Massage Therapist salary in the U.S.
Massage Therapists in the U.S. earn a median of $58,450 a year ($28.10 an hour), based on BLS data for 98,790 workers.
Pay ranges from $33,640 for the lowest-paid 10% to $100,200 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $63,830, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for massage therapists in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $33,640 | $16.17 |
| 25th percentile | $43,480 | $20.91 |
| Median | $58,450 | $28.10 |
| 75th percentile | $78,320 | $37.66 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $100,200 | $48.17 |
| Average (mean) | $63,830 | $30.69 |
Half of massage therapists earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,870.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,435.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,248.08 |
| Weekly | $1,124.04 |
| Hourly | $28.10 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Massage Therapist salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $134,930 | 570 |
| Washington | $87,360 | 3,740 |
| Oregon | $86,970 | 2,250 |
| Hawaii | $81,280 | 1,330 |
| New Hampshire | $80,360 | 270 |
| Rhode Island | $74,960 | 290 |
| North Dakota | $74,140 | 100 |
| Maine | $73,290 | 370 |
| Michigan | $70,960 | 2,410 |
| District of Columbia | $64,110 | 120 |
| Massachusetts | $63,390 | 2,830 |
| Minnesota | $63,070 | 1,690 |
| New York | $62,630 | 4,500 |
| Arizona | $62,400 | 2,530 |
| Maryland | $62,270 | 1,350 |
| Connecticut | $62,260 | 700 |
| Virginia | $62,220 | 2,730 |
| Utah | $62,130 | 1,840 |
| Missouri | $62,050 | 1,500 |
| Wyoming | $61,980 | 150 |
| Colorado | $61,060 | 3,950 |
| North Carolina | $60,650 | 2,460 |
| Illinois | $60,490 | 4,950 |
| Idaho | $60,420 | 170 |
| Guam | $60,420 | 50 |
| Kentucky | $59,790 | 780 |
| Texas | $59,370 | 8,630 |
| Delaware | $58,870 | 230 |
| Pennsylvania | $58,300 | 2,990 |
| Wisconsin | $58,070 | 1,520 |
| South Carolina | $58,000 | 1,840 |
| Iowa | $57,710 | 540 |
| Ohio | $55,990 | 1,760 |
| Indiana | $55,590 | 1,480 |
| Nebraska | $53,950 | 270 |
| Montana | $53,540 | 200 |
| Nevada | $53,540 | 1,620 |
| South Dakota | $52,000 | 180 |
| Georgia | $50,820 | 1,700 |
| New Jersey | $50,150 | 2,890 |
| Tennessee | $50,070 | 1,230 |
| Kansas | $49,990 | 780 |
| Florida | $49,680 | 9,280 |
| Alabama | $48,930 | 600 |
| West Virginia | $46,600 | 250 |
| California | $45,970 | 14,600 |
| Mississippi | $40,490 | 230 |
| Arkansas | $39,990 | 430 |
| New Mexico | $37,840 | 360 |
| Oklahoma | $36,630 | 520 |
| Louisiana | $36,480 | 890 |
| Puerto Rico | $29,000 | 80 |
Best-paying metro areas for massage therapists
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Fairbanks-College, AK | $130,590 | 50 |
| Pittsfield, MA | $102,120 | 50 |
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $96,820 | 330 |
| Salem, OR | $96,080 | 160 |
| Grants Pass, OR | $94,610 | 40 |
| Bend, OR | $94,580 | 210 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $94,220 | 2,230 |
| Bozeman, MT | $85,670 | 40 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $84,730 | 1,580 |
| Yakima, WA | $84,100 | 60 |
| Eugene-Springfield, OR | $83,880 | 180 |
| Bellingham, WA | $83,790 | 140 |
| Sheboygan, WI | $83,200 | 40 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $82,690 | 60 |
| State College, PA | $82,490 | 40 |
Metro areas with the most massage therapists
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 5,680 | $43,530 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 5,420 | $50,600 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 3,890 | $61,200 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 2,930 | $59,010 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 2,740 | $48,370 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 2,230 | $94,220 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 2,180 | $75,160 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 1,930 | $59,150 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 1,890 | $60,490 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 1,890 | $63,080 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 1,820 | $45,200 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 1,800 | $40,280 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 1,580 | $84,730 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 1,540 | $65,220 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | 1,530 | $51,470 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Assistant | $45,690 | $21.97 |
| Dental Assistant | $48,070 | $23.11 |
| Phlebotomist | $45,230 | $21.75 |
| Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers | $38,150 | $18.34 |
| Healthcare Support Workers, All Other | $48,430 | $23.28 |
| Medical Equipment Preparer | $47,700 | $22.93 |
| Medical Transcriptionist | $40,410 | $19.43 |
| Pharmacy Aide | $37,680 | $18.12 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | $35,800 | $17.21 |
| Nursing Assistant | $42,260 | $20.32 |
| Physical Therapist Assistant | $68,380 | $32.88 |
| Orderly | $38,290 | $18.41 |
| Occupational Therapy Assistant | $72,300 | $34.76 |
| Physical Therapist Aide | $35,240 | $16.94 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 31-9011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a massage therapist make in the U.S.?
The median salary for massage therapists in the U.S. is $58,450 a year, or $28.10 an hour. Pay ranges from $33,640 for the lowest-paid 10% to $100,200 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid massage therapists make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of massage therapists in the U.S. earn at least $100,200 a year. The top 25% earn $78,320 or more.
What is the starting pay for massage therapists in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $33,640 a year, and a quarter of massage therapists earn $43,480 or less.
How many massage therapists work in the U.S.?
About 98,790 massage therapists are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.