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

"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 Delaware?"

"Yes. Delaware requires state-level licensing or registration for massage therapists, administered by the Delaware Department of State - Board of Massage and Bodywork. See the licensing section above for credential types and current requirements."

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

"In Delaware, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Delaware Office of Apprenticeship and Training, 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 Delaware

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

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), massage therapists in Delaware earned a median annual wage of approximately $58,870. Employment concentration in Delaware is roughly 0.75 of the national average, meaning fewer workers per capita than the U.S. as a whole."

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

"Delaware currently employs approximately 230 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

Delaware massage therapists earn a median annual wage of $58,870 ($28.30/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 230 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 0.7% above the national median of $58,450 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $58,870 ($28.30/hr)
25th percentile: $47,730 per year
75th percentile: $68,670 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $98,220 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $46,250 per year
Workers employed in Delaware: 230
Versus national median: 0.7% above the U.S. median of $58,450
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.75 - this occupation is less concentrated in Delaware than the national average

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

Delaware employs approximately 230 massage therapists according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $58,870 ¹. 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 Delaware, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming A Massage Therapist in Delaware

How do I become a massage therapist in Delaware? Delaware requires credentials such as Massage Technician, Massage/Bodywork Therapist, Temporary Massage Technician. The licensing authority is the Delaware Department of State - Board of Massage and Bodywork 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 Delaware? Yes. Delaware has licensing or registration requirements for massage therapists. The Delaware Department of State - Board of Massage and Bodywork oversees licensing ³. See the licensing section below for details.

What do massage therapists earn in Delaware? The median annual wage for massage therapists in Delaware is $58,870 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $46,250 and experienced professionals can earn $98,220 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: Delaware Department of State - Board of Massage and Bodywork
Median wage (Delaware): $58,870 per year ¹
Exam requirement: Third-party exam required

Massage Therapist License Requirements in Delaware

The Delaware Department of State - Board of Massage and Bodywork oversees massage therapist licensing in Delaware ³.

License Types

License	Requirements
Massage Technician	Massage Technician - Please see the following website for complete information. http://dpr.delaware.gov/boards/massagebodyworks/index.shtml
Massage/Bodywork Therapist	Massage/Bodywork Therapist - Please see the following website for complete information. http://dpr.delaware.gov/boards/massagebodyworks/index.shtml
Temporary Massage Technician	Temporary Massage Technician - Please see the following website for complete information. http://dpr.delaware.gov/boards/massagebodyworks/index.shtml

Additional Requirements

Background check: No criminal record prohibitions
Exam: Third-party exam required
Experience: Work experience required

License information sourced from CareerOneStop ⁴.

Massage Therapist Wages by Metro Area in Delaware

Massage Therapists Wages by Metro Area in Delaware

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington	1,500	$59,560	$65,530	$33,720	$124,800

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.

Explore More Trades in Delaware

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for massage therapists in Delaware? Delaware currently employs approximately 230 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 Delaware with an out-of-state license? Contact the Delaware Department of State - Board of Massage and Bodywork for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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

How much do massage therapists earn in Delaware compared to the national average? The median annual wage for massage therapists in Delaware is $58,870, which is $920 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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Delaware Department of State - Board of Massage and Bodywork - Licensing Information: https://dpr.delaware.gov/boards/massagebodyworks/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
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)