What Is a Massage Therapist’s Salary?

Wondering “How much do massage therapists make?” This article contains the up-to-date averages and variables that contribute to determining a massage therapist’s salary.

Massage therapists are in major demand—and that demand is only set to increase in coming years. As might be expected, along with the increase in demand for their services, massage therapists’ salary grew as well.

According to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the massage therapy field is projected to grow 18% between 2023 and 2033—which is significantly higher than the average growth rate for all occupations, which is just 4%.

This is great news if you’re thinking about becoming a massage therapist.

If you are considering entering the field of massage therapy, you’ll likely want to know: How much do massage therapists make?

Let’s take a look at the financial side of working as a massage therapist, including the average salary for massage therapists, where the highest compensation opportunities within massage therapy exist, and what you can do to boost your earning potential as a massage therapist.

What determines a massage therapist’s salary?

When it comes to answering questions like, “How much do massage therapists make per hour?”, or “How much do massage therapists make a year?”, the answer isn’t super straightforward. There are so many factors that come into play—and even for average compensation, the numbers vary.

For example, according to data from Payscale, in 2024, the average hourly rate for a massage therapist in the United States is around $26.59—and the average massage therapist’s salary is $44,459 per year.

Other  information from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows the median pay for a massage therapist in 2023 was $26.59 per hour and $53,310 per year.

That said, there are so many variables within the massage therapy industry that looking at the national averages and median salaries doesn’t really tell the full story.

Let’s take a look at some of the other factors that play into determining a massage therapist’s salary.

Location

The average massage therapist’s salary can vary widely based on location. For example, according to data from Indeed, these are the average hourly rates and annual salaries for massage therapists in five U.S. cities based on data from 2024:

Columbus, Ohio

• $37.25 per hour
• $55,110 per year

Orlando, FL

• $36.47 per hour
• $53,671 per year

Portland, OR

• $48.43 per hour
• $71,266 per year

Los Angeles, CA

• $40.80 per hour
• $60,047 per year

New York, NY

• $48.01 per hour
• $70,655 per year

If you’re a massage therapist in Orlando, you can expect to make, on average, $53,671 per year. However,if you were to move your practice to Portland, the average salary is $71,266—which is $17,595 higher. That said, your cost of living could also be significantly higher in Portland.

Clearly, location plays a major role in a massage therapist’s salary and compensation.

However, it’s also important to note that the actual compensation for a massage therapist can vary within a wide range—even in the same location.

How wide are the salary ranges?

For example, let’s take a look at the low and high end of the pay range within those same cities:

Columbus, Ohio

• Per hour: $20.43 (low) to $68.85 (high)
• Per year: $30,062 (low) to $101, 027 (high)

Orlando, FL

• Per hour: $20.99 (low) to $63.36 (high)
• Per year: $30,892 (low) to $93,247 (high)

Portland, OR

• Per hour: $30.82 (low) to $76.10 (high)
• Per year: $43,450 (low) to $111,994 (high)

Los Angeles, CA

• Per hour: $19.96 (low) to $83.41 (high)
• Per year: $29,373 (low) to $122,754 (high)

New York, NY

• Per hour: $24.39 (low) to $94.49 (high)
• Per year: $35,900 (low) to $139,058 (high)

Even within the same city, the salary for a massage therapist can differ by tens of thousands of dollars. For example, in New York, there is more than a $100,000 difference between the low pay range and high pay range for a massage therapist.

Experience level factors in

So, why do massage therapists’ salary numbers vary so much? The reality is that there are other factors at play that influence compensation—including experience level.

The starting pay for massage therapists is different from the salary for an experienced massage therapist. The newer you are, the less experience in massage therapy you have—and the less experience you have, the lower on the pay scale you’ll be.

“On average, new therapists can expect to make $35,000 to $45,000 per year, depending on their work environment,” says massage therapist Brendan Collins, LMT, owner of Healing Forest Massage in Woodstock, NY.

“As massage therapists gain experience, specialize in specific modalities, and build a client base, their annual income can rise significantly,” he says.

“Experienced therapists with 5 plus years in practice can make $60,000 to $80,000 [or more] per year—especially if they offer personalized or specialized treatments, such as deep tissue, Thai massage, or sports massage,” says Collins.

Work environment

There are a ton of different work structures for a massage therapist. For example, a massage therapist might work for a boutique spa, a national chain, or a hospital—or they might opt to become a private practitioner by starting a massage business and working with their own clients directly.

A massage therapist’s work environment can play a huge role in how much money they ultimately make.

Generally speaking, massage therapists that go into private practice have the highest income opportunity.

“Massage therapists who are self-employed have the advantage of controlling their own pricing structure,” Collins says. “They can also benefit from building strong client relationships and offering packages or memberships for long-term clients, which can stabilize income and promote client loyalty.”

The compensation at various establishments, or clinical settings, can also vastly differ. For example, experienced massage therapists might make more working for a high-end spa than a national chain that may charge lower rates. Similarly, a massage therapist who works in a medical setting (like sports massage at a physical therapist’s office) may make more than a therapist working in a more general massage business.

How to increase your earning potential as a massage therapist

Clearly, there is a lot of variability to consider when asking the question How much do massage therapists make?.. So, what can you do to increase your earning potential and make more money?

Invest in ongoing education

If you want to be a successful massage therapist, the learning doesn’t end after massage school graduation.

“Therapists who invest in continuing education to expand their skill set can charge premium rates, further increasing their earning potential,” says Collins.

Ideally, focus your continuing education in “specializing in high-demand techniques,” says Collins, like sports massage or medical massage. Specializing in an in-demand modality can not only help you attract more clients, but charge higher rates.

“Therapists…with specialized training can earn more,” he says.

Offer add-ons

Another way to increase compensation is to have a base massage price—and then offer add-ons for an additional cost. For example, you might charge $80 an hour for a massage—but an extra $15 to use hot stones or incorporate aromatherapy into the massage.

According to Collins, you might also consider adding holistic services, like sound therapy, nutrition counseling, or other wellness modalities.

Get creative

Sometimes, a bit of creativity goes a long way.

Think about different ways that you can market yourself, different types of clients you can serve, and different services you can offer that would justify a premium price.

“[Consider] expanding to corporate clients or offering mobile services, which command higher rates,” recommends Collins.

Sources

• Indeed. Massage therapist salary in Portland, OR.
• Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2024). Occupational Outlook Handbook: Massage Therapists.
• Indeed. Massage therapist salary in Los Angeles, CA.
• Indeed. Massage therapist salary in New York, NY.
• Payscale. Average Massage Therapist Hourly Pay.
• Indeed. Massage therapist salary in Columbus, OH.
• Indeed. Massage therapist salary in Orlando, FL.

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