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

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

South Carolina employs about 1,840 massage therapists earning a median $58,000 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 SC Massage / Bodywork Panel.

Compare Massage Therapist Schools in South 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%—27 mi
258.9$2,040 in-state / $6,648 out-of-state$43,95253%Yes*128 mi
351.3$5,071 in-state / $10,135 out-of-state$48,99128%Yes*111 mi
450.3$4,468 in-state / $8,836 out-of-state$46,00038%Yes*100 mi
550.2Contact school for pricing$20,56275%—111 mi
650.1$3,388 in-state / $5,956 out-of-state$40,63543%Yes*111 mi
750.1Contact school for pricing$24,04481%—81 mi
847.1$25,080$33,94167%Yes*71 mi
946.8$25,080$35,87177%Yes*98 mi
1043.9$5,715 in-state / $9,016 out-of-state$45,87634%Yes*26 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.

South Carolina employs approximately 1,840 massage therapists according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $58,000 1. The state’s concentration of massage therapist jobs is 1.25x the national average, indicating strong demand. 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 South Carolina, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

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

How to become a Massage Therapist in South 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 SC Massage / Bodywork Panel.

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 SC Massage / Bodywork Panel.

Do I need a license in South Carolina? Yes. South Carolina credentials this role through SC Massage / Bodywork Panel 3. See the licensing section below.

What do massage therapists earn in South Carolina? The median annual wage for massage therapists in South Carolina is $58,000 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $17,340 and experienced professionals can earn $95,540 or more 1.

How to Become a Massage Therapist in South Carolina

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

Massage therapists in South Carolina complete board-approved hours, pass an exam (often MBLEx), and apply to SC Massage / Bodywork Panel where the state licenses the trade. See SC Massage / Bodywork Panel 3.

Typical path

  1. Complete a board-approved program.

  2. Pass MBLEx or the state exam.

  3. Apply to SC Massage / Bodywork Panel.

Hour totals, fees, and reciprocity rules change. Confirm current requirements with SC Massage / Bodywork Panel before you enroll.

Massage Therapist Wages by Metro Area in South Carolina

Massage Therapists Wages by Metro Area in South Carolina

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), massage therapists wages in South 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
Charleston-North Charleston400$62,140$62,730$18,960$99,410
Greenville-Anderson-Greer270$48,730$51,590$18,220$95,520
Spartanburg270$60,100$64,020$39,840$91,110
Columbia240$59,310$53,900$17,840$88,960
Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach160$39,360$44,620$15,240$94,660
Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal140$62,120$64,970$17,100$102,800
Augusta-Richmond County130$58,800$61,590$41,570$88,760

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 South Carolina? South Carolina currently employs approximately 1,840 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 South Carolina with an out-of-state license? Contact the SC Massage / Bodywork Panel for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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

How much do massage therapists earn in South Carolina compared to the national average? The median annual wage for massage therapists in South Carolina is $58,000, which is $50 above the national median of $57,950 according to BLS data 1.

In South Carolina

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. SC Massage / Bodywork Panel - Licensing Information: http://www.llr.state.sc.us/POL/Massagetherapy/ ↩︎ ↩︎

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)