Massage therapist salary

Massage therapist earnings by seniority

90th percentile

Top-level massage therapist earnings begin at:

$48.17 per hour

$100,200 per year

75th percentile

Senior-level massage therapist earnings begin at:

$37.66 per hour

$78,320 per year

50th percentile

Mid-level massage therapist earnings begin at:

$28.10 per hour

$58,450 per year

25th percentile

Junior-level massage therapist earnings begin at:

$20.91 per hour

$43,480 per year

10th percentile

Starting level massage therapist earnings begin at:

$16.17 per hour

$33,640 per year

Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.

Massage therapist salary by state

How much does a Massage Therapist earn?

The demand for skilled massage therapists has grown as more health care practitioners view massage as an important part of overall patient wellness. According to the BLS, employment for massage therapists is predicted to grow by 22 percent through the year 2024.

An individual's earning potential as a massage therapist will depend on their workplace and their ability to build a large client base. Building a client base comes with practice and experience. Also, specializing in a certain type of massage can give one an edge over other massage therapists and bring in a higher salary.

There are many workplaces one can consider working for when first starting out, such as hotels, airports, corporate environments, personal care services, and offices of other health practitioners. Many companies will hire massage therapists to visit their offices regularly in order to provide chair massages to stressed-out employees. However, the number one career path for a massage therapist is to be self-employed as an independent contractor and work out of a private or shared office. Salaries can increase to well over $100,000/yr for those who own and operate a successful massage therapy clinic.

Location is particularly important, as the larger the city one lives and works in, the higher the salaries and wages are likely to be. It's also good to keep overhead expenses in mind. If one is self-employed, factor these expenses in: space rental, massage supplies, advertising/marketing materials, association dues and fees, liability insurance, and laundry.

How do massage therapist salaries compare to similar careers?

Massage therapists earn 7% less than similar careers in the United States. On average, they make less than midwives.

Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)