Key Factors That Influence Massage Therapist Salaries
A Massage Therapist's salary isn't a fixed number.
It's shaped by several important factors.
Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education, and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
How Experience Level Affects Massage Therapist Salaries?
Experience is a primary driver of a Massage Therapist's salary.
As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases.
Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:
Massage Therapist (0-0 years): $49,517
Fitness Instructor I (0-1 years): $41,442
Fitness Instructor II (1-3 years): $50,602
Personal Trainer (3-5 years): $67,408
Fitness Center Supervisor (5+ years): $69,105
Job Role
Years of Experience
Average Salary
Massage Therapist
0-0 years
$49,517
Fitness Instructor I
0-1 years
$41,442
Fitness Instructor II
1-3 years
$50,602
Personal Trainer
3-5 years
$67,408
Fitness Center Supervisor
5+ years
$69,105
$49,517Massage T...
$41,442Fitness I...
$50,602Fitness I...
$67,408Personal ...
$69,105Fitness C...
View as Table
View as Graph
What Am I Worth?
How Do Massage Therapist Salaries Vary from State to State?
Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work.
States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors
often pay more to attract Massage Therapists.
For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
Salaries can also vary between different cities.
Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay.
Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:
San Jose: $62,456
San Francisco: $61,772
Oakland: $60,470
San Jose, CA$62,456
San Francisco, CA$61,772
Oakland, CA$60,470
New York, NY$57,013
Paramus, NJ$56,320
Queens Village, NY$56,318
Passaic, NJ$56,271
Bergenfield, NJ$56,266
Stamford, CT$56,157
Huntington, NY$56,137
Newark, NJ$55,771
Bridgeport, CT$55,667
Vallejo, CA$55,568
New Brunswick, NJ$55,548
Petaluma, CA$55,518
Middlesex, NJ$55,424
Somerset, NJ$55,390
Santa Cruz, CA$55,325
Boston, MA$55,023
Monterey, CA$54,849
Seattle, WA$54,736
Santa Rosa, CA$54,726
Los Angeles, CA$54,711
Juneau, AK$54,583
Washington, DC$54,528
Orange, CA$54,352
Santa Ana, CA$54,221
Long Beach, CA$54,172
Anaheim, CA$54,162
Anchorage, AK$54,137
Santa Maria, CA$53,988
Everett, WA$53,978
Danbury, CT$53,804
Bremerton, WA$53,736
Tacoma, WA$53,558
New Suffolk, NY$53,557
Sacramento, CA$53,543
Santa Barbara, CA$53,488
Trenton, NJ$53,434
San Diego, CA$53,434
Brockton, MA$53,379
Fairbanks, AK$53,258
Lompoc, CA$53,132
Lowell, MA$53,092
Ventura, CA$53,082
Nashua, NH$53,072
Stockton, CA$53,067
Modesto, CA$52,706
Poughkeepsie, NY$52,597
Olympia, WA$52,503
Kennewick, WA$52,503
New Haven, CT$52,483
Lawrence, MA$52,305
Hartford, CT$52,255
Riverside, CA$52,245
New Bedford, MA$52,196
Richland, WA$52,196
Bakersfield, CA$52,127
San Bernardino, CA$52,107
New Britain, CT$52,102
Atlantic City, NJ$52,102
New London, CT$52,082
Norwich, CT$52,067
Portsmouth, NH$52,057
Boulder, CO$51,952
Portland, OR$51,884
Worcester, MA$51,879
Minneapolis, MN$51,725
Philadelphia, PA$51,656
Honolulu, HI$51,493
Saint Paul, MN$51,469
Vineland, NJ$51,458
Providence, RI$51,314
Chicago, IL$51,171
Bellingham, WA$51,111
Springfield, MA$51,072
Baltimore, MD$51,057
Chico, CA$50,933
Pittsfield, MA$50,799
Manchester, NH$50,705
Spokane, WA$50,488
Denver, CO$50,483
Albany, NY$50,250
Troy, NY$50,230
Nassau, NY$50,177
Schenectady, NY$50,126
Wilmington, DE$50,086
Burlington, VT$50,017
Salem, OR$49,997
Portland, ME$49,844
Yakima, WA$49,794
Rochester, MN$49,641
Reno, NV$49,616
Fresno, CA$49,616
Milwaukee, WI$49,571
Detroit, MI$49,522
Ann Arbor, MI$49,514
Allentown, PA$49,507
Colorado Springs, CO$49,423
Syracuse, NY$49,398
Carson City, NV$49,398
Houston, TX$49,329
Eugene, OR$49,304
Gary, IN$49,245
Springfield, OR$49,205
