How to Become a Massage Therapist in Louisiana (2026)

Q: How long does massage therapist training take in Louisiana?

Most people become a Massage Therapist in Louisiana through a board-approved massage program that meets this state's hour requirement, an exam (often MBLEx), and a state massage license where required.

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 about 890 massage therapists earning a median $36,480 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 Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals - Louisiana Board of Massage Therapy.

Key Facts

Median wage (Louisiana): $36,480/yr (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Employed in Louisiana: 890 workers (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Location quotient: 0.72x U.S. average (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Projected growth: 15.4% (2024-2034) (Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024)
Licensing/credentialing body: Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals - Louisiana Board of Massage Therapy (Source: State licensing agency, 2025)

Compare Massage Therapist Schools in Louisiana

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Earnings are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single trade. Distance is measured from the page's primary location.
#	School	BOC Score (0–100)	Tuition	Median grad earnings (all majors)	Graduation rate	Online	Distance
1	Delgado Community College	41.7	Contact school for pricing	$48,141	23%	Yes*	120 mi
2	Delta College Inc	37.4	Contact school for pricing	$32,032	Not reported	—	105 mi
3	Blue Cliff College-Alexandria	36.0	Contact school for pricing	$26,644	33%	Yes*	48 mi
4	Unitech Training Academy-Lafayette	35.5	Contact school for pricing	$27,850	59%	Yes*	59 mi
5	Medical Training College	32.7	Contact school for pricing	$29,675	Not reported	—	56 mi
6	Unitech Training Academy-Houma	31.6	Contact school for pricing	$27,850	65%	—	112 mi
7	Unitech Training Academy-Alexandria	28.0	Contact school for pricing	$27,850	61%	—	46 mi
8	Unitech Training Academy-West Monroe	27.8	Contact school for pricing	$27,850	65%	—	108 mi
9	Blue Cliff College-Metairie	27.2	Contact school for pricing	$26,644	48%	—	116 mi
10	Unitech Training Academy-Baton Rouge	22.8	Contact school for pricing	$27,850	53%	—	57 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.

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.

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
Licensing authority: Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals - Louisiana Board of Massage Therapy
Exam: MBLEx or the exam the board uses
Median wage (Louisiana): $36,480 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Massage Therapist in Louisiana

How to become a Massage Therapist in Louisiana? 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 Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals - Louisiana Board of 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 Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals - Louisiana Board of Massage Therapy.

Do I need a license in Louisiana? Yes. Louisiana credentials this role through Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals - Louisiana Board of Massage Therapy ³. See the licensing section below.

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.

How to Become a Massage Therapist in Louisiana

Meet board entry rules. Confirm age and education rules with Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals - Louisiana Board of Massage Therapy. Do not treat minimum age as years of work.
Complete a board-approved massage program. Finish the hour requirement Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals - Louisiana Board of Massage Therapy publishes. Confirm the current total with the board. This is not a DAS registered apprenticeship.
Pass MBLEx or the state exam. Most states use MBLEx. Confirm with Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals - Louisiana Board of Massage Therapy.
Apply for the massage license. Apply to Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals - Louisiana Board of 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 Louisiana

Massage therapists in Louisiana complete board-approved hours, pass an exam (often MBLEx), and apply to Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals - Louisiana Board of Massage Therapy where the state licenses the trade. See Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals - Louisiana Board of Massage Therapy ³.

Typical path

Complete a board-approved program.
Pass MBLEx or the state exam.
Apply to Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals - Louisiana Board of Massage Therapy.

Hour totals, fees, and reciprocity rules change. Confirm current requirements with Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals - Louisiana Board of Massage Therapy before you enroll.

Massage Therapist Wages by Metro Area in Louisiana

Massage Therapists Wages by Metro Area in Louisiana

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( 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 .

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 state-approved training programs. Use the school finder above to search for 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.

In Louisiana

Best Trade Schools in Louisiana (2026)

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

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 ↩︎ ↩︎

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)