"How long does it take to become a massage therapist in South Dakota?"

"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 South Dakota?"

"Yes. South Dakota requires state-level licensing or registration for massage therapists, administered by the South Dakota Board of Massage Therapy. See the licensing section above for credential types and current requirements."

"What apprenticeships are available for massage therapists in South Dakota?"

"In South Dakota, registered apprenticeships are administered through the South Dakota Department of Labor - Registered 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 South Dakota

Q: "How much do massage therapists earn in South Dakota?"

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), massage therapists in South Dakota earned a median annual wage of approximately $52,000. Employment concentration in South Dakota is roughly 0.63 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 South Dakota?"

"South Dakota currently employs approximately 180 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

South Dakota massage therapists earn a median annual wage of $52,000 ($25.00/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 180 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -11.0% below the national median of $58,450 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $52,000 ($25.00/hr)
25th percentile: $42,000 per year
75th percentile: $53,920 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $56,310 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $35,720 per year
Workers employed in South Dakota: 180
Versus national median: -11.0% below the U.S. median of $58,450
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.63 - this occupation is less concentrated in South Dakota than the national average

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

South Dakota employs approximately 180 massage therapists according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $52,000 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 South Dakota, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming A Massage Therapist in South Dakota

How do I become a massage therapist in South Dakota? South Dakota requires credentials such as Massage Therapist. The licensing authority is the South Dakota Board of 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 South Dakota? Yes. South Dakota has licensing or registration requirements for massage therapists. The South Dakota Board of Massage Therapy oversees licensing ³. See the licensing section below for details.

What do massage therapists earn in South Dakota? The median annual wage for massage therapists in South Dakota is $52,000 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $35,720 and experienced professionals can earn $56,310 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: South Dakota Board of Massage Therapy
Median wage (South Dakota): $52,000 per year ¹

Massage Therapist License Requirements in South Dakota

The South Dakota Board of Massage Therapy oversees massage therapist licensing in South Dakota ³.

License Types

License	Requirements
Massage Therapist	A person who engages in the systematic mobilization of the soft tissues of the body through the application of hands or devices for the purposes of therapy, relaxation, or education.

License information sourced from CareerOneStop ⁴.

Massage Therapist Wages by Metro Area in South Dakota

Massage Therapists Wages by Metro Area in South Dakota

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025 OES data), massage therapists wages in South Dakota vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Sioux Falls	70	$53,920	$47,220	$36,350	$54,960
Rapid City	50	$52,970	$48,930	$35,720	$54,230
Sioux City	30	$61,890	$60,300	$44,760	$64,250

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 2025.

Top Metros for Massage therapists in South Dakota

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Sioux Falls	70	$53,920
Rapid City	50	$52,970

Explore massage therapist programs in Sioux Falls and Rapid City.

Explore More Trades in South Dakota

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for massage therapists in South Dakota? South Dakota currently employs approximately 180 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 Dakota with an out-of-state license? Contact the South Dakota Board of Massage Therapy for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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

How much do massage therapists earn in South Dakota compared to the national average? The median annual wage for massage therapists in South Dakota is $52,000, which is $5,950 below 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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
South Dakota Board of Massage Therapy - Licensing Information: http://doh.sd.gov/Boards/massage/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
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)