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

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

North Dakota employs about 100 massage therapists earning a median $74,140 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 ND Board of Massage.

Compare Massage Therapist Schools in North Dakota

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
170.1$6,128$54,74642%Yes*183 mi
268.7$6,121$49,85950%Yes*275 mi
364.5$5,908$54,58147%Yes*192 mi
462.1Contact school for pricing$35,39788%—304 mi
555.7$6,254$55,47350%Yes*233 mi
654.4Contact school for pricing$33,73583%—135 mi
752.9Contact school for pricing$28,68588%—281 mi
850.5Contact school for pricing$36,10060%—145 mi
946.5Contact school for pricing$38,85068%—356 mi
1046.3$5,682$53,29830%Yes*345 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 Dakota employs approximately 100 massage therapists according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $74,140 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 Dakota, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

  • Training paths: board-approved massage therapy program (find programs)
  • Typical timeline: a board-approved massage program that meets this state’s hour requirement, an exam (often MBLEx), and a state massage license where required
  • Licensing authority: ND Board of Massage
  • Exam: MBLEx or the exam the board uses
  • Median wage (North Dakota): $74,140 per year 1

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

How to become a Massage Therapist in North Dakota? 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 ND Board of Massage.

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 ND Board of Massage.

Do I need a license in North Dakota? Yes. North Dakota credentials this role through ND Board of Massage 3. See the licensing section below.

What do massage therapists earn in North Dakota? The median annual wage for massage therapists in North Dakota is $74,140 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $34,120 and experienced professionals can earn $110,870 or more 1.

How to Become a Massage Therapist in North Dakota

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

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

Typical path

  1. Complete a board-approved program.

  2. Pass MBLEx or the state exam.

  3. Apply to ND Board of Massage.

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

Massage Therapist Wages by Metro Area in North Dakota

Massage Therapists Wages by Metro Area in North Dakota

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

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)		Experienced
(90th pctile)
Fargo60$74,140$74,010$44,910$92,250

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 Dakota? North Dakota currently employs approximately 100 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 Dakota with an out-of-state license? Contact the ND Board of Massage for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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

How much do massage therapists earn in North Dakota compared to the national average? The median annual wage for massage therapists in North Dakota is $74,140, which is $16,190 above the national median of $57,950 according to BLS data 1.

In North Dakota

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. ND Board of Massage - Licensing Information: http://www.ndbmt.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)