Massage Therapist Salary in New York, NY
Massage Therapists in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area earn a median $50,600 a year — 13% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $40,702 take-home, or $3,392 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median massage therapist salary in New York, NY. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,892
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,137
- Medicare (1.45%)$734
- New York income tax$2,135
- Take-home pay$40,702
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.40% state
Living in New York City? City residents also pay New York City’s city income tax — about $1,531 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $39,171 ($3,264 a month). Choose “New York City” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro spans New York, New Jersey. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Massage Therapist pay by experience in New York, NY
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $33,280 | $16.00 | $27,720 | $2,310 |
| 25th percentile | $37,280 | $17.92 | $30,718 | $2,560 |
| Median (50th) | $50,600 | $24.33 | $40,702 | $3,392 |
| 75th percentile | $77,470 | $37.25 | $59,744 | $4,979 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $99,920 | $48.04 | $74,269 | $6,189 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, New York resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $50,600 buys in New York, NY
Prices in New York, NY are 12.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.49× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median massage therapist's $40,702 take-home pay has the buying power of $36,159 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Massage Therapist jobs are about as common in New York, NY as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.90).
Best-paying cities for massage therapists, adjusted for cost of living
New York, NY ranks #3 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 New York, NY?
The median massage therapist salary in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area is $50,600 a year, or about $24.33 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $37,280 and $77,470.
What is a massage therapist’s take-home pay in New York, NY?
On the median $50,600 salary, a single filer living in New York takes home about $40,702 a year ($3,392 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,135 in New York taxes in 2026.
Is New York, NY a good place to work as a massage therapist?
Pay here is 13% below the national median of $58,450. Local prices are 12.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $36,159 would in a typical U.S. city. New York, NY ranks #3 of 5 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a massage therapist afford rent in New York, NY?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in New York, NY is $2,378 a month ($2,697 for two bedrooms) — 70% of a median massage therapist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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