Massage Therapist salary in California
What massage therapists earn in California and its metro areas, compared with the rest of the country.
Median pay$45,970$22.10 per hour
vs U.S.−21%U.S. median $58,450
Middle half earn$35,170 – $64,130Top 10%: $89,880+
Jobs14,6001.26× the U.S. concentration
Massage Therapist pay in California cities
Metro areas as BLS defines them. Click a column to sort.
| Metro area | Median | Hourly | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $43,530 | $20.93 | 5,680 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $45,200 | $21.73 | 1,820 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $40,280 | $19.37 | 1,800 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $44,760 | $21.52 | 1,330 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $51,980 | $24.99 | 720 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $50,060 | $24.07 | 680 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $50,620 | $24.34 | 310 |
| Napa, CA | $39,330 | $18.91 | 250 |
| Salinas, CA | $61,400 | $29.52 | 240 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $50,240 | $24.16 | 210 |
| Fresno, CA | $49,290 | $23.70 | 190 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $43,920 | $21.12 | 170 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $45,400 | $21.83 | 140 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $60,640 | $29.16 | 120 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $58,050 | $27.91 | 110 |
| Vallejo, CA | $58,870 | $28.30 | 100 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $57,300 | $27.55 | 90 |
| Modesto, CA | $45,360 | $21.81 | 60 |
| Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $42,130 | $20.25 | 50 |
| North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $60,600 | $29.13 | 50 |
| Chico, CA | $63,290 | $30.43 | 40 |
| Redding, CA | $50,690 | $24.37 | 40 |
| North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $60,660 | $29.16 | – |
Hospitals and jobs in California
Massage Therapist pay in similar states
New Jersey · $50,150 Tennessee · $50,070 Kansas · $49,990 Florida · $49,680 Alabama · $48,930 West Virginia · $46,600
Other healthcare salaries in California
Home Health and Personal Care Aides · $34,320 Registered Nurses · $140,270 Medical Assistants · $49,660 Nursing Assistants · $47,630 Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses · $79,750 Dental Assistants · $50,110 Pharmacy Technicians · $55,110 Pharmacists · $164,610 Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians · $76,010 Physical Therapists · $124,190 Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other · $60,390 Physicians, All Other · $281,590
Questions
How much does a massage therapist make in California?
Massage Therapists in California earned a median of $45,970 a year ($22.10 an hour) in May 2025, 21% less than the national median of $58,450. The middle half earned $35,170 to $64,130.
Where in California do massage therapists earn the most?
Among areas in California, pay was highest in Chico, CA at $63,290.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, all industries. Pay doesn't reflect cost of living, overtime or shift differentials.