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Massage therapists

Salary, job outlook, AI risk & career information

Massage therapists in the United States earn a median salary of $58,450 per year — about $28 per hour, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Roughly 168K people work in this occupation nationwide, with projected employment growth of +15%.

Median Salary

$58,450

~$28/hr · ~$4,871/mo

US Jobs

168K

Much faster than average

AI & Automation Risk

2/10

Safe

AI & Automation Risk

Safe 2/10

The core of this occupation is highly physical, requiring manual manipulation of soft tissues and real-time human empathy in a physical setting. While AI can assist with peripheral administrative tasks like scheduling, marketing, and documentation, it cannot replace the tactile skill and physical presence required for massage therapy.

Salary by City — What You Actually Take Home

Real purchasing power = salary adjusted for cost of living. Higher = more money in your pocket.

City	Local Salary	Cost of Living	Real Purchasing Power
Fairbanks-College, AKBEST VALUE	$130,590	Above avg (103.2)	$126,531
Pittsfield, MA	$102,120	Below avg (95.1)	$107,375
Grants Pass, OR	$94,610	Average (97.8)	$96,778
Salem, OR	$96,080	Above avg (103.6)	$92,697
Bend, OR	$94,580	Above avg (103.6)	$91,287
Kahului-Wailuku, HI	$96,820	Above avg (109.4)	$88,507
Sheboygan, WI	$83,200	Below avg (94.0)	$88,497
Yakima, WA	$84,100	Below avg (95.5)	$88,021
State College, PA	$82,490	Below avg (96.8)	$85,250
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	$94,220	Above avg (111.1)	$84,781
Wilmington, NC	$81,390	Below avg (96.4)	$84,410
Bozeman, MT	$85,670	Average (102.5)	$83,572
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA	$76,090	Below avg (91.7)	$82,976
Eugene-Springfield, OR	$83,880	Average (101.6)	$82,585
Lexington-Fayette, KY	$76,250	Below avg (92.9)	$82,087