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

"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."

"Do massage therapists need a license in Massachusetts?"

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

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

"In Massachusetts, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Massachusetts Division of Apprentice 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 Massachusetts

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

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), massage therapists in Massachusetts earned a median annual wage of approximately $63,390. Employment concentration in Massachusetts is about 1.23 times the national average for this occupation."

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

"Massachusetts currently employs approximately 2,830 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

Massachusetts massage therapists earn a median annual wage of $63,390 ($30.48/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 2,830 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 8.5% above the national median of $58,450 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $63,390 ($30.48/hr)
25th percentile: $50,090 per year
75th percentile: $103,000 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $104,510 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $40,420 per year
Workers employed in Massachusetts: 2,830
Versus national median: 8.5% above the U.S. median of $58,450
Job concentration: Location quotient 1.23 - this occupation is more concentrated in Massachusetts than the national average

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

Massachusetts employs approximately 2,830 massage therapists according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $63,390 ¹. The state’s concentration of massage therapist jobs is 1.23x the national average, indicating strong demand. 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 Massachusetts, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming A Massage Therapist in Massachusetts

How do I become a massage therapist in Massachusetts? Massachusetts requires credentials such as MASSAGE THERAPIST. The licensing authority is the Board of Registration of Massage Therapy. 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 Massachusetts? Yes. Massachusetts has licensing or registration requirements for massage therapists. See the licensing section below for details.

What do massage therapists earn in Massachusetts? The median annual wage for massage therapists in Massachusetts is $63,390 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $40,420 and experienced professionals can earn $104,510 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: Board of Registration of Massage Therapy
Median wage (Massachusetts): $63,390 per year ¹
Exam requirement: Third-party exam required

Massage Therapist License Requirements in Massachusetts

The Board of Registration of Massage Therapy oversees massage therapist licensing in Massachusetts.

License Types

License	Requirements
MASSAGE THERAPIST	A Massage Therapist is a person, licensed by the board, who instructs or administers massage or massage therapy for compensation.

Additional Requirements

Background check: No criminal record prohibitions
Exam: Third-party exam required
Experience: Work experience required

License information sourced from CareerOneStop ³.

Massage Therapist Wages by Metro Area in Massachusetts

Massage Therapists Wages by Metro Area in Massachusetts

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Boston-Cambridge-Newton	2,180	$75,160	$76,680	$46,430	$104,710
Providence-Warwick	440	$60,420	$72,640	$39,030	$126,150
Worcester	250	$49,600	$56,390	$32,280	$82,590
Springfield	80	$58,500	$63,170	$31,540	$95,710
Barnstable Town	50	$52,560	$56,970	$35,920	$92,970
Pittsfield	50	$102,120	$79,930	$43,480	$102,120

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 Massachusetts

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Boston-Cambridge-Newton	2,180	$75,160
Worcester	250	$49,600
Springfield	80	$58,500
Barnstable Town	50	$52,560
Pittsfield	50	$102,120

Explore massage therapist programs in Boston, Worcester, and Springfield.

Explore More Trades in Massachusetts

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for massage therapists in Massachusetts? Massachusetts currently employs approximately 2,830 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 Massachusetts with an out-of-state license? Contact the Board of Registration of Massage Therapy for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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

How much do massage therapists earn in Massachusetts compared to the national average? The median annual wage for massage therapists in Massachusetts is $63,390, which is $5,440 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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
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)