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

"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 Illinois?"

"Yes. Illinois requires state-level licensing or registration for massage therapists, administered by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. See the licensing section above for credential types and current requirements."

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

"In Illinois, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Illinois 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 Illinois

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

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), massage therapists in Illinois earned a median annual wage of approximately $60,490. Employment concentration in Illinois is about 1.28 times the national average for this occupation."

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

"Illinois currently employs approximately 4,950 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

Illinois massage therapists earn a median annual wage of $60,490 ($29.08/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 4,950 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 3.5% above the national median of $58,450 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $60,490 ($29.08/hr)
25th percentile: $45,800 per year
75th percentile: $77,550 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $82,910 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $33,770 per year
Workers employed in Illinois: 4,950
Versus national median: 3.5% above the U.S. median of $58,450
Job concentration: Location quotient 1.28 - this occupation is more concentrated in Illinois than the national average

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

Illinois employs approximately 4,950 massage therapists according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $60,490 ¹. The state’s concentration of massage therapist jobs is 1.28x 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 Illinois, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming A Massage Therapist in Illinois

How do I become a massage therapist in Illinois? Illinois requires credentials such as Massage Therapy, MASSAGE THERAPISTS. The licensing authority is the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation 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 Illinois? Yes. Illinois has licensing or registration requirements for massage therapists. The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation oversees licensing ³. See the licensing section below for details.

What do massage therapists earn in Illinois? The median annual wage for massage therapists in Illinois is $60,490 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $33,770 and experienced professionals can earn $82,910 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: Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
Median wage (Illinois): $60,490 per year ¹

Massage Therapist License Requirements in Illinois

The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation oversees massage therapist licensing in Illinois ³.

License Types

License	Requirements
Massage Therapy
MASSAGE THERAPISTS	A person who perform therapeutic massages of soft tissues and joints. May assist in the assessment of range of motion and muscle strength, or propose client therapy plans.

License information sourced from CareerOneStop ⁴.

Massage Therapist Wages by Metro Area in Illinois

Massage Therapists Wages by Metro Area in Illinois

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin	3,890	$61,200	$60,770	$33,770	$83,000
St. Louis	1,010	$59,020	$65,010	$43,680	$96,310
Rockford	230	$60,880	$64,530	$36,710	$80,820
Peoria	120	$56,270	$56,300	$31,200	$76,880
Champaign-Urbana	110	$61,170	$65,650	$36,940	$81,260
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island	100	$62,400	$57,420	$32,960	$76,390
Springfield	100	$61,280	$64,220	$37,040	$81,200
Bloomington	50	$55,150	$56,890	$31,200	$74,680

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 Illinois

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin	3,890	$61,200
Rockford	230	$60,880
Peoria	120	$56,270
Champaign-Urbana	110	$61,170
Springfield	100	$61,280

Explore massage therapist programs in Chicago, Rockford, and Peoria.

Explore More Trades in Illinois

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for massage therapists in Illinois? Illinois currently employs approximately 4,950 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 Illinois with an out-of-state license? Contact the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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

How much do massage therapists earn in Illinois compared to the national average? The median annual wage for massage therapists in Illinois is $60,490, which is $2,540 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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation - Licensing Information: https://www.idfpr.com/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
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)