Massage Therapists Salary
The median pay for a massage therapists in North Carolina is $60,650/year ($29.16/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $31K at the entry level to $97K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.66), which stretches that salary to about $65,454 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,284/month, about 31.6% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across North Carolina. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $61K get you in North Carolina?
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What this looks like in North Carolina
Massage therapists pay in North Carolina tracks closely to the national median, $61K locally vs. $58K nationwide, a 4% difference. Rent runs $1,284/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 32.1% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.66 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, North Carolina
Entry-level massage therapists (10th percentile) start around $31K. Mid-career wages sit at $61K. Top earners bring in $97K or more, a $65K spread from bottom to top.
Massage Therapists salary by metro in North Carolina
9 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wilmington | $81K | +34% | 120 |
| Raleigh-Cary | $71K | +18% | 650 |
| Winston-Salem | $70K | +16% | 70 |
| Greensboro-High Point | $63K | +4% | 130 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill | $61K | +1% | 130 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | $59K | -3% | 930 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines | $56K | -7% | 80 |
| Fayetteville | $56K | -7% | 60 |
| Asheville | $48K | -21% | 130 |
Compare to other states
Track massage therapists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when North Carolina numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a massage therapist afford a 2BR apartment alone in North Carolina?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $61K, rent takes 32.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,284/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,200/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for massage therapists in North Carolina?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new massage therapists typically earn — is $31K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,863/month. At HUD’s $1,284/month FMR, rent would take 69% 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 North Carolina?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $61K locally vs. $58K nationally, a 4% difference.
How does North Carolina compare to the national average for massage therapists?
North Carolina pays $61K median vs. the U.S. average of $58K — that’s +4%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.66), the purchasing-power equivalent is $65K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do massage therapists make in North Carolina?
The median is $60,650 a year, that works out to about $29 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $31,050, and experienced massage therapists can clear $96,510. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $61K enough to live in North Carolina?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,004/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,284/month, which eats 32.1% 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 North Carolina?
North Carolina has a Regional Price Parity of 92.66 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median massage therapists salary is worth about $65,454 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.