How to Become a Massage Therapist in Kentucky (2026)

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Kentucky employs about 780 massage therapists earning a median $59,790 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 Department of Professional Licensing - Board of Licensure for Massage Therapy.

Compare Massage Therapist Schools in Kentucky

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
159.9$4,998 in-state / $18,630 out-of-state$45,99836%Yes*135 mi
258.5Contact school for pricing$49,36467%—145 mi
355.7$4,728 in-state / $6,432 out-of-state$47,99059%Yes*95 mi
450.6$4,728 in-state / $6,432 out-of-state$46,78845%Yes*133 mi
549.2$5,154 in-state / $9,935 out-of-state$53,36940%Yes*149 mi
646.7Contact school for pricing$32,42875%—128 mi
7Not ratedContact school for pricing$24,186Not reported—48 mi
837.5$18,122$27,95873%—148 mi
937.4Contact school for pricing$29,53756%—57 mi
1035.9Contact school for pricing$25,64063%Yes*49 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.

Kentucky employs approximately 780 massage therapists according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $59,790 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 Kentucky, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

Quick Answers About How to Become a Massage Therapist in Kentucky

How to become a Massage Therapist in Kentucky? 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 Department of Professional Licensing - Board of Licensure for Massage Therapy.

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 Department of Professional Licensing - Board of Licensure for Massage Therapy.

Do I need a license in Kentucky? Yes. Kentucky credentials this role through Department of Professional Licensing - Board of Licensure for Massage Therapy 3. See the licensing section below.

What do massage therapists earn in Kentucky? The median annual wage for massage therapists in Kentucky is $59,790 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $30,210 and experienced professionals can earn $95,290 or more 1.

How to Become a Massage Therapist in Kentucky

  1. Meet board entry rules. Confirm age and education rules with Department of Professional Licensing - Board of Licensure for Massage Therapy. Do not treat minimum age as years of work.
  2. Complete a board-approved massage program. Finish the hour requirement Department of Professional Licensing - Board of Licensure for Massage Therapy 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 Department of Professional Licensing - Board of Licensure for Massage Therapy.
  4. Apply for the massage license. Apply to Department of Professional Licensing - Board of Licensure for Massage Therapy 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 Kentucky

Massage therapists in Kentucky complete board-approved hours, pass an exam (often MBLEx), and apply to Department of Professional Licensing - Board of Licensure for Massage Therapy where the state licenses the trade. See Department of Professional Licensing - Board of Licensure for Massage Therapy 3.

Typical path

  1. Complete a board-approved program.

  2. Pass MBLEx or the state exam.

  3. Apply to Department of Professional Licensing - Board of Licensure for Massage Therapy.

Hour totals, fees, and reciprocity rules change. Confirm current requirements with Department of Professional Licensing - Board of Licensure for Massage Therapy before you enroll.

Massage Therapist Wages by Metro Area in Kentucky

Massage Therapists Wages by Metro Area in Kentucky

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

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)		Experienced
(90th pctile)
Cincinnati440$55,990$60,080$45,970$98,010
Louisville/Jefferson County380$68,230$69,700$46,080$95,290
Lexington-Fayette170$76,250$68,190$36,000$93,180
Huntington-Ashland40$44,150$43,130$26,310$62,820

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 Kentucky? Kentucky 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 Kentucky with an out-of-state license? Contact the Department of Professional Licensing - Board of Licensure for Massage Therapy for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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

How much do massage therapists earn in Kentucky compared to the national average? The median annual wage for massage therapists in Kentucky is $59,790, which is $1,840 above the national median of $57,950 according to BLS data 1.

In Kentucky

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/ ↩︎ ↩︎

  3. Department of Professional Licensing - Board of Licensure for Massage Therapy - Licensing Information: http://bmt.ky.gov ↩︎ ↩︎

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)