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

"The primary Nebraska license requires approximately 1,000 hours of qualifying experience, which is roughly 0.5 years of full-time work."

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

"In Nebraska, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Nebraska Division of Employment and Training - Registered Apprenticeship, 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 Nebraska

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

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), massage therapists in Nebraska earned a median annual wage of approximately $53,950. Employment concentration in Nebraska is roughly 0.42 of the national average, meaning fewer workers per capita than the U.S. as a whole."

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

"Yes. Nebraska requires state-level licensing or registration for massage therapists, administered by the Nebraska Dept. of Health and Human Services - Public Health Division, Licensure Unit, Office of Behavioral Health \u0026 Consumer Services. See the licensing section above for credential types and current requirements."

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

"Nebraska currently employs approximately 270 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

Nebraska massage therapists earn a median annual wage of $53,950 ($25.94/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 270 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -7.7% below the national median of $58,450 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $53,950 ($25.94/hr)
25th percentile: $50,630 per year
75th percentile: $83,440 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $93,390 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $47,360 per year
Workers employed in Nebraska: 270
Versus national median: -7.7% below the U.S. median of $58,450
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.42 - this occupation is less concentrated in Nebraska than the national average

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

Nebraska employs approximately 270 massage therapists according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $53,950 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 Nebraska, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming A Massage Therapist in Nebraska

How do I become a massage therapist in Nebraska? Nebraska requires credentials such as Massage Therapist. The licensing authority is the Nebraska Dept. of Health and Human Services - Public Health Division, Licensure Unit, Office of Behavioral Health & Consumer Services ³. You also need to complete an approved training program or apprenticeship.

How long does it take? The primary license requires approximately 1,000 hours of experience (roughly 0.5 years of full-time work) ³.

Do I need a license in Nebraska? Yes. Nebraska has licensing or registration requirements for massage therapists. The Nebraska Dept. of Health and Human Services - Public Health Division, Licensure Unit, Office of Behavioral Health & Consumer Services oversees licensing ³. See the licensing section below for details.

What do massage therapists earn in Nebraska? The median annual wage for massage therapists in Nebraska is $53,950 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $47,360 and experienced professionals can earn $93,390 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: Nebraska Dept. of Health and Human Services - Public Health Division, Licensure Unit, Office of Behavioral Health & Consumer Services
Median wage (Nebraska): $53,950 per year ¹

Massage Therapist License Requirements in Nebraska

The Nebraska Dept. of Health and Human Services - Public Health Division, Licensure Unit, Office of Behavioral Health & Consumer Services oversees massage therapist licensing in Nebraska ³.

License Types

License	Requirements
Massage Therapist	Occupational Description Massage Therapists engage in the physical, mechanical, or electrical manipulation of soft tissue for the therapeutic purposes of enhancing muscle relaxation, reduc…

License information sourced from CareerOneStop ⁴.

Massage Therapist Wages by Metro Area in Nebraska

Massage Therapists Wages by Metro Area in Nebraska

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Omaha	210	$51,950	$61,580	$45,050	$96,050
Lincoln	40	$65,860	$70,520	$47,770	$93,390
Sioux City	30	$61,890	$60,300	$44,760	$64,250

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 Nebraska

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Omaha	210	$51,950
Lincoln	40	$65,860

Explore massage therapist programs in Omaha and Lincoln.

Explore More Trades in Nebraska

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for massage therapists in Nebraska? Nebraska currently employs approximately 270 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 Nebraska with an out-of-state license? Contact the Nebraska Dept. of Health and Human Services - Public Health Division, Licensure Unit, Office of Behavioral Health & Consumer Services for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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

How much do massage therapists earn in Nebraska compared to the national average? The median annual wage for massage therapists in Nebraska is $53,950, which is $4,000 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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Nebraska Dept. of Health and Human Services - Public Health Division, Licensure Unit, Office of Behavioral Health & Consumer Services - Licensing Information: https://dhhs.ne.gov/licensure/pages/professions-and-occupations.aspx ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
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)