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

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

New Jersey employs about 2,890 massage therapists earning a median $50,150 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 Dept. of Law and Public Safety - Division of Consumer Affairs - Massage, Bodywork and Somatic Therapy Examining Committee.

Compare Massage Therapist Schools in New Jersey

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
165.6$5,210 in-state / $8,090 out-of-state$45,40824%Yes*31 mi
250.5Contact school for pricing$38,87865%—21 mi
350.3$5,550 in-state / $15,270 out-of-state$49,40824%Yes*53 mi
443.1$5,415 in-state / $9,523 out-of-state$48,04220%Yes*11 mi
532.9$27,066$47,16257%—19 mi
631.8Contact school for pricing$36,91857%—20 mi
728.7Contact school for pricing$36,91856%—14 mi
827.8$17,926$44,84432%—17 mi
926.5Contact school for pricing$36,91855%—40 mi
1011.7Contact school for pricing$28,98333%—15 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 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.

At a Glance

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

How to become a Massage Therapist in New Jersey? 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 Dept. of Law and Public Safety - Division of Consumer Affairs - Massage, Bodywork and Somatic Therapy Examining Committee.

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 Dept. of Law and Public Safety - Division of Consumer Affairs - Massage, Bodywork and Somatic Therapy Examining Committee.

Do I need a license in New Jersey? Yes. New Jersey credentials this role through Dept. of Law and Public Safety - Division of Consumer Affairs - Massage, Bodywork and Somatic Therapy Examining Committee 3. See the licensing section below.

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.

How to Become a Massage Therapist in New Jersey

  1. Meet board entry rules. Confirm age and education rules with Dept. of Law and Public Safety - Division of Consumer Affairs - Massage, Bodywork and Somatic Therapy Examining Committee. Do not treat minimum age as years of work.
  2. Complete a board-approved massage program. Finish the hour requirement Dept. of Law and Public Safety - Division of Consumer Affairs - Massage, Bodywork and Somatic Therapy Examining Committee 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 Dept. of Law and Public Safety - Division of Consumer Affairs - Massage, Bodywork and Somatic Therapy Examining Committee.
  4. Apply for the massage license. Apply to Dept. of Law and Public Safety - Division of Consumer Affairs - Massage, Bodywork and Somatic Therapy Examining Committee 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 Jersey

Massage therapists in New Jersey complete board-approved hours, pass an exam (often MBLEx), and apply to Dept. of Law and Public Safety - Division of Consumer Affairs - Massage, Bodywork and Somatic Therapy Examining Committee where the state licenses the trade. See Dept. of Law and Public Safety - Division of Consumer Affairs - Massage, Bodywork and Somatic Therapy Examining Committee 3.

Typical path

  1. Complete a board-approved program.

  2. Pass MBLEx or the state exam.

  3. Apply to Dept. of Law and Public Safety - Division of Consumer Affairs - Massage, Bodywork and Somatic Therapy Examining Committee.

Hour totals, fees, and reciprocity rules change. Confirm current requirements with Dept. of Law and Public Safety - Division of Consumer Affairs - Massage, Bodywork and Somatic Therapy Examining Committee before you enroll.

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 ( OES data), massage therapists wages in New Jersey vary by metro area.

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)		Experienced
(90th pctile)
New York-Newark-Jersey City5,420$50,600$61,880$33,280$99,920
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington1,500$59,560$65,530$33,720$124,800
Atlantic City-Hammonton240$55,730$68,380$32,400$136,080
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton170$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 .

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 - Division of Consumer Affairs - 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 state-approved training programs. Use the school finder above to search for 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.

In New Jersey

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. Dept. of Law and Public Safety - Division of Consumer Affairs - Massage, Bodywork and Somatic Therapy Examining Committee - Licensing Information: http://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/mbt/ ↩︎ ↩︎

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)