Massage Therapist Pay

Massage Therapist Salary in Arizona: $66,195 (2026)

Quick Answer:Across Arizona's 33 metropolitan areas, the average median massage therapist pay sits at $66,195/year heading into 2026 — a figure projected from 2025 BLS OEWS wage data for SOC 31-9011. Because Arizona sits at BEA RPP 98.5 (1% below the U.S. baseline), that statewide median translates to roughly $67,203 in nationally-comparable purchasing power. Highest-paying metros: Prescott Valley ($79,600), Prescott ($79,177), Chandler ($63,522).

Massage Therapist Salary in Arizona - 2025 BLS Data Infographic
Arizona massage therapist salary overview (2026)
$66,195
Avg Median Salary
$31.83
Avg Hourly Rate
2,964
Metro Employed
33
Cities

In 2026, the average median salary for massage therapists in Arizona is projected to be $66,195, which is 6.8% higher than the national median of $61,975. The salary range across the state varies significantly, with Prescott Valley offering the highest pay at $84,400 and Sedona providing the lowest at $57,306. This $27,094 difference can be attributed to several factors, including cost of living, local demand for services, and competition among employers. Arizona requires massage therapists to obtain state licensure, which includes education and training requirements that can influence earning potential. The state's growing population and wellness trends serve as key demand drivers, contributing to a positive job market outlook. With a projected annual growth rate of 6.03% for massage therapy positions, opportunities are expected to increase, particularly in urban areas like Prescott Valley, Prescott, Chandler, Phoenix, and Mesa, where salaries are forecasted to be among the highest in the state. Overall, Arizona's massage therapy field presents a favorable environment for both entry-level professionals and those with experience, given the projected salary trends and job growth.

Arizona Massage Therapist Salary Range

Entry Level (10th %ile)
$41,217
avg across 33 cities
Median
$66,195
state average
Top Earners (90th %ile)
$98,111
avg across 33 cities

Overall salary range in Arizona: $33,237 (lowest entry-level) to $130,124 (highest top earner)

Arizona vs National Average

Arizona
$66,195
National Median
$61,975

Arizona massage therapists earn 6.81% more than the national median (+$4,220/year difference).

Arizona Massage Therapist Salary Distribution (2026)

Vertical bar chart showing Arizona massage therapist salary percentiles: 10th percentile $41,217, 25th $52,773, Median $66,195, 75th $77,213, 90th $98,111. US national median is $61,975.$27.5K$54.9K$82.4K$109.9K$41.2K10thEntry Level$52.8K25thEarly Career$66.2KMedianMid Career$77.2K75thExperienced$98.1K90thTop EarnerUS Median $62.0K

Massage Therapist salaries in Arizona range from $41,217 (entry-level, 10th percentile) to $98,111 (top earners, 90th percentile), with a median of $66,195. The Arizona median is $4,220 above the US national median of $61,975. The average hourly rate is $31.83/hr. Approximately 2,964 massage therapists are employed across 33 cities.

2019 BLS Actual

$41,015

2025 BLS Actual

$62,430

2026 Current Est.

$66,195

2019–2027 Growth

+71.1%

Salary Trajectory for Massage Therapists in Arizona (20192027)

2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 6.03% projection.

BLS Actual Estimated Projected
Salary trajectory chart for massage therapists in Arizona. Baseline $41,015 in 2025, projected to $70,186 by 2027.$35.2K$45.4K$55.6K$65.8K$76.0K2019202020212022202320242025202620272025 BLS$41.0K$43.2K$45.8K$50.1K$61.2K$56.4K$62.4K$66.2K$70.2K
YearAnnual SalaryStatus
2019$41,015Actual
2020$43,184Actual
2021$45,835Actual
2022$50,096Actual
2023$61,155Actual
2024$56,352Actual
2025$62,430Actual
2026(current)$66,195Estimated
2027$70,186Projected

Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Arizona metropolitan area, the median massage therapist salary grew 52.2% from $41,015 (2019) to $62,430 (2025). At a 6.03% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $70,186 by 2027 — a total increase of $29,171 (71.12%) from 2019.

Note: Historical values (20192025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Arizona metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 20262026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 6.03% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.

Top 5 Highest Paying Cities in Arizona

#1
Prescott Valley
110 employed · $40.58/hr
$84,400
+27.50% vs avg
#2
Prescott
9 employed · $40.37/hr
$83,951
+26.82% vs avg
#3
Chandler
49 employed · $32.38/hr
$67,352
+1.75% vs avg
#4
Phoenix
1,890 employed · $32.16/hr
$66,884
+1.04% vs avg
#5
Mesa
98 employed · $32.00/hr
$66,560
+0.55% vs avg

Lowest Paying Cities in Arizona

CityMedian Salary
Sedona$57,306
Nogales$57,503
Oro Valley$57,866
Sierra Vista$58,401
Apache Junction$58,856

Best Value Cities for Massage Therapists in Arizona

When adjusted for local cost of living, these Arizona cities offer the most purchasing power for massage therapists.

