Highest Paying States for Massage Therapists (2026): Where LMTs Earn the Most
The highest paying state for massage therapists is Hawaii at $95,529 average median salary in 2026, based on BLS OEWS data across 52 states and 1674+ metro areas. LMT pay varies from Puerto Rico ($31,565) to Hawaii ($95,529) — driven by spa vs medical vs sports vs private practice mix, NCBTMB cert, and state licensure.
Best States for Massage Therapist Salary: 2026 Rankings
Massage therapist (LMT) pay variance is driven by setting (spa vs medical vs sports vs private practice vs cruise ship), MBLEx + state license, NCBTMB cert, COL, and self-employment tax structure. Hawaii leads at $95,529, Puerto Rico sits at $31,565.
Top-Tier States
- Alaska ($75,000-$92,000) — chronic shortage + no state income tax + cruise ship + IHS premium.
- Washington ($68,000-$82,000) — Seattle + no state income tax + medical massage premium.
- Hawaii ($65,000-$80,000) — resort + shortage + HCOL.
- Oregon ($60,000-$75,000) — Portland + medical massage Oregon DC scope.
- Massachusetts ($58,000-$72,000) — Boston spa + medical.
- Vermont ($55,000-$68,000) — ski resort + spa.
Mid-Tier Markets
- California ($55,000-$72,000) — SF Bay Area / LA / San Diego spa + medical.
- Nevada ($55,000-$68,000) — Las Vegas resort + no state income tax.
- Connecticut ($52,000-$65,000) — Fairfield + spa.
- New York ($52,000-$68,000) — NYC spa + private practice.
- Colorado ($50,000-$62,000) — Denver + Aspen / Vail ski resort.
- Florida ($45,000-$58,000) — Miami / Tampa spa + cruise + no state income tax.
Setting Premium Markets
- Medical massage (physician practice, PT clinic) — premium clinical.
- Sports massage (D1, pro sports, training facility) — premium specialty.
- Spa / resort (luxury hotel, destination) — premium + tip income.
- Cruise ship LMT (premium $50,000-$80,000 + tips) — premium with limited expenses.
- Private practice (LMT-owned) — equity premium.
- Chiropractic / multi-disciplinary clinic — premium.
- Oncology massage specialty — premium niche.
- Prenatal / pediatric specialty — premium niche.
- Mobile massage / on-call — premium per-visit.
2026 State Ranking Methodology
Rankings reflect 2026 projected median from BLS OEWS 2025. BLS data excludes tip income — actual take-home in spa / resort + cruise often 30-50% higher than reported median. Setting + private practice ownership materially shift ceiling.
2019 BLS
$42,820
2025 BLS
$58,450
2026 Current Est.
$61,975
2019–2027 Growth
+53.5%
National Average for Context
2019–2025: BLS OEWS actual data. 2026+: CAGR 6.03% projection.
| Year | Median Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $42,820 | Actual |
| 2020 | $43,620 | Actual |
| 2021 | $46,910 | Actual |
| 2022 | $49,860 | Actual |
| 2023 | $55,310 | Actual |
| 2024 | $57,950 | Actual |
| 2025 | $58,450 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $61,975 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $65,712 | Projected |
Understanding the national salary trend helps contextualize state-level differences. The national median provides a baseline for comparing how each state's massage therapist pay stacks up.
Note: BLS actual data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. Estimated and projected values are calculated using a 6.03% historical CAGR. Actual compensation may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Top 10 Highest Paying States for Massage Therapists
What Drives State-Level Massage Therapist Pay Differences
Five primary factors explain LMT state-level pay variance.
1. Setting Mix: Spa / Medical / Sports / Private (30-40%)
- Medical massage (PT clinic, physician) — premium clinical.
- Sports massage (D1, pro sports) — premium specialty.
- Spa / resort (luxury, destination) — premium + tips.
- Cruise ship LMT — premium total + limited expenses.
- Private practice (LMT-owned) — equity premium.
- Chiropractic / multi-disciplinary — premium.
