Massage Therapist Salary in Riverside, CA
Massage Therapists in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area earn a median $44,760 a year — 23% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $36,783 take-home, or $3,065 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median massage therapist salary in Riverside, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,191
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,775
- Medicare (1.45%)$649
- California income tax$780
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$582
- Take-home pay$36,783
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.00% state
Massage Therapist pay by experience in Riverside, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,320 | $16.50 | $28,948 | $2,412 |
| 25th percentile | $34,360 | $16.52 | $28,978 | $2,415 |
| Median (50th) | $44,760 | $21.52 | $36,783 | $3,065 |
| 75th percentile | $63,240 | $30.40 | $50,324 | $4,194 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $96,240 | $46.27 | $70,563 | $5,880 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $44,760 buys in Riverside, CA
Prices in Riverside, CA are 6.4% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.29× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median massage therapist's $36,783 take-home pay has the buying power of $34,557 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Riverside, CA has 1.2× 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
Riverside, CA ranks #40 of 43 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $94,220 | $75,114 | $67,589 |
| 2 | Portland, OR | $84,730 | $61,853 | $58,673 |
| 3 | Raleigh, NC | $71,480 | $56,773 | $57,839 |
| 4 | Detroit, MI | $70,960 | $55,985 | $55,819 |
| 5 | Minneapolis, MN | $75,340 | $58,232 | $55,553 |
| 6 | Boston, MA | $75,160 | $58,167 | $53,726 |
| 7 | Austin, TX | $60,460 | $50,760 | $51,761 |
| 8 | Pittsburgh, PA | $59,290 | $47,999 | $50,701 |
| 40 | Riverside, CA | $44,760 | $36,783 | $34,557 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 43 metros →
Massage Therapist salaries elsewhere in California
- Sacramento, CA — $51,980
- San Jose, CA — $50,060
- San Diego, CA — $45,200
- Los Angeles, CA — $43,530
- San Francisco, CA — $40,280
Frequently asked questions
How much does a massage therapist make in Riverside, CA?
The median massage therapist salary in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area is $44,760 a year, or about $21.52 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $34,360 and $63,240.
What is a massage therapist’s take-home pay in Riverside, CA?
On the median $44,760 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $36,783 a year ($3,065 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,362 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Riverside, CA a good place to work as a massage therapist?
Pay here is 23% below the national median of $58,450. Local prices are 6.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $34,557 would in a typical U.S. city. Riverside, CA ranks #40 of 43 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a massage therapist afford rent in Riverside, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Riverside, CA is $1,777 a month ($2,201 for two bedrooms) — 58% of a median massage therapist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Riverside, CA
- Physical Therapist Assistant — $79,210
- Medical Equipment Preparer — $59,560
- Healthcare Support Workers, All Other — $56,660
- Phlebotomist — $51,490
- Dental Assistant — $48,500
- Orderly — $47,440
- Medical Assistant — $46,700
- Nursing Assistant — $46,430
- Veterinary Assistant and Laboratory Animal Caretaker — $44,810
- Medical Transcriptionist — $42,990
- Pharmacy Aide — $41,600
- Physical Therapist Aide — $38,440