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

"The primary Tennessee license requires approximately 500 hours of qualifying experience, which is roughly 0.2 years of full-time work."

"Do massage therapists need a license in Tennessee?"

"Yes. Tennessee requires state-level licensing or registration for massage therapists, administered by the Department of Health - Division of Health Related Boards. See the licensing section above for credential types and current requirements."

"What apprenticeships are available for massage therapists in Tennessee?"

"In Tennessee, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Tennessee Department of Labor And Workforce Development - 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 Tennessee

Q: "How much do massage therapists earn in Tennessee?"

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), massage therapists in Tennessee earned a median annual wage of approximately $50,070. Employment concentration in Tennessee is roughly 0.59 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 Tennessee?"

"Tennessee currently employs approximately 1,230 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

Tennessee massage therapists earn a median annual wage of $50,070 ($24.07/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 1,230 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -14.3% below the national median of $58,450 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $50,070 ($24.07/hr)
25th percentile: $46,920 per year
75th percentile: $64,050 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $95,260 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $36,960 per year
Workers employed in Tennessee: 1,230
Versus national median: -14.3% below the U.S. median of $58,450
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.59 - this occupation is less concentrated in Tennessee than the national average

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

Tennessee employs approximately 1,230 massage therapists according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $50,070 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 Tennessee, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming A Massage Therapist in Tennessee

How do I become a massage therapist in Tennessee? Tennessee requires credentials such as MASSAGE THERAPIST. The licensing authority is the Department of Health - Division of Health Related Boards. You also need to complete an approved training program or apprenticeship.

How long does it take? The primary license requires approximately 500 hours of experience (roughly 0.2 years of full-time work).

Do I need a license in Tennessee? Yes. Tennessee has licensing or registration requirements for massage therapists. See the licensing section below for details.

What do massage therapists earn in Tennessee? The median annual wage for massage therapists in Tennessee is $50,070 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $36,960 and experienced professionals can earn $95,260 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: Department of Health - Division of Health Related Boards
Median wage (Tennessee): $50,070 per year ¹
Exam requirement: Third-party exam required

Massage Therapist License Requirements in Tennessee

The Department of Health - Division of Health Related Boards oversees massage therapist licensing in Tennessee.

License Types

License	Requirements
MASSAGE THERAPIST	MASSAGE THERAPIST A massage therapist is a person who is licensed by the board and who practices massage for compensation.

Additional Requirements

Background check: Specific type of conviction prohibited
Exam: Third-party exam required
Experience: No experience required

License information sourced from CareerOneStop ³.

Massage Therapist Wages by Metro Area in Tennessee

Massage Therapists Wages by Metro Area in Tennessee

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin	530	$52,140	$60,960	$40,590	$95,570
Knoxville	170	$47,120	$54,850	$15,690	$97,480
Memphis	160	$47,320	$52,400	$27,690	$90,920
Chattanooga	90	$48,030	$55,500	$36,120	$85,680
Johnson City	40	$52,410	$54,950	$37,750	$80,460

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 Tennessee

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin	530	$52,140
Knoxville	170	$47,120
Memphis	160	$47,320
Chattanooga	90	$48,030
Johnson City	40	$52,410

Explore massage therapist programs in Nashville, Knoxville, and Memphis.

Explore More Trades in Tennessee

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for massage therapists in Tennessee? Tennessee currently employs approximately 1,230 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 Tennessee with an out-of-state license? Contact the Department of Health - Division of Health Related Boards for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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

How much do massage therapists earn in Tennessee compared to the national average? The median annual wage for massage therapists in Tennessee is $50,070, which is $7,880 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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
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)