Massage Therapist Salary in Kahului, HI: $102,658 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time massage therapist in Kahului, HI earns a median $102,658/year (≈ $49.36/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 31-9011). Once you factor in Kahului's price level (9% above national, BEA RPP 109.4), that paycheck buys what $93,843 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 38.8% above the Hawaii state average.
Official BLS data · View source
The projected median annual income for massage therapists in Kahului, Hawaii, is $102,658, significantly higher than the national average of $61,975. The salary range varies widely from $33,018 at the lower end to $179,382 at the high end. These figures, based on 2025 BLS OEWS data, projected to 2026, reflect the potential for self-employed practitioners to earn substantially through cash-pay models. Therapists operating independently can leverage their service rates, but they must contend with overhead costs and the need for personal marketing to attract clients. This compensation structure marks Kahului's job market as one with varied opportunities for established professionals and newcomers alike.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $33,018 | $15.87 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $64,021 | $30.78 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $102,658 | $49.36 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $155,800 | $74.90 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $179,382 | $86.24 |
Median Salary Position
65.64% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Kahului
In Kahului, HI, the massage therapist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $146,364 (2026 est.). At $102,658, the local median is 65.64% above the national median of $61,975.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Kahului: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Kahului Massage Therapist Pay Compares
Kahului median: $102,658/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Kahului Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii Average | $73,961 | +38.80% more |
| National Average | $61,975 | +65.64% more |
Massage Therapists in Kahului, HI earn a median of $102,658 per year (2026 est.), which is 65.64% higher than the national median of $61,975 and 38.80% above the Hawaii state average of $73,961.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Kahului has a cost of living 9.39% above the national average.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Kahului, HI has a cost-of-living index of 109.393 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $102,658 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $93,843 — a 8.59% reduction.
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2019 BLS Actual
$68,870
2025 BLS Actual
$96,820
2026 Current Est.
$102,658
2019–2027 Growth
+58.0%
Salary Trajectory for Massage Therapists in Kahului (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 6.03% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $68,870 | Actual |
| 2020 | $68,350 | Actual |
| 2021 | $61,180 | Actual |
| 2022 | $66,000 | Actual |
| 2023 | $91,619 | Actual |
| 2024 | $65,762 | Actual |
| 2025 | $96,820 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $102,658 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $108,849 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Kahului metropolitan area, the median massage therapist salary grew 40.6% from $68,870 (2019) to $96,820 (2025). At a 6.03% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $108,849 by 2027 — a total increase of $39,979 (58.05%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Kahului metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 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.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $33,018 – $64,021 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $64,021 – $102,658 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $102,658 – $155,800 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $155,800 – $179,382 |
LMT salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual massage therapist compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Massage Therapist Job Market in Kahului
With approximately 330 massage therapists currently employed in Kahului, the local job market exhibits solid demand. However, the cost of living, measured at a 109.393 index, suggests that take-home pay may stretch less than in other regions. High-paying roles typically emerge from employment in luxury spas, chiropractic clinics, or hospital integrative medicine programs, whereas franchise chains like Massage Envy and Hand & Stone tend to offer lower wages. Factors contributing to the substantial pay gap include employment status—self-employed therapists often earn more per session compared to those working for franchises—and the potential for additional income through tips, especially in upscale settings. For practitioners looking to optimize their earnings in Kahului, specializing in high-demand areas such as sports or prenatal therapy, combined with a strong personal brand and marketing strategy, can be vital steps towards increasing massage therapist pay in Kahului, HI.
More salary data for Kahului, HI:
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
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. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $96,820 for massage therapistsin the Kahului metropolitan area. A 6.03% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 6-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