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

"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 Colorado?"

"Yes. Colorado requires state-level licensing or registration for massage therapists, administered by the Department of Regulatory Agencies - Massage Therapists. See the licensing section above for credential types and current requirements."

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

"In Colorado, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Department of Employment Services - 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 Colorado

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

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), massage therapists in Colorado earned a median annual wage of approximately $61,060. Employment concentration in Colorado is about 2.16 times the national average for this occupation."

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

"Colorado currently employs approximately 3,950 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

Colorado massage therapists earn a median annual wage of $61,060 ($29.36/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 3,950 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 4.5% above the national median of $58,450 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $61,060 ($29.36/hr)
25th percentile: $52,900 per year
75th percentile: $84,100 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $101,710 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $35,990 per year
Workers employed in Colorado: 3,950
Versus national median: 4.5% above the U.S. median of $58,450
Job concentration: Location quotient 2.16 - this occupation is more concentrated in Colorado than the national average

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

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.

Quick Answers About Becoming A Massage Therapist in Colorado

How do I become a massage therapist in Colorado? Colorado requires credentials such as Massage Therapists. The licensing authority is the Department of Regulatory Agencies - Massage Therapists. 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 Colorado? Yes. Colorado has licensing or registration requirements for massage therapists. See the licensing section below for details.

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.

At a Glance

Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
Licensing authority: Department of Regulatory Agencies - Massage Therapists
Median wage (Colorado): $61,060 per year ¹
Exam requirement: Third-party exam required

Massage Therapist License Requirements in Colorado

The Department of Regulatory Agencies - Massage Therapists oversees massage therapist licensing in Colorado.

License Types

License	Requirements
Massage Therapists	The Office of Massage Therapy Licensure (Division Director)regulates individual massage therapists.

Additional Requirements

Exam: Third-party exam required
Experience: Work experience required

License information sourced from CareerOneStop ³.

Massage Therapist Wages by Metro Area in Colorado

Massage Therapists Wages by Metro Area in Colorado

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Denver-Aurora-Centennial	1,890	$60,490	$66,460	$31,910	$101,690
Colorado Springs	630	$60,030	$71,720	$37,510	$101,650
Boulder	420	$71,870	$81,480	$55,090	$125,010
Fort Collins-Loveland	390	$61,770	$66,220	$47,840	$97,980
Greeley	120	$64,020	$70,480	$40,860	$97,840
Grand Junction	90	$62,550	$66,320	$31,540	$90,860
Pueblo	40	$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 2025.

Top Metros for Massage therapists in Colorado

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Denver-Aurora-Centennial	1,890	$60,490
Colorado Springs	630	$60,030
Boulder	420	$71,870
Fort Collins-Loveland	390	$61,770
Greeley	120	$64,020

Explore massage therapist programs in Denver, Colorado Springs, and Boulder.

Explore More Trades in Colorado

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 - Massage Therapists for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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

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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
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)