How to Become a Massage Therapist in Florida (2026)
Florida employs about 9,280 massage therapists earning a median $49,680 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 FL Department of Health - Division of Medical Quality Assurance.
Key Facts
- Median wage (Florida): $49,680/yr (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
- Employed in Florida: 9,280 workers (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
- Location quotient: 1.47x U.S. average (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
- Projected growth: 15.4% (2024-2034) (Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024)
- Licensing/credentialing body: FL Department of Health - Division of Medical Quality Assurance (Source: State licensing agency, 2025)
Sponsored - request program info
Compare Massage Therapist Schools in Florida
| # | School | BOC Score (0–100) | Tuition | Median grad earnings (all majors) | Graduation rate | Online | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Erwin Technical College | 60.6 | Contact school for pricing | $41,518 | 80% | — | 53 mi |
| 2 | Academy of Career Training | 51.2 | Contact school for pricing | $20,962 | 88% | — | 32 mi |
| 3 | Summit Salon Academy | 50.8 | Contact school for pricing | $31,488 | Not reported | — | 60 mi |
| 4 | Orange Technical College | 49.6 | Contact school for pricing | $34,945 | Not reported | — | 49 mi |
| 5 | The Salon Professional Academy-Melbourne | 48.4 | Contact school for pricing | $23,567 | 78% | — | 58 mi |
| 6 | Ridge Technical College | 47.7 | Contact school for pricing | $35,542 | Not reported | — | 16 mi |
| 7 | Artistic Nails and Beauty Academy-Lakeland | 47.6 | Contact school for pricing | $23,234 | 75% | — | 26 mi |
| 8 | Artistic Nails and Beauty Academy-Tampa | 43.0 | Contact school for pricing | $23,234 | 76% | — | 51 mi |
| 9 | Hollywood Institute of Beauty Careers-Casselberry | 31.6 | Contact school for pricing | $22,274 | 73% | — | 55 mi |
| 10 | Cortiva Institute | 29.6 | Contact school for pricing | Not reported | Not reported | — | 55 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.
Florida employs approximately 9,280 massage therapists according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $49,680 1. The state’s concentration of massage therapist jobs is 1.47x 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 Florida, 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: FL Department of Health - Division of Medical Quality Assurance
- Exam: MBLEx or the exam the board uses
- Median wage (Florida): $49,680 per year 1
Quick Answers About How to Become a Massage Therapist in Florida
How to become a Massage Therapist in Florida? 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 FL Department of Health - Division of Medical Quality Assurance.
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 FL Department of Health - Division of Medical Quality Assurance.
Do I need a license in Florida? Yes. Florida credentials this role through FL Department of Health - Division of Medical Quality Assurance 3. See the licensing section below.
What do massage therapists earn in Florida? The median annual wage for massage therapists in Florida is $49,680 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $30,310 and experienced professionals can earn $79,220 or more 1.
How to Become a Massage Therapist in Florida
- Meet board entry rules. Confirm age and education rules with FL Department of Health - Division of Medical Quality Assurance. Do not treat minimum age as years of work.
- Complete a board-approved massage program. Finish the hour requirement FL Department of Health - Division of Medical Quality Assurance publishes. Confirm the current total with the board. This is not a DAS registered apprenticeship.
- Pass MBLEx or the state exam. Most states use MBLEx. Confirm with FL Department of Health - Division of Medical Quality Assurance.
- Apply for the massage license. Apply to FL Department of Health - Division of Medical Quality Assurance 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 Florida
Massage therapists in Florida complete board-approved hours, pass an exam (often MBLEx), and apply to FL Department of Health - Division of Medical Quality Assurance where the state licenses the trade. See FL Department of Health - Division of Medical Quality Assurance 3.
Typical path
Complete a board-approved program.
Pass MBLEx or the state exam.
Apply to FL Department of Health - Division of Medical Quality Assurance.
Hour totals, fees, and reciprocity rules change. Confirm current requirements with FL Department of Health - Division of Medical Quality Assurance before you enroll.
Massage Therapist Wages by Metro Area in Florida
Massage Therapists Wages by Metro Area in Florida
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), massage therapists wages in Florida vary by metro area.
| Metro Area | Employment | Median Annual Wage | Avg. Annual Wage | Entry Level (10th pctile) | Experienced (90th pctile) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach | 2,740 | $48,370 | $52,120 | $30,260 | $79,330 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater | 1,530 | $51,470 | $54,400 | $31,650 | $70,720 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford | 1,250 | $48,480 | $54,360 | $29,360 | $95,620 |
| Jacksonville | 650 | $50,600 | $55,890 | $31,580 | $79,040 |
| Cape Coral-Fort Myers | 390 | $50,190 | $57,750 | $31,660 | $93,000 |
| North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota | 380 | $49,830 | $55,710 | $34,070 | $79,460 |
| Naples-Marco Island | 320 | $55,160 | $61,690 | $32,760 | $101,910 |
| Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach | 250 | $39,780 | $44,350 | $30,310 | $70,270 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville | 230 | $48,850 | $54,070 | $31,220 | $81,530 |
| Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin | 140 | $49,360 | $50,090 | $27,040 | $76,320 |
| Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent | 140 | $48,960 | $53,670 | $34,110 | $77,500 |
| Gainesville | 130 | $50,270 | $55,780 | $32,610 | $84,040 |
| Port St. Lucie | 120 | $49,760 | $53,360 | $27,040 | $83,540 |
| Lakeland-Winter Haven | 100 | $50,300 | $57,760 | $32,610 | $80,550 |
| Ocala | 80 | $47,550 | $53,410 | $27,870 | $79,370 |
| Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor | 80 | $50,980 | $55,760 | $40,280 | $78,060 |
| Punta Gorda | 60 | $56,800 | $62,130 | $45,910 | $97,300 |
| Wildwood-The Villages | 50 | $51,770 | $57,470 | $47,830 | $74,900 |
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 Florida? Florida currently employs approximately 9,280 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 Florida with an out-of-state license? Contact the FL Department of Health - Division of Medical Quality Assurance for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.
What training programs are available in Florida? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and state-approved training programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in Florida.
How much do massage therapists earn in Florida compared to the national average? The median annual wage for massage therapists in Florida is $49,680, which is $8,270 below the national median of $57,950 according to BLS data 1.
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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
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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
FL Department of Health - Division of Medical Quality Assurance - Licensing Information: https://www.doh.state.fl.us/ ↩︎ ↩︎
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) |