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

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

New Mexico employs about 360 massage therapists earning a median $37,840 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 New Mexico Regulation & Licensing Department - Boards and Commissions Division - Massage Therapy Board.

Compare Massage Therapist Schools in New Mexico

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. 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)TuitionMedian grad earnings (all majors)Graduation rateOnlineDistance
184.8Contact school for pricing$47,35596%—340 mi
258.6Contact school for pricing$23,96782%—363 mi
351.5Contact school for pricing$53,68632%Yes*248 mi
451.4Contact school for pricing$48,76525%Yes*360 mi
551.3Contact school for pricing$62,40522%Yes*264 mi
646.6Contact school for pricing$53,855Not reportedYes*96 mi
746.5Contact school for pricing$39,71223%Yes*177 mi
843.4Contact school for pricing$39,60964%—341 mi
941.4Contact school for pricing$59,818Not reported—146 mi
1040.9Contact school for pricing$39,60959%—84 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 Mexico employs approximately 360 massage therapists according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $37,840 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 Mexico, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

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

How to become a Massage Therapist in New Mexico? 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 New Mexico Regulation & Licensing Department - Boards and Commissions Division - Massage Therapy Board.

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 New Mexico Regulation & Licensing Department - Boards and Commissions Division - Massage Therapy Board.

Do I need a license in New Mexico? Yes. New Mexico credentials this role through New Mexico Regulation & Licensing Department - Boards and Commissions Division - Massage Therapy Board 3. See the licensing section below.

What do massage therapists earn in New Mexico? The median annual wage for massage therapists in New Mexico is $37,840 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $29,430 and experienced professionals can earn $91,730 or more 1.

How to Become a Massage Therapist in New Mexico

  1. Meet board entry rules. Confirm age and education rules with New Mexico Regulation & Licensing Department - Boards and Commissions Division - Massage Therapy Board. Do not treat minimum age as years of work.
  2. Complete a board-approved massage program. Finish the hour requirement New Mexico Regulation & Licensing Department - Boards and Commissions Division - Massage Therapy Board 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 New Mexico Regulation & Licensing Department - Boards and Commissions Division - Massage Therapy Board.
  4. Apply for the massage license. Apply to New Mexico Regulation & Licensing Department - Boards and Commissions Division - Massage Therapy Board 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 Mexico

Massage therapists in New Mexico complete board-approved hours, pass an exam (often MBLEx), and apply to New Mexico Regulation & Licensing Department - Boards and Commissions Division - Massage Therapy Board where the state licenses the trade. See New Mexico Regulation & Licensing Department - Boards and Commissions Division - Massage Therapy Board 3.

Typical path

  1. Complete a board-approved program.

  2. Pass MBLEx or the state exam.

  3. Apply to New Mexico Regulation & Licensing Department - Boards and Commissions Division - Massage Therapy Board.

Hour totals, fees, and reciprocity rules change. Confirm current requirements with New Mexico Regulation & Licensing Department - Boards and Commissions Division - Massage Therapy Board before you enroll.

Massage Therapist Wages by Metro Area in New Mexico

Massage Therapists Wages by Metro Area in New Mexico

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

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)		Experienced
(90th pctile)
Albuquerque240$36,440$50,570$36,440$91,730
Santa Fe50$47,390$42,030$24,960$54,140

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 Mexico? New Mexico currently employs approximately 360 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 Mexico with an out-of-state license? Contact the New Mexico Regulation & Licensing Department - Boards and Commissions Division - Massage Therapy Board for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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

How much do massage therapists earn in New Mexico compared to the national average? The median annual wage for massage therapists in New Mexico is $37,840, which is $20,110 below the national median of $57,950 according to BLS data 1.

In New Mexico

Top local programs

Related trades & nearby areas

Explore More Trades in New Mexico

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. New Mexico Regulation & Licensing Department - Boards and Commissions Division - Massage Therapy Board - Licensing Information: https://www.rld.nm.gov/boards-and-commissions/individual-boards-and-commissions/massage-therapy/ ↩︎ ↩︎

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)