Massage Therapists earn a median of $58,450 per year ($28.10/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to grow 15.3% through 2035, with about 20,400 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: Postsecondary nondegree award.
- SOC 31-9011
- Healthcare Support
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Massage Therapist in four numbers
- Median pay
- $58,450a year, or $28.10/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $34KTop 10% $100K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +15.3%Much faster than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+15.3%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +15.3% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 20,400155,400 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 2025155.4K
- Projected 2035179.1K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 155.4K Projected 2035 179.1K - Typical education
- Certificateneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
Also advertised as: BCMT (Board Certified Massage Therapist), Bodywork Therapist, Certified Massage Therapist (CMT), Clinical Massage Therapist, Licensed Massage Practitioner (LMP), Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT).
Pay
How much do Massage Therapists make?
Every massage therapist in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$58,450
Middle half earn $43,480 to $78,320
- 10th
- $33,640
- 25th
- $43,480
- 75th
- $78,320
- 90th
- $100,200
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $33,640 |
| 25th | $43,480 |
| Median | $58,450 |
| 75th | $78,320 |
| 90th | $100,200 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $58,450
- Median hourly wage
- $28.10/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $63,830
- People employed
- 98,790
Versus all US occupations
At $58,450, Massage Therapists earn 15% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $7,470 a year.
Versus healthcare support occupations
Inside the Healthcare Support group, where the middle occupation pays $42,260, this is 38% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $100,200 or more while the bottom 10% earn $33,640, a gap of 3.0×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 30% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
Alaska pays the most at $134,930, and still leads at $131,820 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Massage Therapists the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Alaska | $134,930 | $131,820 | 570 |
| 2Washington | $87,360 | $81,635 | 3,740 |
| 3Oregon | $86,970 | $84,142 | 2,250 |
| 4Hawaii | $81,280 | $73,924 | 1,330 |
| 5New Hampshire | $80,360 | $77,147 | 270 |
| 6Rhode Island | $74,960 | $73,289 | 290 |
| 7North Dakota | $74,140 | $83,342 | 100 |
| 8Maine | $73,290 | $75,518 | 370 |
| 9Michigan | $70,960 | $73,750 | 2,410 |
| 10District of Columbia | $64,110 | $58,334 | 120 |
Job outlook
Is Massage Therapist a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Much faster than average. +15.3% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Massage Therapists | +15.3% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Much faster than average
BLS projects employment of Massage Therapists to change 15.3% over 2025–2035, roughly 4.4× the 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 23,700 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 20,400 openings are projected each year, 13.1% of the 155,400 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Continued growth in the demand for massage services will lead to new jobs for massage therapists. Not only does massage help relieve stress and increase relaxation, but it is also becoming more accepted as a natural and safe treatment method for managing pain. Demand for massage therapists is expected to increase as more people look to massage to maintain overall health and well-being.
Getting in
How to become a Massage Therapist
Massage therapists typically complete a postsecondary education program that combines study and experience, although standards and requirements vary by state. Most states regulate massage therapy and require massage therapists to have a license or certification.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Postsecondary nondegree award
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
None
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Some preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
Full BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook entryThe work
What does a Massage Therapist do?
Perform therapeutic massages of soft tissues and joints. May assist in the assessment of range of motion and muscle strength, or propose client therapy plans.
Massage therapists treat clients by applying pressure to manipulate the body's soft tissues and joints. This treatment may help to relieve pain, heal injuries, relieve stress, and aid in the general wellness of clients.
Day-to-day tasks
- Apply finger and hand pressure to specific points of the body.
- Confer with clients about their medical histories and problems with stress or pain to determine how massage will be most helpful.
- Maintain massage areas by restocking supplies or sanitizing equipment.
- Treat clients in professional settings or travel to clients' offices and homes.
- Maintain treatment records.
- Assess clients' soft tissue condition, joint quality and function, muscle strength, and range of motion.
- Refer clients to other types of therapists when necessary.
- Massage and knead muscles and soft tissues of the body to provide treatment for medical conditions, injuries, or wellness maintenance.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Part-time work is common for massage therapists. Because therapists usually work by appointment, their schedules and the number of hours worked each week vary considerably. Moreover, because of the strength and endurance needed to give a massage, many therapists cannot perform massage services 8 hours per day, 5 days per week.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayAlmost never works outdoors.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeOn their feet more than half the working day.
