Massage Therapist salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Massage Therapists in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median of $61,200 a year ($29.42 an hour), based on BLS data for 3,890 workers.
Pay ranges from $33,770 for the lowest-paid 10% to $83,000 for the top 10%. That is 5% higher than the national median of $58,450. Pay here is 1% higher than the Illinois statewide median of $60,490. There are 0.86 massage therapists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $60,770, close to the median.
Pay range for massage therapists in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $33,770 | $16.24 |
| 25th percentile | $47,020 | $22.61 |
| Median | $61,200 | $29.42 |
| 75th percentile | $77,550 | $37.29 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $83,000 | $39.91 |
| Average (mean) | $60,770 | $29.22 |
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 | $5,100 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,550 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,353.85 |
| Weekly | $1,176.92 |
| Hourly | $29.42 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $61,200 salary, see how much house you can afford in Illinois at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Massage Therapist salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $73,260 | 30 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $68,230 | 380 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $62,400 | 100 |
| Springfield, IL | $61,280 | 100 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $61,170 | 110 |
| Rockford, IL | $60,880 | 230 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $59,020 | 1,010 |
| Kokomo, IN | $57,060 | 40 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $56,850 | 660 |
| Peoria, IL | $56,270 | 120 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $55,990 | 440 |
| Bloomington, IL | $55,150 | 50 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $54,470 | 120 |
| Evansville, IN | $52,560 | 60 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $47,090 | 80 |
| Terre Haute, IN | $44,830 | 50 |
| Bloomington, IN | $41,350 | 40 |
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 |
See Massage Therapist pay in every state or the Illinois statewide figures.
Related jobs in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Assistant | $47,270 | $22.73 |
| Dental Assistant | $48,950 | $23.53 |
| Phlebotomist | $47,190 | $22.69 |
| Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers | $39,280 | $18.88 |
| Medical Equipment Preparer | $48,630 | $23.38 |
| Healthcare Support Workers, All Other | $48,440 | $23.29 |
| Pharmacy Aide | $37,010 | $17.79 |
| Medical Transcriptionist | $38,700 | $18.61 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | $38,180 | $18.36 |
| Nursing Assistant | $46,940 | $22.57 |
| Physical Therapist Assistant | $72,230 | $34.73 |
| Orderly | $39,640 | $19.06 |
| Occupational Therapy Assistant | $67,840 | $32.61 |
| Physical Therapist Aide | $36,730 | $17.66 |
More: Healthcare Support Occupations · all salaries in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
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 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median salary for massage therapists in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $61,200 a year, or $29.42 an hour. Pay ranges from $33,770 for the lowest-paid 10% to $83,000 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid massage therapists make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The top 10% of massage therapists in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn at least $83,000 a year. The top 25% earn $77,550 or more.
What is the starting pay for massage therapists in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $33,770 a year, and a quarter of massage therapists earn $47,020 or less.
How many massage therapists work in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
About 3,890 massage therapists are employed in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.