How to Become a Massage Therapist in Colorado (2026)

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Colorado employs about 3,950 massage therapists earning a median $61,060 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 Department of Regulatory Agencies - Division of Professions & Occupations - Massage Therapists.

Compare Massage Therapist Schools in Colorado

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Tuition is the published annual figure for the latest reported year and excludes room, board, books and fees. 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)Tuition (published, per year)Median grad earnings (all majors)Graduation rateOnlineDistance
184.8Contact school for pricing$47,35595%—150 mi
274.9Contact school for pricing$45,93597%—32 mi
361.3$4,663 in-state / $17,263 out-of-state$50,35335%Yes*31 mi
461.0Contact school for pricing$39,15584%—31 mi
552.9Contact school for pricing$28,68588%—324 mi
650.1Contact school for pricing$38,28684%—324 mi
746.6$1,851 in-state / $4,131 out-of-state$53,85523%Yes*286 mi
841.4$2,136 in-state / $5,136 out-of-state$59,81830%—233 mi
941.0Contact school for pricing$37,67263%—163 mi
10Not rated$11,764$32,338100%—26 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.

Colorado employs approximately 3,950 massage therapists according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $61,060 1. The state’s concentration of massage therapist jobs is 2.16x 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 Colorado, 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: [Department of Regulatory Agencies - Division of Professions & Occupations - Massage Therapists](https://Massage Therapy HOME | Division of Professions and Occupations)
  • Exam: MBLEx or the exam the board uses
  • Median wage (Colorado): $61,060 per year 1

Quick Answers About How to Become a Massage Therapist in Colorado

How to become a Massage Therapist in Colorado? 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 Department of Regulatory Agencies - Division of Professions & Occupations - Massage Therapists.

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 Department of Regulatory Agencies - Division of Professions & Occupations - Massage Therapists.

Do I need a license in Colorado? Yes. Colorado credentials this role through [Department of Regulatory Agencies - Division of Professions & Occupations - Massage Therapists](https://Massage Therapy HOME | Division of Professions and Occupations) 3. See the licensing section below.

What do massage therapists earn in Colorado? The median annual wage for massage therapists in Colorado is $61,060 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $35,990 and experienced professionals can earn $101,710 or more 1.

How to Become a Massage Therapist in Colorado

  1. Meet board entry rules. Confirm age and education rules with Department of Regulatory Agencies - Division of Professions & Occupations - Massage Therapists. Do not treat minimum age as years of work.
  2. Complete a board-approved massage program. Finish the hour requirement Department of Regulatory Agencies - Division of Professions & Occupations - Massage Therapists 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 Department of Regulatory Agencies - Division of Professions & Occupations - Massage Therapists.
  4. Apply for the massage license. Apply to Department of Regulatory Agencies - Division of Professions & Occupations - Massage Therapists 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 Colorado

Massage therapists in Colorado complete board-approved hours, pass an exam (often MBLEx), and apply to Department of Regulatory Agencies - Division of Professions & Occupations - Massage Therapists where the state licenses the trade. See [Department of Regulatory Agencies - Division of Professions & Occupations - Massage Therapists](https://Massage Therapy HOME | Division of Professions and Occupations) 3.

Typical path

  1. Complete a board-approved program.

  2. Pass MBLEx or the state exam.

  3. Apply to Department of Regulatory Agencies - Division of Professions & Occupations - Massage Therapists.

Hour totals, fees, and reciprocity rules change. Confirm current requirements with Department of Regulatory Agencies - Division of Professions & Occupations - Massage Therapists before you enroll.

Massage Therapist Wages by Metro Area in Colorado

Massage Therapists Wages by Metro Area in Colorado

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

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)		Experienced
(90th pctile)
Denver-Aurora-Centennial1,890$60,490$66,460$31,910$101,690
Colorado Springs630$60,030$71,720$37,510$101,650
Boulder420$71,870$81,480$55,090$125,010
Fort Collins-Loveland390$61,770$66,220$47,840$97,980
Greeley120$64,020$70,480$40,860$97,840
Grand Junction90$62,550$66,320$31,540$90,860
Pueblo40$60,410$68,330$49,830$92,040

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 Colorado? Colorado currently employs approximately 3,950 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 Colorado with an out-of-state license? Contact the [Department of Regulatory Agencies - Division of Professions & Occupations - Massage Therapists](https://Massage Therapy HOME | Division of Professions and Occupations) for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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

How much do massage therapists earn in Colorado compared to the national average? The median annual wage for massage therapists in Colorado is $61,060, which is $3,110 above the national median of $57,950 according to BLS data 1.

In Colorado

Top local programs

Related trades & nearby areas

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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. Department of Regulatory Agencies - Division of Professions & Occupations - Massage Therapists - Licensing Information: [https://Massage Therapy HOME | Division of Professions and Occupations](https://Massage Therapy HOME | Division of Professions and Occupations) ↩︎ ↩︎

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)