How much does a massage therapist make? Massage Therapist salary and hourly pay
A massage therapist in the US earns a median of $58,450 a year, about $28.10 an hour. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $33,640 and the top 10% earn over $100,200. Pay depends heavily on the state: the top-paying state, Alaska, has a median of $134,930.
Massage Therapist pay calculator
Gross pay before taxes. If you enter your own hourly rate, it replaces the BLS figure. Otherwise hourly rate = BLS annual figure ÷ 2,080 hours (40 hours × 52 weeks), the same convention BLS uses.
How much does a massage therapist make an hour?
The median massage therapist earns $28.10 an hour. Hourly pay ranges from about $16.17 for the lowest-paid 10% to $48.17 for the highest-paid 10%.
| Pay level | Per year | Per hour |
|---|---|---|
| Entry level (bottom 10%) | $33,640 | $16.17 |
| Lower 25% | $43,480 | $20.91 |
| Median (typical) | $58,450 | $28.10 |
| Upper 25% | $78,320 | $37.66 |
| Top 10% | $100,200 | $48.17 |
Massage Therapist salary by state
Median annual pay for massage therapists in every state, from BLS May 2025 data.
| State | Median per year | ≈ Per hour |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $48,930 | $23.52 |
| Alaska | $134,930 | $64.87 |
| Arizona | $62,400 | $30.00 |
| Arkansas | $39,990 | $19.23 |
| California | $45,970 | $22.10 |
| Colorado | $61,060 | $29.36 |
| Connecticut | $62,260 | $29.93 |
| Delaware | $58,870 | $28.30 |
| District of Columbia | $64,110 | $30.82 |
| Florida | $49,680 | $23.88 |
| Georgia | $50,820 | $24.43 |
| Hawaii | $81,280 | $39.08 |
| Idaho | $60,420 | $29.05 |
| Illinois | $60,490 | $29.08 |
| Indiana | $55,590 | $26.73 |
| Iowa | $57,710 | $27.75 |
| Kansas | $49,990 | $24.03 |
| Kentucky | $59,790 | $28.75 |
| Louisiana | $36,480 | $17.54 |
| Maine | $73,290 | $35.24 |
| Maryland | $62,270 | $29.94 |
| Massachusetts | $63,390 | $30.48 |
| Michigan | $70,960 | $34.12 |
| Minnesota | $63,070 | $30.32 |
| Mississippi | $40,490 | $19.47 |
| Missouri | $62,050 | $29.83 |
| Montana | $53,540 | $25.74 |
| Nebraska | $53,950 | $25.94 |
| Nevada | $53,540 | $25.74 |
| New Hampshire | $80,360 | $38.63 |
| New Jersey | $50,150 | $24.11 |
| New Mexico | $37,840 | $18.19 |
| New York | $62,630 | $30.11 |
| North Carolina | $60,650 | $29.16 |
| North Dakota | $74,140 | $35.64 |
| Ohio | $55,990 | $26.92 |
| Oklahoma | $36,630 | $17.61 |
| Oregon | $86,970 | $41.81 |
| Pennsylvania | $58,300 | $28.03 |
| Rhode Island | $74,960 | $36.04 |
| South Carolina | $58,000 | $27.88 |
| South Dakota | $52,000 | $25.00 |
| Tennessee | $50,070 | $24.07 |
| Texas | $59,370 | $28.54 |
| Utah | $62,130 | $29.87 |
| Vermont | Not published | – |
| Virginia | $62,220 | $29.91 |
| Washington | $87,360 | $42.00 |
| West Virginia | $46,600 | $22.40 |
| Wisconsin | $58,070 | $27.92 |
| Wyoming | $61,980 | $29.80 |
Highest-paying states for massage therapists
- Alaska: $134,930 median
- Washington: $87,360 median
- Oregon: $86,970 median
- Hawaii: $81,280 median
- New Hampshire: $80,360 median
The lowest medians are in Louisiana ($36,480), Oklahoma ($36,630), New Mexico ($37,840), Arkansas ($39,990), Mississippi ($40,490). The most massage therapist jobs are in California (14,600 jobs), Florida (9,280 jobs), Texas (8,630 jobs), Illinois (4,950 jobs), New York (4,500 jobs).
How much does a massage therapist make a month?
At the median salary of $58,450, a massage therapist earns about $4,871 a month, $2,248 every two weeks or $1,124 a week, before taxes.
Entry-level vs. experienced massage therapist pay
New massage therapists typically start near the bottom of the range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $33,640 a year and the lowest 25% under $43,480. The top 25% earn over $78,320 and the top 10% over $100,200. BLS does not break pay down by years of experience; these percentiles are the closest official measure.
Massage Therapist salary vs. similar jobs
| Job | Median per year |
|---|---|
| Massage therapist | $58,450 |
| Cosmetologist | $35,790 |
| Barber | $38,210 |
| Personal trainer | $47,160 |
| Bartender | $34,340 |
Common questions
How much does a massage therapist make?
The US median is $58,450 a year ($28.10 an hour), based on BLS May 2025 data.
How much does a massage therapist make an hour?
The median is about $28.10 an hour. The bottom 10% earn about $16.17 and the top 10% about $48.17 an hour.
Which state pays massage therapists the most?
Alaska has the highest median at $134,930, followed by Washington ($87,360) and Oregon ($86,970).
How much does a massage therapist make a month?
At the US median of $58,450 a year, about $4,871 a month or $2,248 every two weeks, before taxes.
How much does an entry-level massage therapist make?
The lowest-paid 10% earn under $33,640 a year and the lowest 25% under $43,480, the closest official measure of starting pay.
How much do the top 10% of massage therapists make?
The top 10% earn over $100,200 a year; the top 25% earn over $78,320.
How much does a massage therapist make in California, Texas, Florida and New York?
Median annual pay is $45,970 in California, $59,370 in Texas, $49,680 in Florida, $62,630 in New York, per BLS May 2025 data.
Last reviewed October 31, 2026. All figures are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 survey (occupation code 31-9011, “Massage Therapists”), the most recent official release; “median” means half earn more and half earn less. Figures are gross pay before taxes and benefits. Note: BLS counts only employees, not self-employed massage therapists or business owners, whose income can be quite different. See the BLS OEWS tables and the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. This page is general information, not career or financial advice.