Massage Therapists Salary
The median massage therapists salary in the United States is $58,450 per year ($28.10/hour). Salaries range from $33,640 at the entry level to $100,200+ for the top 10% of earners. There are 98,790 massage therapists jobs nationwide. Employment is projected to grow 15.4% through 2034.
Last updated: June 2026 Β· Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Salary Distribution
Job Growth (2024-2034)
Annual Openings
Education Required
Massage Therapists Career Guide
Interview questions, resume templates, and a career ladder written specifically for massage therapistss.
Massage therapists (LMTs) provide therapeutic massage in spa + medical + private practice + sports settings. Entry (spa employee) $42-58k; independent LMT $58-85k; senior/specialty (medical + sports + oncology) $75-105k; established private practice $85-150k+; spa manager + practice owner $95-175k. State license required. Growing sector via wellness + medical + insurance coverage expansion.
Core Skills Hiring Managers Screen For
How to Become a Massage Therapists
- 1Complete accredited massage program500-1,000 hours state-varying ($5-20k) at accredited school.
- 2Pass MBLEx + state licenseMBLEx exam $265 + state license $100-500.
- 3Start in setting (spa + medical + private)Spa $42-58k with tips + medical $52-72k + private practice variable.
- 4Build clientele + specialty3-5 years to specialty (medical + sports) + $65-95k.
- 5Private practice + specialty + management$85-150k private practice + $95-175k specialty + management.
Career Progression
- β’Basic massage services
- β’Client rapport
- β’Learn business systems
- β’Build client base
- β’Regular clientele
- β’Multiple modalities
- β’Specialty pursuit
- β’Some management
- β’Own client roster
- β’Specialty (medical + sports + oncology)
- β’Mentor + train
- β’Private practice
- β’Own practice P&L
- β’Team of 4-15 LMTs
- β’Marketing + client acquisition
- β’Business operations
Interview Questions & Answers
5 free questions below. Career Kit unlocks 13 total plus resume bullets for every level.
Q1. Walk me through your intake process.technical
Q2. How do you handle a client with a red flag (contraindication)?situational
Q3. Describe your modality approach.technical
Q4. Tell me about a difficult client.behavioral
Q5. Where do you see career in 5 years?closer
Resume Template β Entry LMT (0-2 yrs)
Copy these bullets into your resume as a starting point. Career Kit includes bullets for every level of the ladder.
- βΈPassed MBLEx + state license within 30 days of graduation.
- βΈCompleted 20+ massages/week at $85M spa + earned Top Performer 2 quarters.
- βΈBuilt client retention rate 78% (spa industry avg 42%).
- βΈCross-trained in 5 modalities (Swedish + deep tissue + trigger point + sports + prenatal).
What Gets You Rejected
- βWeak boundaries.
- βCant handle physical demands.
- βPoor client communication.
- βEthics/professionalism issues.
- βNo specialty focus.
Salary Negotiation Levers
- βSpecialty (medical + sports + oncology + prenatal) = $10-25/hour premium.
- βPrivate practice: $85-165/hour vs spa employee ~$20-35/hour.
- βTips 15-25% additional at spa.
- βInsurance credentialed = insurance revenue.
- βSign-on: $500-2k at spa chains.
- βEstablished LMT retention drives income.
Massage Therapists Resume Review β $29
Personalized resume review from someone who has hired massage therapistss. Purchase, email your resume to support@weblabra.com, and receive detailed written feedback within 7 days.
- β Occupation-specific critique (not generic)
- β Rewrite suggestions for weak bullets
- β Missing skills / keywords flagged
- β Formatting + ATS-readability feedback
- β 7-day turnaround, 100% refund if we miss it
Massage Therapists Career Kit β $19
- β All 13 interview questions with expert answers
- β 6 real questions aggregated from Glassdoor, Blind, Reddit, LinkedIn
- β Interview format intel for 6 top employers
- β 3 copy-paste salary negotiation emails
- β Resume bullets for every level of the career ladder
- β 30β60β90 day plan for your first role
- β Cover letter templates specific to this occupation
- β Detailed salary negotiation script
- β Ranked list of certifications with cost + ROI
- β Downloadable PDF for offline access
- β Instant access, no expiration, no subscription
One-time purchase. 7-day refund guarantee.
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βThe 30-60-90 day plan for a new grad RN was better than the orientation my hospital gave. Wish I'd bought this in nursing school.β
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Massage Therapists Salary by State
Best Cities (cost-adjusted) βSalary Map β Click a state for details
Top Paying States
| State | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $134,930 | +130.8% |
| Washington | $87,360 | +49.5% |
| Oregon | $86,970 | +48.8% |
| Hawaii | $81,280 | +39.1% |
| New Hampshire | $80,360 | +37.5% |
| Rhode Island | $74,960 | +28.2% |
| North Dakota | $74,140 | +26.8% |
| Maine | $73,290 | +25.4% |
| Michigan | $70,960 | +21.4% |
| District of Columbia | $64,110 | +9.7% |
Massage Therapists Salary by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| Fairbanks-College, AK | $130,590 | +123.4% |
| Pittsfield, MA | $102,120 | +74.7% |
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $96,820 | +65.6% |
| Salem, OR | $96,080 | +64.4% |
| Grants Pass, OR | $94,610 | +61.9% |
| Bend, OR | $94,580 | +61.8% |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $94,220 | +61.2% |
| Bozeman, MT | $85,670 | +46.6% |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $84,730 | +45.0% |
| Yakima, WA | $84,100 | +43.9% |