How to Become a Massage Therapist in North Carolina (2026)

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

North Carolina employs about 2,460 massage therapists earning a median $60,650 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 NC Board of Massage and Bodywork Therapy.

Compare Massage Therapist Schools in North Carolina

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
165.9Contact school for pricing$26,33190%—111 mi
264.4$2,756 in-state / $8,900 out-of-state$48,14437%Yes*80 mi
358.9$2,040 in-state / $6,648 out-of-state$43,95253%Yes*25 mi
456.2$5,002 in-state / $11,440 out-of-state$44,01642%Yes*89 mi
552.9$2,276 in-state / $6,884 out-of-state$48,62534%Yes*51 mi
651.6$1,980 in-state / $6,588 out-of-state$44,53346%Yes*37 mi
750.3$4,468 in-state / $8,836 out-of-state$46,00038%Yes*122 mi
850.2Contact school for pricing$20,56275%—130 mi
946.8$25,080$35,87177%Yes*68 mi
1043.9$5,715 in-state / $9,016 out-of-state$45,87634%Yes*111 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.

North Carolina employs approximately 2,460 massage therapists according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $60,650 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 North Carolina, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

Quick Answers About How to Become a Massage Therapist in North Carolina

How to become a Massage Therapist in North Carolina? 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 NC Board of Massage and Bodywork Therapy.

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 NC Board of Massage and Bodywork Therapy.

Do I need a license in North Carolina? Yes. North Carolina credentials this role through NC Board of Massage and Bodywork Therapy 3. See the licensing section below.

What do massage therapists earn in North Carolina? The median annual wage for massage therapists in North Carolina is $60,650 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $31,050 and experienced professionals can earn $96,510 or more 1.

How to Become a Massage Therapist in North Carolina

  1. Meet board entry rules. Confirm age and education rules with NC Board of Massage and Bodywork Therapy. Do not treat minimum age as years of work.
  2. Complete a board-approved massage program. Finish the hour requirement NC Board of Massage and Bodywork Therapy 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 NC Board of Massage and Bodywork Therapy.
  4. Apply for the massage license. Apply to NC Board of Massage and Bodywork Therapy 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 North Carolina

Massage therapists in North Carolina complete board-approved hours, pass an exam (often MBLEx), and apply to NC Board of Massage and Bodywork Therapy where the state licenses the trade. See NC Board of Massage and Bodywork Therapy 3.

Typical path

  1. Complete a board-approved program.

  2. Pass MBLEx or the state exam.

  3. Apply to NC Board of Massage and Bodywork Therapy.

Hour totals, fees, and reciprocity rules change. Confirm current requirements with NC Board of Massage and Bodywork Therapy before you enroll.

Massage Therapist Wages by Metro Area in North Carolina

Massage Therapists Wages by Metro Area in North Carolina

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

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)		Experienced
(90th pctile)
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia930$58,930$63,130$32,740$96,690
Raleigh-Cary650$71,480$71,770$40,660$95,280
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk540$57,510$65,840$37,640$102,200
Asheville130$47,780$51,620$30,560$74,720
Durham-Chapel Hill130$61,170$72,020$31,360$97,290
Greensboro-High Point130$63,250$66,670$29,480$92,060
Wilmington120$81,390$68,040$20,890$121,240
Pinehurst-Southern Pines80$56,260$58,820$28,560$89,980
Winston-Salem70$70,120$71,390$37,390$99,580
Fayetteville60$56,230$67,290$31,520$103,660

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 North Carolina? North Carolina currently employs approximately 2,460 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 North Carolina with an out-of-state license? Contact the NC Board of Massage and Bodywork Therapy for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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

How much do massage therapists earn in North Carolina compared to the national average? The median annual wage for massage therapists in North Carolina is $60,650, which is $2,700 above the national median of $57,950 according to BLS data 1.

In North Carolina

Top local programs

Related trades & nearby areas

Explore More Trades in North Carolina

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. NC Board of Massage and Bodywork Therapy - Licensing Information: https://www.bmbt.org ↩︎ ↩︎

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)