"How long does massage therapist in New York training take?"

"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."

"Do massage therapists need a license in New York?"

"Yes. New York requires state-level licensing or registration for massage therapists, administered by the NYS Education Department - State Board for Massage Therapy. See the licensing section above for credential types and current requirements."

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

"In New York, registered apprenticeships are administered through the New York Office of 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 York

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

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), massage therapists in New York earned a median annual wage of approximately $62,630. Employment concentration in New York is roughly 0.73 of the national average, meaning fewer workers per capita than the U.S. as a whole."

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

"New York currently employs approximately 4,500 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 York massage therapists earn a median annual wage of $62,630 ($30.11/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 4,500 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 7.2% above the national median of $58,450 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $62,630 ($30.11/hr)
25th percentile: $37,410 per year
75th percentile: $90,030 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $110,210 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $33,280 per year
Workers employed in New York: 4,500
Versus national median: 7.2% above the U.S. median of $58,450
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.73 - this occupation is less concentrated in New York than the national average

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

New York employs approximately 4,500 massage therapists according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $62,630 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 York, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

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

How to become a massage therapist in New York? New York requires credentials such as Massage Therapist. The licensing authority is the NYS Education Department - State Board for Massage Therapy 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 York? Yes. New York has licensing or registration requirements for massage therapists. The NYS Education Department - State Board for Massage Therapy oversees licensing ³. See the licensing section below for details.

What do massage therapists earn in New York? The median annual wage for massage therapists in New York is $62,630 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $33,280 and experienced professionals can earn $110,210 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: NYS Education Department - State Board for Massage Therapy
Median wage (New York): $62,630 per year ¹
Exam requirement: Third-party exam required

Massage Therapist License Requirements in New York

The NYS Education Department - State Board for Massage Therapy oversees massage therapist licensing in New York ³.

License Types

License	Requirements
Massage Therapist	Massage therapists are licensed health professionals who apply a variety of scientifically developed techniques to the muscular structure of the human body to improve muscle tone and circulation.

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 York

Massage Therapists Wages by Metro Area in New York

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), massage therapists wages in New York 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
Buffalo-Cheektowaga	210	$61,830	$63,080	$32,240	$91,560
Rochester	200	$66,110	$66,960	$32,240	$92,000
Albany-Schenectady-Troy	190	$62,310	$59,900	$32,240	$89,350
Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh	120	$68,640	$68,780	$34,110	$105,120
Syracuse	110	$43,480	$53,080	$32,500	$86,390
Kingston	60	$77,150	$84,270	$33,970	$131,450
Ithaca	40	$80,340	$74,090	$60,320	$90,030

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 .

Top Metros for Massage therapists in New York

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
New York-Newark-Jersey City	5,420	$50,600
Buffalo-Cheektowaga	210	$61,830
Rochester	200	$66,110
Albany-Schenectady-Troy	190	$62,310
Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh	120	$68,640

Explore massage therapist programs in New York, Buffalo, and Rochester.

Explore More Trades in New York

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for massage therapists in New York? New York currently employs approximately 4,500 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 York with an out-of-state license? Contact the NYS Education Department - State Board for Massage Therapy for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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

How much do massage therapists earn in New York compared to the national average? The median annual wage for massage therapists in New York is $62,630, which is $4,680 above 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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
NYS Education Department - State Board for Massage Therapy - Licensing Information: http://www.op.nysed.gov/prof/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
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)