How to Become a Massage Therapist in Kansas (2026)

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Kansas employs about 780 massage therapists earning a median $49,990 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. Confirm credential rules with the program and employer.

Compare Massage Therapist Schools in Kansas

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Tuition is the published annual figure for the latest reported year and excludes room, board, books and fees. Earnings are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single trade. Distance is measured from the page's primary location.
#SchoolBOC Score (0–100)Tuition (published, per year)Median grad earnings (all majors)Graduation rateOnlineDistance
165.3Contact school for pricing$34,29688%—281 mi
260.6Contact school for pricingNot reported71%—168 mi
358.2$11,822$25,73880%—213 mi
453.3Contact school for pricing$32,07870%—52 mi
552.0Contact school for pricing$32,07867%—141 mi
648.4Contact school for pricing$32,078100%—109 mi
744.5Contact school for pricing$32,07876%—224 mi
844.3Contact school for pricing$26,17681%—288 mi
943.1Contact school for pricing$31,82080%Yes*170 mi
1041.5$16,750$34,284100%—170 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.

Kansas employs approximately 780 massage therapists according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $49,990 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 Kansas, 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
  • Exam: MBLEx or the exam the board uses
  • Median wage (Kansas): $49,990 per year 1

Quick Answers About How to Become a Massage Therapist in Kansas

How to become a Massage Therapist in Kansas? 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 the program and employer.

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 the program and employer.

Do I need a license in Kansas? Yes. Kansas typically registers this role through the program and employer. See the licensing section below.

What do massage therapists earn in Kansas? The median annual wage for massage therapists in Kansas is $49,990 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $31,490 and experienced professionals can earn $81,760 or more 1.

How to Become a Massage Therapist in Kansas

  1. Meet board entry rules. Confirm age and education rules with the program and employer. Do not treat minimum age as years of work.
  2. Complete a board-approved massage program. Finish the hour requirement the program and employer publishes. Confirm the current total with the board. This is not a DAS registered apprenticeship.
  3. Pass MBLEx or the state exam. Most states use MBLEx. Confirm with the program and employer.
  4. Apply for the massage license. Apply to the program and employer 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 Kansas

Massage therapists in Kansas complete board-approved hours, pass an exam (often MBLEx), and apply to the program and employer where the state licenses the trade.

Typical path

  1. Complete a board-approved program.

  2. Pass MBLEx or the state exam.

  3. Apply to the program and employer.

Hour totals, fees, and reciprocity rules change. Confirm current requirements with the program and employer before you enroll.

Massage Therapist Wages by Metro Area in Kansas

Massage Therapists Wages by Metro Area in Kansas

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

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)		Experienced
(90th pctile)
Kansas City650$55,810$66,590$43,480$101,720
Wichita200$46,560$49,570$26,060$73,820
Topeka60$48,140$51,300$29,950$66,190
Lawrence40$48,880$52,060$38,030$65,100

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 Kansas? Kansas currently employs approximately 780 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 Kansas with an out-of-state license? Contact the program and employer for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

What training programs are available in Kansas? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and state-approved training programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in Kansas.

How much do massage therapists earn in Kansas compared to the national average? The median annual wage for massage therapists in Kansas is $49,990, which is $7,960 below the national median of $57,950 according to BLS data 1.

In Kansas

Top local programs

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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

  1. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

  2. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

DataProviderVintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsMay 2025
Employment ProjectionsU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data SystemNational Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirementsCareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programsCareerOneStop / 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)