Bismarck, ND$49,195
Galveston, TX$49,160
Medford, OR$49,086
Fort Collins, CO$49,066
Concord, NH$49,042
Austin, TX$49,027
Mesa, AZ$48,923
Reading, PA$48,918
Phoenix, AZ$48,913
Dallas, TX$48,898
Saint Cloud, MN$48,851
Madison, WI$48,784
Utica, NY$48,650
Rochester, NY$48,571
Des Moines, IA$48,566
Raleigh, NC$48,561
Atlanta, GA$48,487
Battle Creek, MI$48,472
Salt Lake City, UT$48,457
Lancaster, PA$48,383
Harrisburg, PA$48,314
Kansas City, MO$48,264
Champaign, IL$48,254
Kansas City, KS$48,254
Fort Worth, TX$48,249
Columbus, OH$48,241
Boca Raton, FL$48,230
Pittsburgh, PA$48,210
Richmond, VA$48,190
Indianapolis, IN$48,180
Cleveland, OH$48,175
Las Vegas, NV$48,116
Cincinnati, OH$48,116
Petersburg, VA$48,041
Huntsville, AL$47,967
Lansing, MI$47,934
Lebanon, PA$47,928
Pueblo, CO$47,923
Appleton, WI$47,908
Buffalo, NY$47,888
Dayton, OH$47,873
Racine, WI$47,863
Charlotte, NC$47,858
Saint Louis, MO$47,843
York, PA$47,814
Elkhart, IN$47,814
Gastonia, NC$47,804
Billings, MT$47,792
Beaumont, TX$47,779
Lorain, OH$47,769
Benton Harbor, MI$47,759
Toledo, OH$47,749
Binghamton, NY$47,724
Rock Hill, SC$47,720
Rockford, IL$47,695
Springfield, IL$47,675
Elyria, OH$47,670
Fargo, ND$47,670
Flagstaff, AZ$47,635
Fort Lauderdale, FL$47,606
Duluth, MN$47,576
Miami, FL$47,576
Cheyenne, WY$47,541
Grand Forks, ND$47,541
Bangor, ME$47,432
Cedar Rapids, IA$47,378
Durham, NC$47,357
Louisville, KY$47,353
Grand Rapids, MI$47,343
Hialeah, FL$47,338
Casper, WY$47,269
Scranton, PA$47,210
New Orleans, LA$47,195
Virginia Beach, VA$47,190
Akron, OH$47,165
Peoria, IL$47,101
Sarasota, FL$47,091
Nashville, TN$47,056
Omaha, NE$47,056
Green Bay, WI$47,056
Baton Rouge, LA$47,031
Charleston, SC$47,021
Jamestown, NY$46,997
Davenport, IA$46,997
Tucson, AZ$46,972
Saint Petersburg, FL$46,942
Tampa, FL$46,932
Evansville, IN$46,903
Port Arthur, TX$46,903
Bradenton, FL$46,883
Santa Fe, NM$46,794
Orlando, FL$46,704
Clearwater, FL$46,690
Canton, OH$46,586
La Crosse, WI$46,586
Albuquerque, NM$46,556
Newport News, VA$46,551
High Point, NC$46,536
Ogden, UT$46,516
Corpus Christi, TX$46,477
Norfolk, VA$46,447
Laramie, WY$46,447
Rock Island, IL$46,417
Saginaw, MI$46,407
Jacksonville, FL$46,402
Salisbury, NC$46,392
Boise, ID$46,383
Moline, IL$46,358
Fort Myers, FL$46,343
Memphis, TN$46,333
Tulsa, OK$46,308
Waterloo, IA$46,279
Spartanburg, SC$46,229
Lincoln, NE$46,204
Fort Wayne, IN$46,194
Provo, UT$46,189
Cedar Falls, IA$46,130
San Antonio, TX$46,110
Greensboro, NC$46,090
South Bend, IN$46,085
Savannah, GA$46,031
Muskegon, MI$46,011
Birmingham, AL$46,006
Winston Salem, NC$45,982
Lake Charles, LA$45,863
Anderson, IN$45,853
Lexington, KY$45,838
Augusta, GA$45,823
Greenville, SC$45,823
Lima, OH$45,783
Wichita, KS$45,778
Tuscaloosa, AL$45,778
Columbia, SC$45,734
Springfield, OH$45,724
Asheville, NC$45,645
Bloomington, IN$45,610
Knoxville, TN$45,432
Shreveport, LA$45,427
Wilmington, NC$45,363
Roanoke, VA$45,363
Topeka, KS$45,273
Frankfort, KY$45,268
Oklahoma City, OK$45,234
Chillicothe, OH$45,214
Longview, TX$45,209
Melbourne, FL$45,204
Sioux Falls, SD$45,125
Mobile, AL$45,120
Terre Haute, IN$45,100
Altoona, PA$45,070
Amarillo, TX$45,036
Killeen, TX$45,021
Fayetteville, AR$44,981
Chattanooga, TN$44,966
Sioux City, IA$44,922
Idaho Falls, ID$44,912
Lynchburg, VA$44,872
Gainesville, FL$44,808
Portsmouth, OH$44,783
Little Rock, AR$44,773
Lafayette, LA$44,753
Youngstown, OH$44,753
Daytona Beach, FL$44,724
Clarksville, TN$44,719
Pensacola, FL$44,714
Temple, TX$44,710
Hopkinsville, KY$44,565
Erie, PA$44,555
Florence, SC$44,536
Charleston, WV$44,456
Great Falls, MT$44,432
Macon, GA$44,362
Tallahassee, FL$44,357
Fayetteville, NC$44,347
Waco, TX$44,338
Helena, MT$44,303
Pine Bluff, AR$44,284
Vincennes, IN$44,224
Lubbock, TX$44,204
Alamogordo, NM$44,174
Twin Falls, ID$44,130
Rapid City, SD$44,115
