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

"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."

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

"In Kentucky, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Kentucky Office of Apprenticeship and Training, 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 Kentucky

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

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), massage therapists in Kentucky earned a median annual wage of approximately $59,790. Employment concentration in Kentucky is roughly 0.61 of the national average, meaning fewer workers per capita than the U.S. as a whole."

Q: "Do massage therapists need a license in Kentucky?"

"Yes. Kentucky requires state-level licensing or registration for massage therapists, administered by the Department of Professional Licensing - Board of Licensure for Massage Therapy. See the licensing section above for credential types and current requirements."

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

"Kentucky currently employs approximately 780 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

Kentucky massage therapists earn a median annual wage of $59,790 ($28.75/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 780 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 2.3% above the national median of $58,450 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $59,790 ($28.75/hr)
25th percentile: $47,470 per year
75th percentile: $85,060 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $95,290 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $30,210 per year
Workers employed in Kentucky: 780
Versus national median: 2.3% above the U.S. median of $58,450
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.61 - this occupation is less concentrated in Kentucky than the national average

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

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.

Quick Answers About Becoming A Massage Therapist in Kentucky

How do I become a massage therapist in Kentucky? Kentucky requires credentials such as Massage Therapist. The licensing authority is the Department of Professional Licensing - Board of Licensure for Massage Therapy 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 Kentucky? Yes. Kentucky has licensing or registration requirements for massage therapists. The Department of Professional Licensing - Board of Licensure for Massage Therapy oversees licensing ³. See the licensing section below for details.

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.

At a Glance

Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
Licensing authority: Department of Professional Licensing - Board of Licensure for Massage Therapy
Median wage (Kentucky): $59,790 per year ¹
Exam requirement: Third-party exam required

Massage Therapist License Requirements in Kentucky

The Department of Professional Licensing - Board of Licensure for Massage Therapy oversees massage therapist licensing in Kentucky ³.

License Types

License	Requirements
Massage Therapist	Contact the regulatory agency for specific information.

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 Kentucky

Massage Therapists Wages by Metro Area in Kentucky

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Cincinnati	440	$55,990	$60,080	$45,970	$98,010
Louisville/Jefferson County	380	$68,230	$69,700	$46,080	$95,290
Lexington-Fayette	170	$76,250	$68,190	$36,000	$93,180
Huntington-Ashland	40	$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 2025.

Top Metros for Massage therapists in Kentucky

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Louisville/Jefferson County	380	$68,230
Lexington-Fayette	170	$76,250

Explore massage therapist programs in Lexington.

Explore More Trades in Kentucky

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 apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for accredited 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.

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