Massage Therapist salary in Illinois
Massage Therapists in Illinois earn a median of $60,490 a year ($29.08 an hour), based on BLS data for 4,950 workers.
Pay ranges from $33,770 for the lowest-paid 10% to $82,910 for the top 10%. That is 3% higher than the national median of $58,450. Illinois ranks 23rd of 50 states for massage therapists pay. There are 0.81 massage therapists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $60,440, close to the median.
Pay range for massage therapists in Illinois
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $33,770 | $16.24 |
| 25th percentile | $45,800 | $22.02 |
| Median | $60,490 | $29.08 |
| 75th percentile | $77,550 | $37.29 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $82,910 | $39.86 |
| Average (mean) | $60,440 | $29.06 |
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 | $5,040.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,520.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,326.54 |
| Weekly | $1,163.27 |
| Hourly | $29.08 |
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 Illinois
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $62,400 | 100 |
| Springfield, IL | $61,280 | 100 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $61,200 | 3,890 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $61,170 | 110 |
| Rockford, IL | $60,880 | 230 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $59,020 | 1,010 |
| Peoria, IL | $56,270 | 120 |
| Bloomington, IL | $55,150 | 50 |
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 Illinois
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Assistant | $46,090 | $22.16 |
| Dental Assistant | $48,610 | $23.37 |
| Phlebotomist | $46,010 | $22.12 |
| Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers | $37,480 | $18.02 |
| Medical Equipment Preparer | $48,050 | $23.10 |
| Healthcare Support Workers, All Other | $48,360 | $23.25 |
| Pharmacy Aide | $37,010 | $17.79 |
| Medical Transcriptionist | $45,490 | $21.87 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | $38,060 | $18.30 |
| Nursing Assistant | $45,960 | $22.10 |
| Physical Therapist Assistant | $65,240 | $31.37 |
| Occupational Therapy Assistant | $64,120 | $30.83 |
| Orderly | $39,450 | $18.97 |
| Physical Therapist Aide | $36,650 | $17.62 |
More: Healthcare Support Occupations · all salaries in Illinois
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 Illinois?
The median salary for massage therapists in Illinois is $60,490 a year, or $29.08 an hour. Pay ranges from $33,770 for the lowest-paid 10% to $82,910 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid massage therapists make in Illinois?
The top 10% of massage therapists in Illinois earn at least $82,910 a year. The top 25% earn $77,550 or more.
What is the starting pay for massage therapists in Illinois?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $33,770 a year, and a quarter of massage therapists earn $45,800 or less.
How many massage therapists work in Illinois?
About 4,950 massage therapists are employed in Illinois, not counting the self-employed.