Massage Therapists Salary
The median pay for a massage therapists in Hawaii is $81,280/year ($39.08/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $37K at the entry level to $167K for experienced workers. Note: the mean (average) wage is $123K, significantly higher than the median. This typically reflects a mix of employment settings including academic and private practice positions. Prices run high here (RPP 110.17), so that salary is closer to $73,777 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,240/month, about 43.9% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Hawaii. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $81K get you in Hawaii?
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What this looks like in Hawaii
Hawaii sits well above the national pay line for massage therapists, local pay runs about 39% higher than the U.S. median of $58K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,240/month, which is 45% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 10% above the national average (BEA RPP 110.17), so groceries and services cost more too. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Hawaii
Entry-level massage therapists (10th percentile) start around $37K. Mid-career wages sit at $81K. Top earners bring in $167K or more, a $130K spread from bottom to top.
Massage Therapists salary by metro in Hawaii
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kahului-Wailuku | $97K | +19% | 330 |
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Hawaii numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a massage therapist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Hawaii?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $81K, rent takes 45% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,240/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,500/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for massage therapists in Hawaii?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new massage therapists typically earn — is $37K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,200/month. At HUD’s $2,240/month FMR, rent would take 102% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is massage therapist a high-paying job in Hawaii?
Local pay is 39% above the national median — $81K here vs. $58K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 10% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does Hawaii compare to the national average for massage therapists?
Hawaii pays $81K median vs. the U.S. average of $58K — that’s +39%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 110.17), the purchasing-power equivalent is $74K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do massage therapists make in Hawaii?
The median is $81,280 a year, that works out to about $39 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $36,660, and experienced massage therapists can clear $166,730. The mean (average) is $122,580, reflecting that some workers earn substantially more. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $81K enough to live in Hawaii?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,982/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,240/month, which eats 45% 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 Hawaii?
Hawaii has a Regional Price Parity of 110.17 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median massage therapists salary is worth about $73,777 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.