Massage Therapist salary in California
Massage Therapists in California earn a median of $45,970 a year ($22.10 an hour), based on BLS data for 14,600 workers.
Pay ranges from $34,320 for the lowest-paid 10% to $89,880 for the top 10%. That is 21% lower than the national median of $58,450. California ranks 45th of 50 states for massage therapists pay. There are 0.80 massage therapists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $55,630, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for massage therapists in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,320 | $16.50 |
| 25th percentile | $35,170 | $16.91 |
| Median | $45,970 | $22.10 |
| 75th percentile | $64,130 | $30.83 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $89,880 | $43.21 |
| Average (mean) | $55,630 | $26.75 |
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 | $3,830.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,915.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,768.08 |
| Weekly | $884.04 |
| Hourly | $22.10 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Massage Therapist salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Chico, CA | $63,290 | 40 |
| Salinas, CA | $61,400 | 240 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $60,640 | 120 |
| Vallejo, CA | $58,870 | 100 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $58,050 | 110 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $57,300 | 90 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $51,980 | 720 |
| Redding, CA | $50,690 | 40 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $50,620 | 310 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $50,240 | 210 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $50,060 | 680 |
| Fresno, CA | $49,290 | 190 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $45,400 | 140 |
| Modesto, CA | $45,360 | 60 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $45,200 | 1,820 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $44,760 | 1,330 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $43,920 | 170 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $43,530 | 5,680 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $40,280 | 1,800 |
| Napa, CA | $39,330 | 250 |
Highest-paying states for massage therapists
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $134,930 |
| Washington | $87,360 |
| Oregon | $86,970 |
| Hawaii | $81,280 |
| New Hampshire | $80,360 |
| Rhode Island | $74,960 |
| North Dakota | $74,140 |
| Maine | $73,290 |
| Michigan | $70,960 |
| District of Columbia | $64,110 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Assistant | $49,660 | $23.88 |
| Dental Assistant | $50,110 | $24.09 |
| Healthcare Support Workers, All Other | $49,130 | $23.62 |
| Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers | $46,260 | $22.24 |
| Phlebotomist | $56,040 | $26.94 |
| Medical Equipment Preparer | $61,370 | $29.50 |
| Pharmacy Aide | $42,200 | $20.29 |
| Medical Transcriptionist | $45,050 | $21.66 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | $34,320 | $16.50 |
| Nursing Assistant | $47,630 | $22.90 |
| Physical Therapist Assistant | $83,110 | $39.96 |
| Physical Therapist Aide | $38,330 | $18.43 |
| Orderly | $49,920 | $24.00 |
| Occupational Therapy Assistant | $81,770 | $39.31 |
More: Healthcare Support Occupations · all salaries in California
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 California?
The median salary for massage therapists in California is $45,970 a year, or $22.10 an hour. Pay ranges from $34,320 for the lowest-paid 10% to $89,880 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid massage therapists make in California?
The top 10% of massage therapists in California earn at least $89,880 a year. The top 25% earn $64,130 or more.
What is the starting pay for massage therapists in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $34,320 a year, and a quarter of massage therapists earn $35,170 or less.
How many massage therapists work in California?
About 14,600 massage therapists are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.