How to Become a Massage Therapist in Arizona (2026)

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Arizona employs about 2,530 massage therapists earning a median $62,400 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Training as a Massage Therapist here means completing a board-approved massage program that meets this state’s hour requirement, an exam (often MBLEx), and a state massage license where required, then applying through Board of Massage Therapy.

Compare Massage Therapist Schools in Arizona

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Earnings are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single trade. Distance is measured from the page's primary location.
#SchoolBOC Score (0–100)TuitionMedian grad earnings (all majors)Graduation rateOnlineDistance
158.6Contact school for pricing$23,96782%—64 mi
254.6Contact school for pricing$24,38875%—221 mi
352.7Contact school for pricing$58,19514%Yes*78 mi
452.2Contact school for pricing$70,264Not reported—74 mi
551.4Contact school for pricing$48,76525%Yes*35 mi
651.3Contact school for pricing$62,40522%Yes*164 mi
751.2Contact school for pricing$48,28622%Yes*194 mi
849.6Contact school for pricing$33,26173%—85 mi
949.3Contact school for pricing$38,251Not reportedYes*84 mi
1043.4Contact school for pricing$39,60964%—33 mi

Schools closest to the page's primary location are gathered first, then ranked by BOC Score; distance from the page's primary location is shown for reference. The BOC Score is an independent measure of school outcomes (graduation, earnings, net price, retention) expressed as a 0–100 percentile within each school's peer group; higher is better and advertising never affects it. *Online availability refers to coursework; hands-on trade training is completed in person. Read the full methodology.

Arizona employs approximately 2,530 massage therapists according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $62,400 1. The state’s concentration of massage therapist jobs is 1.23x 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 Arizona, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

  • Training paths: board-approved massage therapy program (find programs)
  • Typical timeline: a board-approved massage program that meets this state’s hour requirement, an exam (often MBLEx), and a state massage license where required
  • Licensing authority: Board of Massage Therapy
  • Exam: MBLEx or the exam the board uses
  • Median wage (Arizona): $62,400 per year 1

Quick Answers About How to Become a Massage Therapist in Arizona

How to become a Massage Therapist in Arizona? Complete a board-approved massage program that meets this state’s hour requirement, an exam (often MBLEx), and a state massage license where required. Apply through Board of Massage Therapy.

How long does it take? Most people finish a board-approved massage program that meets this state’s hour requirement, an exam (often MBLEx), and a state massage license where required. Confirm current hour totals with the program and Board of Massage Therapy.

Do I need a license in Arizona? Yes. Arizona credentials this role through Board of Massage Therapy 3. See the licensing section below.

What do massage therapists earn in Arizona? The median annual wage for massage therapists in Arizona is $62,400 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $37,800 and experienced professionals can earn $90,780 or more 1.

How to Become a Massage Therapist in Arizona

  1. Meet board entry rules. Confirm age and education rules with Board of Massage Therapy. Do not treat minimum age as years of work.
  2. Complete a board-approved massage program. Finish the hour requirement Board of Massage Therapy publishes. Confirm the current total with the board. This is not a DAS registered apprenticeship.
  3. Pass MBLEx or the state exam. Most states use MBLEx. Confirm with Board of Massage Therapy.
  4. Apply for the massage license. Apply to Board of Massage Therapy before taking paying clients where the state licenses massage.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the state board before you apply.

Massage Therapist License Requirements in Arizona

Massage therapists in Arizona complete board-approved hours, pass an exam (often MBLEx), and apply to Board of Massage Therapy where the state licenses the trade. See Board of Massage Therapy 3.

Typical path

  1. Complete a board-approved program.

  2. Pass MBLEx or the state exam.

  3. Apply to Board of Massage Therapy.

Hour totals, fees, and reciprocity rules change. Confirm current requirements with Board of Massage Therapy before you enroll.

Massage Therapist Wages by Metro Area in Arizona

Massage Therapists Wages by Metro Area in Arizona

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

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)		Experienced
(90th pctile)
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler1,890$63,080$66,270$37,790$95,490
Tucson340$58,610$60,330$46,960$78,820
Prescott Valley-Prescott110$79,600$72,570$54,960$85,670

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 .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for massage therapists in Arizona? Arizona currently employs approximately 2,530 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 Arizona with an out-of-state license? Contact the Board of Massage Therapy for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

What training programs are available in Arizona? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and state-approved training programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in Arizona.

How much do massage therapists earn in Arizona compared to the national average? The median annual wage for massage therapists in Arizona is $62,400, which is $4,450 above the national median of $57,950 according to BLS data 1.

In Arizona

Top local programs

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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

  1. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

  2. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎

  3. Board of Massage Therapy - Licensing Information: https://massagetherapy.az.gov/ ↩︎ ↩︎

Data sources

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

DataProviderVintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsMay 2025
Employment ProjectionsU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data SystemNational Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirementsCareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programsCareerOneStop / 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)