How to Become a Massage Therapist in Pennsylvania (2026)

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Pennsylvania employs about 2,990 massage therapists earning a median $58,300 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 Department of State - Bureau of Professional & Occupational Affairs - Massage Therapy Board.

Compare Massage Therapist Schools in Pennsylvania

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
169.9Contact school for pricing$26,07393%—49 mi
263.3$4,322 in-state / $11,522 out-of-state$55,88931%Yes*94 mi
361.3Contact school for pricing$26,41186%—98 mi
459.1Contact school for pricing$34,26470%—42 mi
556.6Contact school for pricing$25,46397%—66 mi
650.3$5,550 in-state / $15,270 out-of-state$49,40824%Yes*88 mi
748.1$12,150$37,35185%—89 mi
838.4Contact school for pricing$35,98984%—86 mi
934.8Contact school for pricing$34,76270%—82 mi
10Not ratedContact school for pricing$32,178Not reported—85 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.

Pennsylvania employs approximately 2,990 massage therapists according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $58,300 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 Pennsylvania, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

Quick Answers About How to Become a Massage Therapist in Pennsylvania

How to become a Massage Therapist in Pennsylvania? 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 Department of State - Bureau of Professional & Occupational Affairs - 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 Department of State - Bureau of Professional & Occupational Affairs - Massage Therapy Board.

Do I need a license in Pennsylvania? Yes. Pennsylvania credentials this role through Department of State - Bureau of Professional & Occupational Affairs - Massage Therapy Board 3. See the licensing section below.

What do massage therapists earn in Pennsylvania? The median annual wage for massage therapists in Pennsylvania is $58,300 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $31,000 and experienced professionals can earn $110,770 or more 1.

How to Become a Massage Therapist in Pennsylvania

  1. Meet board entry rules. Confirm age and education rules with Department of State - Bureau of Professional & Occupational Affairs - Massage Therapy Board. Do not treat minimum age as years of work.
  2. Complete a board-approved massage program. Finish the hour requirement Department of State - Bureau of Professional & Occupational Affairs - 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 Department of State - Bureau of Professional & Occupational Affairs - Massage Therapy Board.
  4. Apply for the massage license. Apply to Department of State - Bureau of Professional & Occupational Affairs - 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 Pennsylvania

Massage therapists in Pennsylvania complete board-approved hours, pass an exam (often MBLEx), and apply to Department of State - Bureau of Professional & Occupational Affairs - Massage Therapy Board where the state licenses the trade. See Department of State - Bureau of Professional & Occupational Affairs - Massage Therapy Board 3.

Typical path

  1. Complete a board-approved program.

  2. Pass MBLEx or the state exam.

  3. Apply to Department of State - Bureau of Professional & Occupational Affairs - Massage Therapy Board.

Hour totals, fees, and reciprocity rules change. Confirm current requirements with Department of State - Bureau of Professional & Occupational Affairs - Massage Therapy Board before you enroll.

Massage Therapist Wages by Metro Area in Pennsylvania

Massage Therapists Wages by Metro Area in Pennsylvania

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

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)		Experienced
(90th pctile)
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington1,500$59,560$65,530$33,720$124,800
Pittsburgh560$59,290$64,550$35,340$114,140
Harrisburg-Carlisle190$48,190$58,460$35,580$94,610
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton170$49,940$55,880$29,500$102,340
Lancaster160$59,000$60,930$28,790$92,710
Scranton--Wilkes-Barre110$58,380$60,480$28,870$85,990
Reading100$50,430$60,800$30,830$100,790
Erie80$58,600$60,500$34,440$89,260
York-Hanover80$59,540$63,300$29,440$114,790
Altoona40$50,480$59,000$23,210$105,840
State College40$82,490$79,500$27,750$129,420

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 Pennsylvania? Pennsylvania currently employs approximately 2,990 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 Pennsylvania with an out-of-state license? Contact the Department of State - Bureau of Professional & Occupational Affairs - Massage Therapy Board for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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

How much do massage therapists earn in Pennsylvania compared to the national average? The median annual wage for massage therapists in Pennsylvania is $58,300, which is $350 above the national median of $57,950 according to BLS data 1.

In Pennsylvania

Top local programs

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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. Department of State - Bureau of Professional & Occupational Affairs - Massage Therapy Board - Licensing Information: https://www.dos.pa.gov/ProfessionalLicensing/BoardsCommissions/MassageTherapy/Pages/default.aspx ↩︎ ↩︎

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)