California Median
$45,970
per year
Hourly Rate
$22.10
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-21% vs US median
US median $58,450
State Rank
#45 of 50
14,600 employed here
How much does a Massage Therapist make in California?
A Massage Therapist working in California earns a median salary of $45,970 per year, or about $22.10 per hour. That is 21% below the national median of $58,450 for this occupation.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $34,320 while the top 10% make $89,880 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $35,170 and $64,130 a year.
Massage Therapist salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,320 | $16.50 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $35,170 | $16.91 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $45,970 | $22.10 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $64,130 | $30.83 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $89,880 | $43.21 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 45th out of 50 states and territories for Massage Therapist pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Massage Therapist salary in other states
Alaska $134,930Washington $87,360Oregon $86,970Hawaii $81,280New Hampshire $80,360Rhode Island $74,960North Dakota $74,140Maine $73,290Michigan $70,960District of Columbia $64,110Massachusetts $63,390Minnesota $63,070New York $62,630Arizona $62,400Maryland $62,270Connecticut $62,260Virginia $62,220Utah $62,130Missouri $62,050Wyoming $61,980Colorado $61,060North Carolina $60,650Illinois $60,490Idaho $60,420Kentucky $59,790Texas $59,370Delaware $58,870Pennsylvania $58,300Wisconsin $58,070South Carolina $58,000Iowa $57,710Ohio $55,990Indiana $55,590Nebraska $53,950Montana $53,540Nevada $53,540South Dakota $52,000Georgia $50,820New Jersey $50,150Tennessee $50,070Kansas $49,990Florida $49,680Alabama $48,930West Virginia $46,600Mississippi $40,490Arkansas $39,990New Mexico $37,840Oklahoma $36,630Louisiana $36,480
Working as a Massage Therapist in California
Nationally, about 99,000 people work as Massage Therapists in the United States. A certificate or diploma program (usually 6 to 18 months) is the typical entry path.
Considering a move? Compare California pay ($45,970) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Massage Therapist make in California?
The median Massage Therapist salary in California is $45,970 per year, or about $22.10 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $34,320 at the entry level to $89,880 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Massage Therapists about 21% less than the national median of $58,450. California ranks 45th out of 50 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Massage Therapists?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $45,970 a year. About 14,600 Massage Therapists are employed in California. A lower cost of living can offset the smaller paycheck, so compare take-home value, not just salary.
What are the highest-paying jobs in California?
The highest-paying occupations in California include Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($400,150), Neurologist ($357,080), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($353,900), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Massage Therapist salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.