Massage Therapist Salary in Myrtle Beach, SC: $41,733 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time massage therapist in Myrtle Beach, SC earns a median $41,733/year (≈ $20.07/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 31-9011). Once you factor in Myrtle Beach's price level (6% below national, BEA RPP 93.6), that paycheck buys what $44,567 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 34.1% below the South Carolina state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In Myrtle Beach, SC, the projected compensation for massage therapists in 2026 shows a median annual salary of $41,733. This figure, derived from 2025 BLS OEWS data, illustrates a significant disparity when compared nationally, where the median salary reaches $61,975. The salary range for massage therapists in the area varies widely, from $16,159 at the 10th percentile to as much as $100,368 at the 90th percentile. While franchise establishments like Massage Envy and Hand & Stone provide a steady stream of clients, they often pay less than self-employed practitioners or those working in high-end spas. This structure allows for a diverse array of compensation possibilities within the local market, reflecting the varying demands and opportunities available to massage therapists in Myrtle Beach.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $16,159 | $7.77 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $18,386 | $8.84 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $41,733 | $20.07 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $65,516 | $31.50 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $100,368 | $48.25 |
Median Salary Position
32.66% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Myrtle Beach
In Myrtle Beach, SC, the massage therapist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $84,209 (2026 est.). At $41,733, the local median is 32.66% below the national median of $61,975.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Myrtle Beach: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Myrtle Beach Massage Therapist Pay Compares
Myrtle Beach median: $41,733/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Myrtle Beach Pays |
|---|---|---|
| South Carolina Average | $63,328 | -34.10% less |
| National Average | $61,975 | -32.66% less |
Massage Therapists in Myrtle Beach, SC earn a median of $41,733 per year (2026 est.), which is 32.66% lower than the national median of $61,975 and 34.10% below the South Carolina state average of $63,328.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Myrtle Beach has a cost of living 6.36% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Myrtle Beach, SC has a cost-of-living index of 93.642 (below the national average of 100). A massage therapist earning $41,733 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $44,567 in an average-cost city — an effective 6.79% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$28,835
2025 BLS Actual
$39,360
2026 Current Est.
$41,733
2019–2027 Growth
+53.5%
Salary Trajectory for Massage Therapists in Myrtle Beach (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 6.03% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $28,835 | Actual |
| 2020 | $34,990 | Actual |
| 2021 | $29,340 | Actual |
| 2022 | $40,850 | Actual |
| 2023 | $44,250 | Actual |
| 2024 | $49,840 | Actual |
| 2025 | $39,360 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $41,733 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $44,250 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Myrtle Beach metropolitan area, the median massage therapist salary grew 36.5% from $28,835 (2019) to $39,360 (2025). At a 6.03% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $44,250 by 2027 — a total increase of $15,415 (53.46%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Myrtle Beach 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) | $16,159 – $18,386 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $18,386 – $41,733 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $41,733 – $65,516 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $65,516 – $100,368 |
LMT salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual massage therapist compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Massage Therapist Job Market in Myrtle Beach
A total of 160 massage therapists are currently employed in Myrtle Beach, contributing to a growing job market projected to expand at an annual growth rate of 6.03%. Despite this growth, the cost-of-living index sits below the national average at 93.642, suggesting that therapists can maintain reasonable purchasing power even at lower salary thresholds. Among employers, high-end spas typically offer better pay compared to franchise chains. The disparity in wages results from several factors: self-employed therapists can earn significantly more per session, benefitting from 15-25% tips, while their franchise counterparts usually rely on a lower base rate. For those pursuing maximum earnings, cultivating specialty skills—such as prenatal or sports massage—and seeking independent practice opportunities can markedly enhance income potential in the Myrtle Beach market.
More salary data for Myrtle Beach, SC:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do massage therapists make in Myrtle Beach, SC in 2026?
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Can massage therapists make $100K in Myrtle Beach?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted massage therapist salary in Myrtle Beach?
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Related Pages
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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 $39,360 for massage therapistsin the Myrtle Beach 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