How to Become a Massage Therapist in New Hampshire (2026)

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

New Hampshire employs about 270 massage therapists earning a median $80,360 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 Office of Professional Licensure and Certification.

Compare Massage Therapist Schools in New Hampshire

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
172.6Contact school for pricing$34,62084%—72 mi
248.5Contact school for pricing$32,58685%—78 mi
344.3$7,200 in-state / $15,450 out-of-state$54,40734%—49 mi
444.2$6,940 in-state / $15,190 out-of-state$54,46522%—32 mi
541.1$7,050 in-state / $15,300 out-of-state$60,67462%—94 mi
637.1Contact school for pricing$32,58677%—64 mi
734.9Contact school for pricing$42,31663%—89 mi
834.8$6,164 in-state / $11,468 out-of-state$47,66620%—95 mi
916.5Contact school for pricing$32,586Not reported—47 mi
10Not ratedContact school for pricing$44,844Not reported—93 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.

New Hampshire employs approximately 270 massage therapists according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $80,360 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 New Hampshire, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

Quick Answers About How to Become a Massage Therapist in New Hampshire

How to become a Massage Therapist in New Hampshire? 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 Office of Professional Licensure and Certification.

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 Office of Professional Licensure and Certification.

Do I need a license in New Hampshire? Yes. New Hampshire credentials this role through Office of Professional Licensure and Certification 3. See the licensing section below.

What do massage therapists earn in New Hampshire? The median annual wage for massage therapists in New Hampshire is $80,360 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $36,500 and experienced professionals can earn $114,400 or more 1.

How to Become a Massage Therapist in New Hampshire

  1. Meet board entry rules. Confirm age and education rules with Office of Professional Licensure and Certification. Do not treat minimum age as years of work.
  2. Complete a board-approved massage program. Finish the hour requirement Office of Professional Licensure and Certification 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 Office of Professional Licensure and Certification.
  4. Apply for the massage license. Apply to Office of Professional Licensure and Certification 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 New Hampshire

Massage therapists in New Hampshire complete board-approved hours, pass an exam (often MBLEx), and apply to Office of Professional Licensure and Certification where the state licenses the trade. See Office of Professional Licensure and Certification 3.

Typical path

  1. Complete a board-approved program.

  2. Pass MBLEx or the state exam.

  3. Apply to Office of Professional Licensure and Certification.

Hour totals, fees, and reciprocity rules change. Confirm current requirements with Office of Professional Licensure and Certification before you enroll.

Massage Therapist Wages by Metro Area in New Hampshire

Massage Therapists Wages by Metro Area in New Hampshire

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

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)		Experienced
(90th pctile)
Boston-Cambridge-Newton2,180$75,160$76,680$46,430$104,710
Manchester-Nashua110$80,360$87,500$65,220$115,940

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 New Hampshire? New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire with an out-of-state license? Contact the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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

How much do massage therapists earn in New Hampshire compared to the national average? The median annual wage for massage therapists in New Hampshire is $80,360, which is $22,410 above the national median of $57,950 according to BLS data 1.

In New Hampshire

Top local programs

Related trades & nearby areas

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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. Office of Professional Licensure and Certification - Licensing Information: https://www.oplc.nh.gov/advisory-board-massage-therapists ↩︎ ↩︎

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)