Massage Therapist Salary in St. Louis, MO
Massage Therapists in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area earn a median $59,020 a year — 1% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $47,766 take-home, or $3,980 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
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- Federal income tax$4,902
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,659
- Medicare (1.45%)$856
- Missouri income tax$1,837
- Take-home pay$47,766
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.70% state
The St. Louis, MO-IL metro spans Missouri, Illinois. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Massage Therapist pay by experience in St. Louis, MO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $43,680 | $21.00 | $36,161 | $3,013 |
| 25th percentile | $47,760 | $22.96 | $39,248 | $3,271 |
| Median (50th) | $59,020 | $28.38 | $47,766 | $3,980 |
| 75th percentile | $77,700 | $37.36 | $60,777 | $5,065 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $96,310 | $46.30 | $72,995 | $6,083 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Missouri resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $59,020 buys in St. Louis, MO
Prices in St. Louis, MO are 4.9% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 21% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median massage therapist's $47,766 take-home pay has the buying power of $50,233 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 St. Louis, MO as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.19).
Best-paying cities for massage therapists, adjusted for cost of living
St. Louis, MO ranks #12 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 |
| 12 | St. Louis, MO | $59,020 | $47,766 | $50,233 |
*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 Missouri
- Kansas City, MO — $55,810
Frequently asked questions
How much does a massage therapist make in St. Louis, MO?
The median massage therapist salary in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area is $59,020 a year, or about $28.38 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $47,760 and $77,700.
What is a massage therapist’s take-home pay in St. Louis, MO?
On the median $59,020 salary, a single filer living in Missouri takes home about $47,766 a year ($3,980 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,837 in Missouri taxes in 2026.
Is St. Louis, MO a good place to work as a massage therapist?
Pay here is 1% above the national median of $58,450. Local prices are 4.9% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $50,233 would in a typical U.S. city. St. Louis, MO ranks #12 of 43 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a massage therapist afford rent in St. Louis, MO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in St. Louis, MO is $989 a month ($1,211 for two bedrooms) — 25% of a median massage therapist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in St. Louis, MO
- Occupational Therapy Assistant — $67,450
- Physical Therapist Assistant — $65,820
- Dental Assistant — $48,120
- Medical Equipment Preparer — $45,880
- Phlebotomist — $45,750
- Medical Assistant — $44,710
- Nursing Assistant — $39,110
- Veterinary Assistant and Laboratory Animal Caretaker — $37,790
- Orderly — $35,620
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $34,490
- Physical Therapist Aide — $29,250