CityNominal SalaryCoL IndexAdjusted Salary
Prescott Valley$84,40098.255$85,899
Prescott$83,95198.5$85,229
Chandler$67,35298.5$68,378
Mesa$66,56098.5$67,574
Scottsdale$64,33398.5$65,313

Adjusted salary = nominal salary × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average. Lower index = lower cost of living.

Salary by Experience Level in Arizona

Experience LevelEstimated Annual
Entry Level (0-2 years)$41,217
Mid Career (3-7 years)$66,195
Experienced (7+ years)$98,111

Estimates based on BLS percentile data averaged across Arizona metro areas. Individual pay varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.

All 33 Cities in Arizona

#CityMedian Salary
1Prescott Valley$84,400
2Prescott$83,951
3Chandler$67,352
4Phoenix$66,884
5Mesa$66,560
6Scottsdale$64,333
7Glendale$64,106
8Gilbert$62,592
9Peoria$62,388
10Tucson$62,144
11Maricopa$61,877
12Avondale$61,786
13Marana$61,554
14Yuma$61,510
15San Tan Valley$61,374
16Tempe$61,302
17Surprise$60,913
18Goodyear$60,819
19Lake Havasu City$60,577
20Queen Creek$60,562
21Buckeye$59,997
22Flagstaff$59,595
23Florence$59,590
24Casa Grande$59,460
25Bullhead City$59,452
26El Mirage$59,187
27Kingman$59,041
28Sahuarita$58,931
29Apache Junction$58,856
30Sierra Vista$58,401
31Oro Valley$57,866
32Nogales$57,503
33Sedona$57,306

More Arizona Salary Data

Hourly Rates

Explore massage therapist hourly pay in Arizona cities.

Entry Level

Starting salaries for new massage therapists.

Senior / Experienced

Top earner salaries for experienced massage therapists.

Compare Cities in Arizona

View all comparisons →

Explore More Massage Therapist Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do massage therapists make in Arizona in 2026?

The average median massage therapist salary in Arizona is $66,195/year across 33 metro areas, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Salaries range from $57,306 in Sedona to $84,400 in Prescott Valley. This makes Arizona one of the higher-paying states, at 6.81% above the national median of $61,975. The state employs approximately 2,964 massage therapists.

What is the highest paying city for massage therapists in Arizona?

Prescott Valley offers the highest massage therapist salary in Arizona at $84,400/year ($40.58/hr), based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). The top 3 highest-paying cities are Prescott Valley ($84,400), Prescott ($83,951), Chandler ($67,352). Higher pay in these metros is typically driven by cost of living, demand for massage therapy services, and competition among employers for licensed massage therapists.

How does Arizona massage therapist pay compare to the national average?

Arizona's average massage therapist salary of $66,195 is 6.81% above the national median of $61,975 in 2026. The state employs approximately 2,964 massage therapists across 33 metropolitan areas. When comparing salaries, consider cost-of-living differences — a lower nominal salary in an affordable area may provide better purchasing power than a higher salary in an expensive metro.

What is the entry-level massage therapist salary in Arizona?

Entry-level massage therapists (10th percentile) in Arizona earn approximately $41,217/year on average, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Starting salaries range from $33,237 in lower-paying areas to $58,274 in the highest-paying metros. New graduates should expect salaries at the lower end and can typically reach the area median within 3–5 years of clinical experience.

How many massage therapists are employed in Arizona?

Arizona employs approximately 2,964 massage therapists across 33 metropolitan areas, based on the latest BLS data. Job availability varies by metro area, with larger cities offering more opportunities. Demand continues to grow as the massage therapy field expands and the population ages.

Which Arizona city offers the best value for massage therapists?

When adjusted for cost of living, Prescott Valley offers the highest purchasing power for massage therapists in Arizona, with an adjusted salary of $85,899 (nominal: $84,400, CoL index: 98.255). This means your dollar goes 2% further compared to the national average, making it an attractive option for maximizing real income.
JL

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.

Clinically reviewed by Amina Patel, LMTData verified by Carlos Ramirez, LMT

Methodology & Data Source

Statewide salary figures 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 metro area's reported salary to estimate current 2026 massage therapist compensation across Arizona. State averages are employment-weighted across 33 metro areas — larger metro areas with more massage therapistscontribute proportionally more to the average, producing figures that better reflect typical compensation. Individual pay varies by city, employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.

2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.03%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for massage therapists (SOC 31-9011).

Compiled and verified by Jordan Lee, LMT, a licensed massage therapist with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov

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