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

"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 Iowa?"

"Yes. Iowa requires state-level licensing or registration for massage therapists, administered by the Iowa Department of Inspections \u0026 Appeals - Board of Behavioral Science. See the licensing section above for credential types and current requirements."

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

"In Iowa, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Iowa Office of 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 Iowa

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

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), massage therapists in Iowa earned a median annual wage of approximately $57,710. Employment concentration in Iowa is roughly 0.55 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 Iowa?"

"Iowa currently employs approximately 540 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

Iowa employs approximately 540 massage therapists according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $57,710 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 Iowa, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming A Massage Therapist in Iowa

How do I become a massage therapist in Iowa? Iowa requires credentials such as Massage Therapist. The licensing authority is the Iowa Department of Inspections & Appeals - Board of Behavioral Science 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 Iowa? Yes. Iowa has licensing or registration requirements for massage therapists. The Iowa Department of Inspections & Appeals - Board of Behavioral Science oversees licensing ³. See the licensing section below for details.

What do massage therapists earn in Iowa? The median annual wage for massage therapists in Iowa is $57,710 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $37,560 and experienced professionals can earn $91,570 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: Iowa Department of Inspections & Appeals - Board of Behavioral Science
Median wage (Iowa): $57,710 per year ¹
Exam requirement: State exam required

Massage Therapist License Requirements in Iowa

The Iowa Department of Inspections & Appeals - Board of Behavioral Science oversees massage therapist licensing in Iowa ³.

License Types

License	Requirements
Massage Therapist	Performs massage, myotherapy, massotherapy, body work, body work therapy, or therapeutic massage including hydrotherapy, superficial hot and cold applications, vibration and topical applications, or o…

Additional Requirements

Background check: Background check required
Exam: State exam required
Experience: Work experience required

License information sourced from CareerOneStop ⁴.

Massage Therapist Wages by Metro Area in Iowa

Massage Therapists Wages by Metro Area in Iowa

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Omaha	210	$51,950	$61,580	$45,050	$96,050
Des Moines-West Des Moines	150	$76,090	$66,670	$45,920	$77,320
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island	100	$62,400	$57,420	$32,960	$76,390
Cedar Rapids	70	$49,350	$62,980	$44,660	$90,970
Sioux City	30	$61,890	$60,300	$44,760	$64,250

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 Iowa

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Des Moines-West Des Moines	150	$76,090
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island	100	$62,400
Cedar Rapids	70	$49,350
Sioux City	30	$61,890

Explore massage therapist programs in Des Moines, Davenport, and Cedar Rapids.

Explore More Trades in Iowa

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for massage therapists in Iowa? Iowa currently employs approximately 540 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 Iowa with an out-of-state license? Contact the Iowa Department of Inspections & Appeals - Board of Behavioral Science for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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

How much do massage therapists earn in Iowa compared to the national average? The median annual wage for massage therapists in Iowa is $57,710, which is $240 below 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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Iowa Department of Inspections & Appeals - Board of Behavioral Science - Licensing Information: https://dial.iowa.gov/about/boards/behavioral-science ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
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)