420 – $104,5102,830
Minnesota $63,070$50,091 $28,320 – $97,8701,690
New York $62,630$49,718 $33,280 – $110,2104,500
Arizona $62,400$50,967 $37,800 – $90,7802,530
Maryland $62,270$49,620 $35,360 – $96,4401,350
Connecticut $62,260$50,329 $34,010 – $97,870700
Virginia $62,220$49,410 $38,070 – $119,5702,730
Utah $62,130$50,272 $23,160 – $97,9701,840
Missouri $62,050$50,058 $43,680 – $101,9001,500
Wyoming $61,980$51,981 $18,570 – $98,090150
Colorado $61,060$49,263 $35,990 – $101,7103,950
North Carolina $60,650$49,001 $31,050 – $96,5102,460
Illinois $60,490$47,934 $33,770 – $82,9104,950
Idaho $60,420$48,633 $35,360 – $94,610170
Kentucky $59,790$48,246 $30,210 – $95,290780
Texas $59,370$49,884 $34,870 – $109,9708,630
Delaware $58,870$46,892 $46,250 – $98,220230
Pennsylvania $58,300$47,234 $31,000 – $110,7702,990
Wisconsin $58,070$47,065 $20,280 – $105,3601,520
South Carolina $58,000$46,460 $17,340 – $95,5401,840
Iowa $57,710$47,009 $37,560 – $91,570540
Ohio $55,990$46,411 $40,340 – $78,5201,760
Indiana $55,590$45,236 $38,140 – $83,1401,480
Nebraska $53,950$43,954 $47,360 – $93,390270
Montana $53,540$43,440 $25,020 – $96,740200
Nevada $53,540$45,199 $25,230 – $121,9801,620
South Dakota $52,000$43,962 $35,720 – $56,310180
Georgia $50,820$40,999 $19,010 – $83,1301,700
New Jersey $50,150$41,252 $33,280 – $81,9302,890
Tennessee $50,070$42,411 $36,960 – $95,2601,230
Kansas $49,990$40,357 $31,490 – $81,760780
Florida $49,680$42,098 $30,310 – $79,2209,280
Alabama $48,930$39,314 $22,250 – $91,260600
West Virginia $46,600$38,253 $22,450 – $82,950250
California $45,970$37,691 $34,320 – $89,88014,600
Mississippi $40,490$33,826 $28,820 – $103,020230
Arkansas $39,990$32,965 $24,180 – $74,530430
New Mexico $37,840$31,925 $29,430 – $91,730360
Oklahoma $36,630$30,509 $24,790 – $101,100520
Louisiana $36,480$30,784 $18,080 – $59,680890

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, Seattle, WA 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.

All 43 cities