Bending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayConflict situations are rare.
Cost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Where massage therapists work
Share of jobs by employer type
- Self-employed workers36%
- Personal care services33%
- Offices of all other health practitioners12%
- Offices of chiropractors7%
- Accommodation6%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Self-employed workers | 36% |
| Personal care services | 33% |
| Offices of all other health practitioners | 12% |
| Offices of chiropractors | 7% |
| Accommodation | 6% |
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Active Listening3.6
- Speaking3.5
- Reading Comprehension3.0
- Critical Thinking3.0
- Monitoring2.9
- Writing2.8
- Active Learning2.8
- Learning Strategies2.4
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Active Listening | 3.6 |
| Speaking | 3.5 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.0 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.0 |
| Monitoring | 2.9 |
| Writing | 2.8 |
| Active Learning | 2.8 |
| Learning Strategies | 2.4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Social Perceptiveness3.1
- Service Orientation3.1
- Judgment and Decision Making3.0
- Complex Problem Solving2.9
- Time Management2.8
- Coordination2.1
- Systems Analysis2.1
- Systems Evaluation2.1
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.1 |
| Service Orientation | 3.1 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.0 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 2.9 |
| Time Management | 2.8 |
| Coordination | 2.1 |
| Systems Analysis | 2.1 |
| Systems Evaluation | 2.1 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Calendar and scheduling software
- Medical software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Massage Therapist?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Massage Therapist |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 5 |
| Investigative | 4 |
| Artistic | 2 |
| Social | 6 |
| Enterprising | 2 |
| Conventional | 3 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around teaching, helping and working directly with other people, combined with hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors.
- Social5.8
- Realistic4.8
- Investigative3.8
- Conventional2.7
- Artistic2.2
- Enterprising2.1
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Massage Therapist
O*NET related occupations
- Healthcare Support
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Healthcare Support
- Healthcare Support
- Personal Care and Service
- Healthcare Support
More healthcare support careers
Median annual pay, with massage therapists highlighted
- Occupational Therapy Assistant$72,300
- Physical Therapist Assistant$68,380
- Massage Therapist$58,450
- Dental Assistant$48,070
- Medical Assistant$45,690
- Phlebotomist$45,230
- Nursing Assistant$42,260
- Veterinary Assistant and Laboratory Animal Caretaker$38,150
- Home Health Aide$35,800
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Occupational Therapy Assistant | $72,300 |
| Physical Therapist Assistant | $68,380 |
| Massage Therapist | $58,450 |
| Dental Assistant | $48,070 |
| Medical Assistant | $45,690 |
| Phlebotomist | $45,230 |
| Nursing Assistant | $42,260 |
| Veterinary Assistant and Laboratory Animal Caretaker | $38,150 |
| Home Health Aide | $35,800 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Massage Therapist appears on
Questions
Massage Therapist: frequently asked questions
How much do Massage Therapists make?
Massage Therapists earn a median of $58,450 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 15% above the $50,980 US median across all occupations. That works out at $28.10/hr. The middle half earn between $43,480 and $78,320. The top 10% earn $100,200 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Massage Therapist?
Not a degree, but you do need credentialed training: BLS lists a postsecondary non-degree award (a certificate or license program) as the typical entry route for Massage Therapists.
Is Massage Therapist a growing career?
Yes, strongly. Employment is projected to grow 15.3% over 2025–2035, more than double the 3.5% projected for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 20,400 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Massage Therapist do?
Massage therapists treat clients by applying pressure to manipulate the body's soft tissues and joints. A core O*NET task: apply finger and hand pressure to specific points of the body. Employers most often ask for Spreadsheet software, Word processing software.
Which states pay Massage Therapists the most?
The highest state medians for Massage Therapists are Alaska ($134,930), Washington ($87,360), Oregon ($86,970) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Massage Therapist?
O*NET scores Massage Therapists highest on the Social, Realistic and Investigative interest areas, so the work mixes teaching, helping and working directly with other people with hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are ISFP, ISFJ. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.