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

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

South Dakota employs about 180 massage therapists earning a median $52,000 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 South Dakota Board of Massage Therapy.

Compare Massage Therapist Schools in South 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
168.7$6,121$49,85950%Yes*221 mi
264.5$5,908$54,58147%Yes*219 mi
362.1Contact school for pricing$35,39788%—133 mi
459.8$7,392 in-state / $7,872 out-of-state$47,15850%Yes*228 mi
558.2$11,822$25,73880%—255 mi
654.4Contact school for pricing$33,73583%—286 mi
752.9Contact school for pricing$28,68588%—194 mi
850.5Contact school for pricing$36,10060%—226 mi
947.5Contact school for pricing$27,77890%—281 mi
1045.4Contact school for pricing$35,00779%—193 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 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.

At a Glance

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

How to become a Massage Therapist in South 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 South Dakota Board of Massage 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 South Dakota Board of Massage Therapy.

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

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.

How to Become a Massage Therapist in South Dakota

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

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

Typical path

  1. Complete a board-approved program.

  2. Pass MBLEx or the state exam.

  3. Apply to South Dakota Board of Massage Therapy.

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

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 ( OES data), massage therapists wages in South Dakota vary by metro area.

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)		Experienced
(90th pctile)
Sioux Falls70$53,920$47,220$36,350$54,960
Rapid City50$52,970$48,930$35,720$54,230
Sioux City30$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 .

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 state-approved training programs. Use the school finder above to search for 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.

In South Dakota

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. South Dakota Board of Massage Therapy - Licensing Information: http://doh.sd.gov/Boards/massage/ ↩︎ ↩︎

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)