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

"The primary Hawaii license requires approximately 50 hours of qualifying experience, which is roughly 0.0 years of full-time work."

"Do massage therapists need a license in Hawaii?"

"Yes. Hawaii requires state-level licensing or registration for massage therapists, administered by the Hawaii State Dept. of Commerce \u0026 Consumer Affairs - Board of Massage Therapy. See the licensing section above for credential types and current requirements."

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

"In Hawaii, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Hawaii Workforce Development Division - Apprenticeships, 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 Hawaii

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

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), massage therapists in Hawaii earned a median annual wage of approximately $81,280. Employment concentration in Hawaii is about 3.34 times the national average for this occupation."

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

"Hawaii currently employs approximately 1,330 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

Hawaii massage therapists earn a median annual wage of $81,280 ($39.08/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 1,330 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 39.1% above the national median of $58,450 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $81,280 ($39.08/hr)
25th percentile: $57,390 per year
75th percentile: $129,770 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $166,730 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $36,660 per year
Workers employed in Hawaii: 1,330
Versus national median: 39.1% above the U.S. median of $58,450
Job concentration: Location quotient 3.34 - this occupation is more concentrated in Hawaii than the national average

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

Hawaii employs approximately 1,330 massage therapists according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $81,280 ¹. The state’s concentration of massage therapist jobs is 3.34x 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 Hawaii, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming A Massage Therapist in Hawaii

How do I become a massage therapist in Hawaii? Hawaii requires credentials such as Massage Therapist. The licensing authority is the Hawaii State Dept. of Commerce & Consumer Affairs - Board of Massage Therapy ³. You also need to complete an approved training program or apprenticeship.

How long does it take? The primary license requires approximately 50 hours of experience (roughly 0.0 years of full-time work) ³.

Do I need a license in Hawaii? Yes. Hawaii has licensing or registration requirements for massage therapists. The Hawaii State Dept. of Commerce & Consumer Affairs - Board of Massage Therapy oversees licensing ³. See the licensing section below for details.

What do massage therapists earn in Hawaii? The median annual wage for massage therapists in Hawaii is $81,280 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $36,660 and experienced professionals can earn $166,730 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: Hawaii State Dept. of Commerce & Consumer Affairs - Board of Massage Therapy
Median wage (Hawaii): $81,280 per year ¹
Exam requirement: Third-party exam required

Massage Therapist License Requirements in Hawaii

The Hawaii State Dept. of Commerce & Consumer Affairs - Board of Massage Therapy oversees massage therapist licensing in Hawaii ³.

License Types

License	Requirements
Massage Therapist	DESCRIPTION OF OCCUPATION: A Massage Therapist massages customers using a variety of techniques such as kneading, rubbing, or pressing motions of the hands, elbows, or fingers to stimulate blood circu…

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 Hawaii

Massage Therapists Wages by Metro Area in Hawaii

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Urban Honolulu	800	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Kahului-Wailuku	330	$96,820	$101,690	$31,140	$169,180

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 Hawaii

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Urban Honolulu	800	n/a
Kahului-Wailuku	330	$96,820

Explore More Trades in Hawaii

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for massage therapists in Hawaii? Hawaii currently employs approximately 1,330 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 Hawaii with an out-of-state license? Contact the Hawaii State Dept. of Commerce & Consumer Affairs - Board of Massage Therapy for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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

How much do massage therapists earn in Hawaii compared to the national average? The median annual wage for massage therapists in Hawaii is $81,280, which is $23,330 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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Hawaii State Dept. of Commerce & Consumer Affairs - Board of Massage Therapy - Licensing Information: http://cca.hawaii.gov/pvl/boards/massage/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
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)