- Franchise (Massage Envy, Hand & Stone) — base + tips.
- Mobile / on-call — premium per-visit.
2. Cost of Living (20-30%)
- HCOL markets command premium.
- RPP from BEA — CA 113, MS 86.
- COL-adjusted real income — Texas / Tennessee net often beat California.
3. Tip Culture + Resort Density (15-25%)
- BLS median excludes tips — actual take-home 30-50% higher.
- Resort destinations (HI, AK, VT, CO) — premium tip culture.
- Luxury hotel spa (Four Seasons, Ritz-Carlton) — premium.
- Cruise ship gratuity model — premium.
- Self-employed independent — full booking rate retention.
4. MBLEx + State License (10-15%)
- MBLEx (Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination) — universal entry in most states.
- State LMT license — required in 46+ states.
- NCBTMB cert — premium credential.
- State endorsement — varies.
- BLS / CPR cert — required.
- Specialty cert (oncology, prenatal, sports) — premium.
5. State Income Tax (5-10% take-home)
- No state income tax — AK, WA, TX, FL, TN, NV, SD, WY, NH.
- High state income tax — CA, NY, OR, NJ, MN, HI.
- NYC + Philadelphia local — additional.
- Self-employment SE tax — 15.3% — for 1099 LMTs.
Where Do Massage Therapists Get Paid the Most?
Complete ranking of all 52 states by average massage therapist salary. Click any state to see city-level breakdowns and detailed data.
| Rank | State | Avg Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hawaii | $95,529 |
| 2 | Alaska | $94,637 |
| 3 | Washington | $94,096 |
| 4 | Oregon | $91,604 |
| 5 | Maine | $78,970 |
| 6 | New Hampshire | $76,926 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $74,020 |
| 8 | Minnesota | $73,978 |
| 9 | Michigan | $73,555 |
| 10 | Kentucky | $69,532 |
| 11 | District of Columbia | $69,153 |
| 12 | North Carolina | $67,092 |
| 13 | Maryland | $67,037 |
| 14 | Utah | $67,007 |
| 15 | North Dakota | $66,883 |
| 16 | Arizona | $66,195 |
| 17 | New Jersey | $66,158 |
| 18 | Colorado | $65,656 |
| 19 | Connecticut | $65,279 |
| 20 | Iowa | $65,055 |
| 21 | Illinois | $64,536 |
| 22 | Montana | $64,269 |
| 23 | Rhode Island | $63,369 |
| 24 | Virginia | $61,783 |
| 25 | Texas | $61,624 |
| 26 | Pennsylvania | $61,450 |
| 27 | Missouri | $60,875 |
| 28 | Idaho | $60,559 |
| 29 | Wisconsin | $60,551 |
| 30 | South Carolina | $59,943 |
| 31 | Wyoming | $58,762 |
| 32 | Ohio | $58,149 |
| 33 | Indiana | $57,751 |
| 34 | Nebraska | $56,703 |
| 35 | Nevada | $56,117 |
| 36 | New York | $56,113 |
| 37 | South Dakota | $56,080 |
| 38 | Georgia | $54,654 |
| 39 | Delaware | $53,242 |
| 40 | Tennessee | $52,636 |
| 41 | Florida | $52,442 |
| 42 | Kansas | $52,411 |
| 43 | Vermont | $51,791 |
| 44 | Alabama | $51,018 |
| 45 | California | $48,845 |
| 46 | West Virginia | $47,635 |
| 47 | Mississippi | $46,392 |
| 48 | New Mexico | $45,789 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $45,024 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $43,965 |
| 51 | Louisiana | $38,015 |
| 52 | Puerto Rico | $31,565 |
Lowest Paying States for Massage Therapists
Even the lowest-paying states offer massage therapist salaries well above the national average for all occupations. Here are the 5 lowest-paying states:
Top Earner Potential by State
The 90th percentile represents what experienced, highly-skilled massage therapists earn in each state. These are the 10 states with the highest earning ceilings:
| # | State | Top Earner (P90) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hawaii | $162,927 |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $140,225 |
| 3 | Washington | $129,643 |
| 4 | Alaska | $129,235 |
| 5 | Maine | $127,791 |
| 6 | Rhode Island | $124,868 |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | $120,382 |
| 8 | Nevada | $119,924 |
| 9 | New Hampshire | $114,561 |
| 10 | New Jersey | $114,310 |
How to Move to a Higher-Paying State for Massage Therapist Work
Relocating for LMT pay requires balancing nominal salary against setting (medical vs spa vs sports), tip culture, COL, and state license.