Jackson, MS$44,026
Huntington, WV$44,022
Greenville, MS$44,021
Parkersburg, WV$43,970
Montgomery, AL$43,961
Wichita Falls, TX$43,912
Springfield, MO$43,912
Biloxi, MS$43,887
Monroe, LA$43,837
Johnstown, PA$43,803
Sumter, SC$43,783
Columbus, GA$43,778
Pascagoula, MS$43,684
Abilene, TX$43,684
Kingsport, TN$43,555
Albany, GA$43,555
Gulfport, MS$43,540
Alexandria, LA$43,377
Fort Smith, AR$43,253
El Paso, TX$43,119
Las Cruces, NM$42,897
Harlingen, TX$42,771
Pocatello, ID$42,763
Florence, AL$42,699
Brownsville, TX$42,689
Mcallen, TX$42,585
Dothan, AL$42,515
Columbus, MS$42,221
Altus, OK$41,990
Lawton, OK$41,896
Pierre, SD$41,718
What Skills Can Increase a Massage Therapist's Salary?
Demanded Skills for the Role:
Commitment (Mentioned in 15.11% Job Postings): An agreement or pledge to do something in the future a commitment to improve conditions at the prison especially : an engagement to assume a financial obligation at a future date.
Infection Prevention (Mentioned in 1.61% Job Postings): Infection prevention and control (IPC) is a practical, evidence-based approach which prevents patients and health workers from being harmed by avoidable infection and as a result of antimicrobial resistance.
Product Knowledge (Mentioned in 0.28% Job Postings): Product knowledge is the ability to communicate information and answer questions about a product or service. It is considered an important knowledge area for any role that puts you in front of customers, investors or the media.
See More Skills
Skills
Demand Percentage
Commitment
15.11%
Infection Prevention
1.61%
Product Knowledge
0.28%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay.
Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Massage Therapist's salary.
Environmental Health: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
Environmental Protection: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
Collaboration: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
Skill
Salary
Salary % Increase
Environmental Health
$54,964
11%
Environmental Protection
$54,964
11%
Collaboration
$53,974
9%
Chiropractic
$53,478
8%
Infection Control
$52,488
6%
Consulting
$51,993
5%
Get Latest Data
Massage Therapist Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise
Massage Therapist salary potential scales significantly with company size.
Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $53,420.
While startup companies pay approximate $45,310.
Massage Therapist Salary by Company Size
Company Size
Employees
Average Salary
Startup
1~50
$45,310
Growth Stage
51~500
$47,893
Established
501~5000
$51,619
Enterprise
5000+
$53,420
Massage Therapist Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors
For Massage Therapist roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential
by as much as 60% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries).
Data shows that the Healthcare and Business Services
sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 40% above the average.
In contrast, Massage Therapist positions in Insurance or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay,
as these industries often view Massage Therapist as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
The top paying industry for a Massage Therapist
Industry Sector
Average Annual Salary
Average Hourly Rate
Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare
$69,324
$33.0
40%
How Education impacts a Massage Therapist's Salary?
Your level of education can impact your salary potential.
While many Massage Therapists enter the field with a No Diploma degree,
higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.
According to our 100% employer-reported salary data,
the median salary for a Massage Therapist with a No Diploma is between
$54,796
and $58,369).
