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

"The primary Mississippi license requires approximately 100 hours of qualifying experience, which is roughly 0.1 years of full-time work."

"Do massage therapists need a license in Mississippi?"

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

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

"In Mississippi, apprenticeships are typically registered through state apprenticeship agencies and trade union locals. See the apprenticeship section above for current contact information."

How to Become A Massage Therapist in Mississippi

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

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), massage therapists in Mississippi earned a median annual wage of approximately $40,490. Employment concentration in Mississippi is roughly 0.32 of the national average, meaning fewer workers per capita than the U.S. as a whole."

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

"Mississippi currently employs approximately 230 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

Mississippi massage therapists earn a median annual wage of $40,490 ($19.47/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 230 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -30.7% below the national median of $58,450 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $40,490 ($19.47/hr)
25th percentile: $37,700 per year
75th percentile: $50,900 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $103,020 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $28,820 per year
Workers employed in Mississippi: 230
Versus national median: -30.7% below the U.S. median of $58,450
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.32 - this occupation is less concentrated in Mississippi than the national average

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

Mississippi employs approximately 230 massage therapists according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $40,490 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 Mississippi, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming A Massage Therapist in Mississippi

How do I become a massage therapist in Mississippi? Mississippi requires credentials such as Massage Therapist. The licensing authority is the MS State Board of Massage Therapy ³. You also need to complete an approved training program or apprenticeship.

How long does it take? The primary license requires approximately 100 hours of experience (roughly 0.1 years of full-time work) ³.

Do I need a license in Mississippi? Yes. Mississippi has licensing or registration requirements for massage therapists. The MS State Board of Massage Therapy oversees licensing ³. See the licensing section below for details.

What do massage therapists earn in Mississippi? The median annual wage for massage therapists in Mississippi is $40,490 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $28,820 and experienced professionals can earn $103,020 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: MS State Board of Massage Therapy
Median wage (Mississippi): $40,490 per year ¹
Exam requirement: Both state and third-party exams required

Massage Therapist License Requirements in Mississippi

The MS State Board of Massage Therapy oversees massage therapist licensing in Mississippi ³.

License Types

License	Requirements
Massage Therapist	Massage Therapist means a person who practices massage therapy. Massage means touch, stroking, kneading, stretching, friction, percussion and vibration, and includes holding, positioning, causing move…

Additional Requirements

Background check: Background check required
Exam: Both state and third-party exams required
Experience: No experience required

License information sourced from CareerOneStop ⁴.

Massage Therapist Wages by Metro Area in Mississippi

Massage Therapists Wages by Metro Area in Mississippi

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Memphis	160	$47,320	$52,400	$27,690	$90,920
Jackson	90	$45,090	$53,740	$39,410	$107,560
Gulfport-Biloxi	80	$36,920	$42,670	$25,990	$107,840

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 Mississippi

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Jackson	90	$45,090
Gulfport-Biloxi	80	$36,920

Explore massage therapist programs in Jackson and Gulfport.

Explore More Trades in Mississippi

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for massage therapists in Mississippi? Mississippi currently employs approximately 230 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 Mississippi with an out-of-state license? Contact the MS State Board of Massage Therapy for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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

How much do massage therapists earn in Mississippi compared to the national average? The median annual wage for massage therapists in Mississippi is $40,490, which is $17,460 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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
MS State Board of Massage Therapy - Licensing Information: https://www.msbmt.ms.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)