How to Become a Massage Therapist in Missouri (2026)

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Missouri employs about 1,500 massage therapists earning a median $62,050 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 Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance - Division Of Professional Registration - Missouri State Board of Therapeutic Massage.

Compare Massage Therapist Schools in Missouri

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Tuition is the published annual figure for the latest reported year and excludes room, board, books and fees. Earnings are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single trade. Distance is measured from the page's primary location.
#SchoolBOC Score (0–100)Tuition (published, per year)Median grad earnings (all majors)Graduation rateOnlineDistance
165.3Contact school for pricing$34,29688%—229 mi
260.6Contact school for pricingNot reported71%—127 mi
352.0Contact school for pricing$32,07867%—110 mi
451.1$4,630 in-state / $7,540 out-of-state$47,82546%Yes*202 mi
549.6$3,960 in-state / $6,720 out-of-state$51,51636%Yes*152 mi
648.4Contact school for pricing$32,078100%—142 mi
744.5Contact school for pricing$32,07876%—89 mi
844.3Contact school for pricing$26,17681%—228 mi
942.5Contact school for pricing$35,13455%—125 mi
1042.1Contact school for pricing$36,02569%—197 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.

Missouri employs approximately 1,500 massage therapists according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $62,050 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 Missouri, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

Quick Answers About How to Become a Massage Therapist in Missouri

How to become a Massage Therapist in Missouri? 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 Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance - Division Of Professional Registration - Missouri State Board of Therapeutic Massage.

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 Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance - Division Of Professional Registration - Missouri State Board of Therapeutic Massage.

Do I need a license in Missouri? Yes. Missouri credentials this role through Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance - Division Of Professional Registration - Missouri State Board of Therapeutic Massage 3. See the licensing section below.

What do massage therapists earn in Missouri? The median annual wage for massage therapists in Missouri is $62,050 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $43,680 and experienced professionals can earn $101,900 or more 1.

How to Become a Massage Therapist in Missouri

  1. Meet board entry rules. Confirm age and education rules with Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance - Division Of Professional Registration - Missouri State Board of Therapeutic Massage. Do not treat minimum age as years of work.
  2. Complete a board-approved massage program. Finish the hour requirement Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance - Division Of Professional Registration - Missouri State Board of Therapeutic Massage publishes. Confirm the current total with the board. This is not a DAS registered apprenticeship.
  3. Pass MBLEx or the state exam. Most states use MBLEx. Confirm with Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance - Division Of Professional Registration - Missouri State Board of Therapeutic Massage.
  4. Apply for the massage license. Apply to Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance - Division Of Professional Registration - Missouri State Board of Therapeutic Massage 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 Missouri

Massage therapists in Missouri complete board-approved hours, pass an exam (often MBLEx), and apply to Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance - Division Of Professional Registration - Missouri State Board of Therapeutic Massage where the state licenses the trade. See Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance - Division Of Professional Registration - Missouri State Board of Therapeutic Massage 3.

Typical path

  1. Complete a board-approved program.

  2. Pass MBLEx or the state exam.

  3. Apply to Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance - Division Of Professional Registration - Missouri State Board of Therapeutic Massage.

Hour totals, fees, and reciprocity rules change. Confirm current requirements with Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance - Division Of Professional Registration - Missouri State Board of Therapeutic Massage before you enroll.

Massage Therapist Wages by Metro Area in Missouri

Massage Therapists Wages by Metro Area in Missouri

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

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)		Experienced
(90th pctile)
St. Louis1,010$59,020$65,010$43,680$96,310
Kansas City650$55,810$66,590$43,480$101,720
Springfield120$66,150$74,930$44,630$111,890

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 Missouri? Missouri currently employs approximately 1,500 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 Missouri with an out-of-state license? Contact the Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance - Division Of Professional Registration - Missouri State Board of Therapeutic Massage for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

What training programs are available in Missouri? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and state-approved training programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in Missouri.

How much do massage therapists earn in Missouri compared to the national average? The median annual wage for massage therapists in Missouri is $62,050, which is $4,100 above the national median of $57,950 according to BLS data 1.

In Missouri

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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

  1. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

  2. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎

  3. Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance - Division Of Professional Registration - Missouri State Board of Therapeutic Massage - Licensing Information: http://pr.mo.gov/massage.asp ↩︎ ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

DataProviderVintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsMay 2025
Employment ProjectionsU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data SystemNational Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirementsCareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programsCareerOneStop / 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)