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

"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."

"What apprenticeships are available for massage therapists in New Jersey?"

"In New Jersey, registered apprenticeships are administered through the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development - 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 New Jersey

Q: "How much do massage therapists earn in New Jersey?"

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), massage therapists in New Jersey earned a median annual wage of approximately $50,150."

Q: "Do massage therapists need a license in New Jersey?"

"Yes. New Jersey requires state-level licensing or registration for massage therapists, administered by the Dept. of Law and Public Safety - Massage, Bodywork and Somatic Therapy Examining Committee. See the licensing section above for credential types and current requirements."

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

"New Jersey currently employs approximately 2,890 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

New Jersey employs approximately 2,890 massage therapists according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $50,150 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 Jersey, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming A Massage Therapist in New Jersey

How do I become a massage therapist in New Jersey? New Jersey requires credentials such as MASSAGE THERAPIST. The licensing authority is the Dept. of Law and Public Safety - Massage, Bodywork and Somatic Therapy Examining Committee ³. 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 New Jersey? Yes. New Jersey has licensing or registration requirements for massage therapists. The Dept. of Law and Public Safety - Massage, Bodywork and Somatic Therapy Examining Committee oversees licensing ³. See the licensing section below for details.

What do massage therapists earn in New Jersey? The median annual wage for massage therapists in New Jersey is $50,150 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $33,280 and experienced professionals can earn $81,930 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: Dept. of Law and Public Safety - Massage, Bodywork and Somatic Therapy Examining Committee
Median wage (New Jersey): $50,150 per year ¹
Exam requirement: Third-party exam required

Massage Therapist License Requirements in New Jersey

The Dept. of Law and Public Safety - Massage, Bodywork and Somatic Therapy Examining Committee oversees massage therapist licensing in New Jersey ³.

License Types

License	Requirements
MASSAGE THERAPIST

Additional Requirements

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

License information sourced from CareerOneStop ⁴.

Massage Therapist Wages by Metro Area in New Jersey

Massage Therapists Wages by Metro Area in New Jersey

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
New York-Newark-Jersey City	5,420	$50,600	$61,880	$33,280	$99,920
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington	1,500	$59,560	$65,530	$33,720	$124,800
Atlantic City-Hammonton	240	$55,730	$68,380	$32,400	$136,080
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton	170	$49,940	$55,880	$29,500	$102,340

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 New Jersey

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Atlantic City-Hammonton	240	$55,730

Explore massage therapist programs in Atlantic City.

Explore More Trades in New Jersey

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for massage therapists in New Jersey? New Jersey currently employs approximately 2,890 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 Jersey with an out-of-state license? Contact the Dept. of Law and Public Safety - Massage, Bodywork and Somatic Therapy Examining Committee for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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

How much do massage therapists earn in New Jersey compared to the national average? The median annual wage for massage therapists in New Jersey is $50,150, which is $7,800 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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Dept. of Law and Public Safety - Massage, Bodywork and Somatic Therapy Examining Committee - Licensing Information: http://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/mbt/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
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)