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

"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 Louisiana?"

"In Louisiana, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Louisiana Registered Apprenticeship Division, 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 Louisiana

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

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), massage therapists in Louisiana earned a median annual wage of approximately $36,480. Employment concentration in Louisiana is roughly 0.72 of the national average, meaning fewer workers per capita than the U.S. as a whole."

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

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

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

"Louisiana currently employs approximately 890 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

Louisiana massage therapists earn a median annual wage of $36,480 ($17.54/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 890 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -37.6% below the national median of $58,450 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $36,480 ($17.54/hr)
25th percentile: $23,330 per year
75th percentile: $48,300 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $59,680 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $18,080 per year
Workers employed in Louisiana: 890
Versus national median: -37.6% below the U.S. median of $58,450
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.72 - this occupation is less concentrated in Louisiana than the national average

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

Louisiana employs approximately 890 massage therapists according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $36,480 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 Louisiana, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming A Massage Therapist in Louisiana

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

What do massage therapists earn in Louisiana? The median annual wage for massage therapists in Louisiana is $36,480 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $18,080 and experienced professionals can earn $59,680 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: Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals - Louisiana Board of Massage Therapy
Median wage (Louisiana): $36,480 per year ¹
Exam requirement: Third-party exam required

Massage Therapist License Requirements in Louisiana

The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals - Louisiana Board of Massage Therapy oversees massage therapist licensing in Louisiana ³.

License Types

License	Requirements
Massage Therapist	Is a citizen or legal resident of the United States, and has the ability to read, write, speak, and understand English fluently.

Additional Requirements

Background check: Background check required
Exam: Third-party exam required
Experience: Work experience required

License information sourced from CareerOneStop ⁴.

Massage Therapist Wages by Metro Area in Louisiana

Massage Therapists Wages by Metro Area in Louisiana

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Baton Rouge	250	$30,820	$37,550	$18,530	$67,090
New Orleans-Metairie	180	$39,500	$44,580	$18,860	$78,320
Slidell-Mandeville-Covington	100	$38,130	$38,170	$18,080	$48,310
Lafayette	90	$35,610	$33,680	$17,260	$46,070
Lake Charles	60	$42,830	$41,560	$17,680	$61,100
Monroe	60	$21,730	$26,540	$16,820	$45,010
Shreveport-Bossier City	50	$46,810	$42,250	$29,230	$47,080

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 Louisiana

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Baton Rouge	250	$30,820
New Orleans-Metairie	180	$39,500
Slidell-Mandeville-Covington	100	$38,130
Lafayette	90	$35,610
Lake Charles	60	$42,830

Explore massage therapist programs in Baton Rouge, New Orleans, and Slidell.

Explore More Trades in Louisiana

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for massage therapists in Louisiana? Louisiana currently employs approximately 890 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 Louisiana with an out-of-state license? Contact the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals - Louisiana Board of Massage Therapy for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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

How much do massage therapists earn in Louisiana compared to the national average? The median annual wage for massage therapists in Louisiana is $36,480, which is $21,470 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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals - Louisiana Board of Massage Therapy - Licensing Information: https://www.labmt.org ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
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)