Massage Therapist Salaries by Degree Level
Typical Education for Massage Therapist
No Diploma0.8%
High School61.8%
Associates22.4%
Bachelors12.3%
Masters2.3%
Doctorate0.4%
view as table
Degree Level
% of user with this level of education
No Diploma
0.8%
High School
61.8%
Associates
22.4%
Bachelors
12.3%
Masters
2.3%
Doctorate
0.4%
view as graph
Massage Therapist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay
Understanding how a Massage Therapist's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting.
Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role.
Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.
Hourly
Monthly
Weekly
Yearly
Table View
Last Updated on July 01, 2026
$40,627
Average$49,517/year
$54,982
$3,386
Average$4,126/month
$4,582
$781
Average$952/week
$1,057
$20
Average$24/hour
$26
Annual Salary
Monthly Pay
Weekly Pay
Hourly Wage
75th Percentile
$54,982
$4,582
$1,057
$26
Average
$49,517
$4,126
$952
$24
25th Percentile
$40,627
$3,386
$781
$20
Massage Therapist Salary Growth & Career Path
For a Massage Therapist, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Fitness Instructor I role.
This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to
$41,442 - a projected growth of
-16%
over your current level.
Salaries for a Massage Therapist can change over time,
reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy.
The median salary decreased from $55,644 in 2023
to around $55,263 in 2025,
reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy.
For a detailed analysis of Massage Therapist salary trends,
.
Average Annual Salary of Massage Therapist Over Time
2022
$???
2023
$55,644
2024
$55,899
2025
$55,263
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year
Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023
$55,644
2024
$55,899
2025
$55,263
2026
View More
2027
View More
Most common benefits for Massage Therapist
Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Massage Therapist
Here are companies hiring for Massage Therapist and their salaries, click below for more details.
K
$114,295/per year
Kpmg Us LLP
Business Services
the United States
W
$114,096/per year
Warner Bros Discovery
Business Services
the United States
D
$111,927/per year
Dentsu International Ltd
Business Services
the United States
G
$111,873/per year
GroupM Worldwide Inc
Business Services
the United States
C
$111,651/per year
CoWorx Staffing
Business Services
the United States
C
$110,194/per year
Contemporary Services Corp
Business Services
the United States
S
$107,128/per year
Showcase Cinemas
Business Services
the United States
A
$106,429/per year
Amentum Services Inc
Business Services
the United States
A
$106,199/per year
Allied Universal Security Services LLC
Business Services
the United States
S
$106,104/per year
Sodexo USA
Business Services
the United States
J
$105,192/per year
JLL Technologies
Business Services
the United States
I
$104,478/per year
Intact Insurance Group USA LLC
Business Services
the United States
N
$101,619/per year
NielsenIQ
Business Services
the United States
T
$101,470/per year
The Leading Edge Alliance
Business Services
the United States
H
$101,308/per year
Honeywell UOP
Business Services
the United States
R
$97,720/per year
Reeve & Associates
Business Services
the United States
M
$97,584/per year
ManpowerGroup Global Inc
Business Services
the United States
F
$95,980/per year
Financial Sys Nco
Business Services
the United States
A
$95,314/per year
Arrow Global Ltd
Business Services
the United States
C
$94,777/per year
CarMax Enterprise Services LLC
Business Services
the United States
D
$94,479/per year
DZConneX
Business Services
the United States
A
$93,802/per year
Adecco Staffing, USA
Business Services
the United States
R
$92,937/per year
Resource MFG
Business Services
the United States
Z
$92,774/per year
Zachry Brands Inc
Business Services
the United States
G
$88,138/per year
Greystar Worldwide LLC
Business Services
the United States
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FAQ about Massage Therapist
1. Where can a Massage Therapist earn the most?
A Massage Therapist's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer.
According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Massage Therapist earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Massage Therapist is $62,456.
2. What is the highest pay for Massage Therapist?
The highest pay for Massage Therapist is $59,958.
3. What is the lowest pay for Massage Therapist?
The lowest pay for Massage Therapist is $32,533.
4. What are the responsibilities of Massage Therapist?
Performs massage therapy to control pain and promote wellness. Consults with a client, assesses their conditions, and suggests appropriate massage techniques. Utilizes soft or deep tissue massage or other therapeutic massage methods to provide pain relief and promote healing. Requires a high school diploma or equivalent. May require applicable certification. Typically reports to a supervisor. Years of experience may be unspecified. Certification and/or licensing in the position's specialty is the main requirement.
5. What industry pays the highest salary for Massage Therapist?
The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Massage Therapist roles,
with salaries approximately 40% above the market median.
Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?
Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.
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