Projected to grow +15.3% through 2035, Massage Therapists is expanding faster than most occupations. Median pay is $58,450, and early movers in a growing field often advance faster.
This page sets out what the federal data says about working as a massage therapists: what the job pays, how fast it is growing, and what it takes to get in. Most people arrive through a degree in Massage Therapy and what it leads to, though it is not the only route.
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.
Also known as:
Most massage therapists take home around $58,450 a year, about what a typical college graduate makes. Half earn somewhere between $43,480 and $78,320, so where you land depends a lot on employer, specialty and city. A solid living in most parts of the country. Source: BLS.
A wage on its own says nothing about whether the degree behind it pays for itself, which is a question of lifetime earnings set against the total cost of getting there.
Near the national median for college graduates.
25th to 75th percentile. Most workers earn within this band.
This is what the job actually looks like on a Tuesday: 5 core activities and 5 skills the work depends on. Read it before the salary, because pay matters less than whether you would want to spend your days doing this. Source: O*NET.
Working closely with people, teaching, advising, or helping others navigate challenges is a defining feature of this career's daily work.
Hands-on tasks, physical activity, or working with tools and real materials are central parts of the daily work here.
This career demands analytical thinking: researching problems, interpreting data, and applying logical reasoning to find practical solutions.
What the physical and mental conditions of this job actually look like day to day, based on O*NET Work Context data collected from people working in this occupation.
Split between indoor and outdoor or field settings.
Mix of sitting and movement throughout the day.
Low time pressure. Work pace is typically steady and self-directed.
Through 2035 the BLS expects this field to change by +15.3%, meaning it is growing faster than most occupations, so jobs should be easier to find over time. Around 20,400 roles open up each year, which is the number that matters most if you are starting out. Source: BLS.
Growth rates are only meaningful next to other occupations, and the full list of careers with their projected growth puts this one in context.
Much faster than average.
New positions plus replacements for retirees and career-changers.
Total US employment as of BLS May 2025.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2025–2035 and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025.
The five states below employ the most Massage Therapists professionals nationwide. State-level wages can differ significantly from the $58,450 national median. Research your specific market before committing to a program.
| # | State | Jobs | Median Wage | vs. National |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 14,600 | $45,970 | -21.4% |
| 2 | Florida | 9,280 | $49,680 | -15.0% |
| 3 | Texas | 8,630 | $59,370 | +1.6% |
| 4 | Illinois | 4,950 | $60,490 | +3.5% |
| 5 | New York | 4,500 | $62,630 | +7.2% |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Employment figures rounded. Read our methodology →
To get hired here you will usually need a postsecondary nondegree award. The program below is the most common route in, ordered by how many people actually graduate from each one.
A medium amount of preparation is required, often an associate degree, certificate program, or apprenticeship, plus some related experience.
| # | Program | Graduates/yr | 4yr Median | Colleges |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massage Therapy | 10,516 | — | 465 |
Colleges offering the degree programs that lead to this career, ranked by UCD Score. A strong program plus solid outcomes is a good place to begin your search.
| # | College | UCD Score | Net Price | Salary 10yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lake Land College Mattoon, IL | 82 | $2,254 | $38,877 |
| 2 | Caribbean University-Bayamon Bayamon, PR | 81 | $4,665 | $22,842 |
| 3 | Wiregrass Georgia Technical College Valdosta, GA | 80 | $614 | $30,864 |
| 4 | Sandhills Community College Pinehurst, NC | 80 | $4,157 | $31,656 |
| 5 | Antilles School of Technical Careers San Juan, PR | 80 | $3,912 | $21,766 |
| 6 | Carrington College-Boise Boise, ID | 80 | — | $43,731 |
Once you've sized up Massage Therapists, these tools turn the numbers into a plan. Estimate the real cost of a degree that leads here, weigh the long-term payoff, compare specific colleges side-by-side, and find programs that match your profile.
See if the degree that leads to Massage Therapists pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings graduates see.
Enter a budget and see the colleges whose net price fits, with the out-of-pocket cost and likely loan load for each.
Put any 2–4 colleges side-by-side. Admissions, cost, outcomes, and earnings, all on one screen, no tab-hopping.
Answer six quick questions and see your best-fit colleges ranked by budget, field of study, and what matters most to you.
The data on Massage Therapists shows 3 measurable strengths and 1 real trade-offs. All points are drawn from BLS wage data, employment projections, and IPEDS program completions.
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