168,000
massage therapist jobs in the U.S.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics counted about 168,000 massage therapist jobs in 2024.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2024 data
Reference guide
Massage Therapy Statistics: U.S. and Bay Area
Workforce, pay, and consumer-use figures for writers, researchers, and anyone looking for a clear view of massage therapy today.
Last updated August 11, 2026. Every figure below names its source and data date.
At a glance
Numbers worth keeping in context.
Massage therapy spans independent practices, spas, healthcare-adjacent settings, and private wellness appointments. The data below separates national workforce information from Bay Area estimates and consumer research, so each number can be read for what it actually measures.
42%
of massage therapists are self-employed
Self-employed workers made up the largest employment group for massage therapists in 2024.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2024 data
$57,950
median annual pay nationwide
This was the median annual wage for massage therapists in May 2024.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, May 2024
15%
projected job growth from 2024 to 2034
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects about 25,900 additional massage therapist jobs over the decade, with about 24,700 openings each year on average.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2024-2034 projection
1,750
massage therapist jobs in the San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward area
This was the Bureau of Labor Statistics employment estimate for the metro area in May 2023.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2023
$62,410
estimated average annual pay in the San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward area
The area estimate was based on a mean hourly wage of $30.01 in May 2023.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2023
11.1%
of U.S. adults visited a massage therapist in the previous year
Researchers reported this past-year rate from the 2022 National Health Interview Survey.
Levin and Bradshaw, Explore, 2022 survey, published 2024
71%
of massage consumers used massage for a health or medical reason
This reflects consumers surveyed about the 12 months ending June 2025.
American Massage Therapy Association, Consumer Views & Use of Massage Therapy, 12 months ending June 2025
How to use this page
Sources and methodology
This page brings together public workforce data, an academic analysis of a national health survey, and an industry consumer survey. Employment and wage estimates refer to the occupation of massage therapist. Consumer figures describe survey responses and should not be read as clinical outcomes or promises about any individual session.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: national employment, pay, work setting, and projected growth.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward estimates: local employment and wage estimates.
- Levin and Bradshaw in Explore: massage therapist use reported from the 2022 National Health Interview Survey.
- American Massage Therapy Association consumer survey: recent consumer reasons for using massage.
Suggested citation: “Massage Therapy Statistics: U.S. and Bay Area.” Massages by Sierra, updated August 11, 2026, https://massagesbysierra.com/massage-therapy-statistics.
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