1. Verify MBLEx + State License + NCBTMB
- MBLEx — universal entry in most states.
- State LMT license — required in 46+ states.
- NCBTMB cert — premium credential.
- State endorsement — 4-12 weeks.
- 500-1000 hour CAMTC / state-approved program — varies.
- BLS / CPR cert — required.
- Specialty cert (oncology, prenatal, sports) — premium.
- Background check + fingerprint — typical.
2. Calculate Real Take-Home, Not Nominal (Include Tips)
- BLS median + tips estimate — actual 30-50% higher in spa / resort.
- State + local income tax — effective rate.
- Self-employment SE tax (1099) — 15.3% for independents.
- Property + sales tax — TX tradeoff.
- Health + benefits — varies by setting (often DIY for 1099).
- Booking cost + chair rental — major for 1099.
- Cruise ship: limited living expenses — premium net.
3. Target Medical / Sports / Resort Premium
- Medical massage (PT clinic, physician practice) — premium clinical.
- Sports massage (D1, pro sports, training) — premium specialty.
- Luxury hotel / resort spa — premium + tips.
- Cruise ship LMT — premium total.
- Chiropractic / multi-disciplinary clinic — premium.
- Private practice / LMT-owned — equity premium.
- Oncology massage specialty — premium niche.
- Mobile massage — premium per-visit.
4. Negotiate Setting Terms
- Franchise vs spa vs medical comparison — franchise lower base + tip arbitrage.
- Tip pool vs individual — verify structure.
- Booking fee / commission split — verify.
- Chair rental (1099) — verify.
- Health + benefits — W-2 standard, 1099 DIY.
- Specialty stipend (oncology, prenatal, sports) — premium.
- Continuing education stipend — required for cert.
- Sign-on bonus (franchise, large spa) — sometimes offered.
5. Choose Setting Based on Career Plan
- Medical massage (clinical premium) — premium long-term.
- Sports massage (D1, pro sports) — premium specialty.
- Luxury hotel / resort spa — premium tip culture.
- Cruise ship LMT — premium total + limited expenses.
- Chiropractic / multi-disciplinary — premium.
- Private practice (LMT-owned) — equity premium long-term wealth.
- Oncology specialty — premium niche.
- Mobile / on-call massage — premium per-visit.
- Massage school instructor — premium academic.
- Spa owner / multi-LMT practice — premier equity path.
Additional Geographic + Lifestyle Considerations
- Climate fit + lifestyle preference — extreme heat (TX, FL, AZ) vs winter (MN, ME, AK) — major lifestyle differential beyond paycheck.
- School district quality (for families with children) — major hidden cost. Top suburban districts in NJ / NY / MA / CA add significant value.
- Healthcare access + cost-of-living index — verify metro-specific data on BLS / BEA.
- Spousal employment market — coordinate timing with partner career.
- Aging parent proximity — major life consideration.
- Network + alumni density (professional + social) — major.
- Recreation + outdoor access — varies dramatically by state.
- State + local political climate fit — major lifestyle differential.
More Salary Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
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Written by Jordan Lee, LMT
Career Analyst
Jordan Lee has 10 years of experience in massage therapy. They specialize in sports massage. They work in a wellness center.
Methodology & Data Source
State salary rankings on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. A 6.03% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to each state's average salary. Cost-of-living adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parity data. Individual pay varies by city, employer, certifications, and experience.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS , released .
Compiled and verified by Jordan Lee, LMT, a licensed massage therapist with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov