"How long does it take to become a massage therapist in Alaska?"

"Most paths into the massage therapist field take 1 to 5 years, depending on whether you complete a trade school program, a registered apprenticeship, or a combination of both."

"Do massage therapists need a license in Alaska?"

"Yes. Alaska requires state-level licensing or registration for massage therapists, administered by the Alaska Department of Commerce, Community \u0026 Economic Development - Board of Massage Therapists. See the licensing section above for credential types and current requirements."

"What apprenticeships are available for massage therapists in Alaska?"

"In Alaska, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development - Registered Apprenticeship, which works with employers and trade union locals to register programs. See the apprenticeship section above for office contact details."

How to Become A Massage Therapist in Alaska

Q: "How much do massage therapists earn in Alaska?"

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), massage therapists in Alaska earned a median annual wage of approximately $134,930. Employment concentration in Alaska is about 2.78 times the national average for this occupation."

Q: "What is the job outlook for massage therapists in Alaska?"

"Alaska currently employs approximately 570 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 15.4% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034."

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Alaska massage therapists earn a median annual wage of $134,930 ($64.87/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 570 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 130.8% above the national median of $58,450 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $134,930 ($64.87/hr)
25th percentile: $104,000 per year
75th percentile: $139,210 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $161,400 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $34,140 per year
Workers employed in Alaska: 570
Versus national median: 130.8% above the U.S. median of $58,450
Job concentration: Location quotient 2.78 - this occupation is more concentrated in Alaska than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed June 8, 2026.

Alaska employs approximately 570 massage therapists according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $134,930 ¹. The state’s concentration of massage therapist jobs is 2.78x the national average, indicating strong demand. Nationally, massage therapist employment is projected to grow 15.4% from 2024 to 2034, with about 24,700 openings per year ². This page covers how to become a massage therapist in Alaska, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming A Massage Therapist in Alaska

How do I become a massage therapist in Alaska? Alaska requires credentials such as Massage Therapist, Massage Practitioner in Municipality of Anchorage. The licensing authority is the Alaska Department of Commerce, Community & Economic Development - Board of Massage Therapists ³. You also need to complete an approved training program or apprenticeship.

How long does it take? Most paths take 1 to 5 years depending on whether you choose trade school, an apprenticeship, or a combination of both.

Do I need a license in Alaska? Yes. Alaska has licensing or registration requirements for massage therapists. The Alaska Department of Commerce, Community & Economic Development - Board of Massage Therapists oversees licensing ³. See the licensing section below for details.

What do massage therapists earn in Alaska? The median annual wage for massage therapists in Alaska is $134,930 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $34,140 and experienced professionals can earn $161,400 or more ¹.

At a Glance

Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
Licensing authority: Alaska Department of Commerce, Community & Economic Development - Board of Massage Therapists
Median wage (Alaska): $134,930 per year ¹

Massage Therapist License Requirements in Alaska

The Alaska Department of Commerce, Community & Economic Development - Board of Massage Therapists oversees massage therapist licensing in Alaska ³.

License Types

License	Requirements
Massage Therapist	Application $200 License $290 Fingerprint $60
Massage Practitioner in Municipality of Anchorage	License/Exam Fees: One Year License $100 Biennial renewal $100 - Renews October 1st Licensing Requirements: Must be 18 years of age or older with official identification Graduate of a post-secondary e…

License information sourced from CareerOneStop ⁴.

Massage Therapist Wages by Metro Area in Alaska

Massage Therapists Wages by Metro Area in Alaska

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025 OES data), massage therapists wages in Alaska vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Anchorage	430	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Fairbanks-College	50	$130,590	$116,560	$34,120	$159,620
La Crosse-Onalaska	50	$61,050	$61,180	$19,350	$86,060

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025.

Top Metros for Massage therapists in Alaska

The metropolitan areas listed below report the highest massage therapist employment within Alaska according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025).

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Anchorage	430	n/a
Fairbanks-College	50	$130,590

Explore massage therapist programs in Anchorage and Fairbanks.

Explore More Trades in Alaska

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for massage therapists in Alaska? Alaska currently employs approximately 570 massage therapists ¹. Nationally, massage therapist employment is projected to grow 15.4% from 2024 to 2034 ².

Can I work as a massage therapist in Alaska with an out-of-state license? Contact the Alaska Department of Commerce, Community & Economic Development - Board of Massage Therapists for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

What training programs are available in Alaska? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for accredited programs in Alaska.

How much do massage therapists earn in Alaska compared to the national average? The median annual wage for massage therapists in Alaska is $134,930, which is $76,980 above the national median of $57,950 according to BLS data ¹.

Citations

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Alaska Department of Commerce, Community & Economic Development - Board of Massage Therapists - Licensing Information: https://www.commerce.alaska.gov/web/cbpl/ProfessionalLicensing/BoardofMassageTherapists.aspx ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
CareerOneStop - Licensed Occupations: https://www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Training/find-licenses.aspx ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

Data	Provider	Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	May 2025
Employment Projections	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System	National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)	2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirements	CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programs	CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)	U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)	O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)