Massage Therapists Salary in California
The median pay for a massage therapists in California is $48,430/year ($23.28/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $34K at the entry level to $101K for experienced workers.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across California. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $48K get you in California?
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, California
Entry-level massage therapists (10th percentile) start around $34K. Mid-career wages sit at $48K. Top earners bring in $101K or more, a $67K spread from bottom to top.
Massage Therapists salary by metro in California
19 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chico | $85K | +75% | 60 |
| Salinas | $60K | +23% | 220 |
| Stockton-Lodi | $59K | +23% | 170 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $59K | +21% | 6,060 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $57K | +17% | 100 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $57K | +17% | 830 |
| Vallejo | $52K | +7% | 90 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $50K | +3% | 150 |
| Bakersfield-Delano | $49K | +1% | 110 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $49K | +1% | 260 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $49K | +1% | 290 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $48K | -0% | 870 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $48K | -2% | 1,350 |
| Redding | $47K | -3% | 70 |
| Fresno | $45K | -7% | 270 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $43K | -11% | 1,680 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $42K | -14% | 1,640 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $39K | -19% | 220 |
| Napa | $38K | -21% | 250 |
Showing 1–10 of 19 metros
Compare to other states
Track massage therapists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when California numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do massage therapists make in California?
The median is $48,430 a year, that works out to about $23 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $34,000, and experienced massage therapists can clear $101,390. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $48K enough to live in California?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,313/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,471/month, which eats 74.6% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a massage therapists salary go in California?
California has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median massage therapists salary is worth about $45,628 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do massage therapists get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.