Massage Therapists Salary
The median pay for a massage therapists in North Dakota is $74,140/year ($35.65/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $34K at the entry level to $111K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.89), which stretches that salary to about $83,406 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,034/month, or 20.8% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across North Dakota. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $74K get you in North Dakota?
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What this looks like in North Dakota
North Dakota sits well above the national pay line for massage therapists, local pay runs about 27% higher than the U.S. median of $58K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,034/month, 21% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, North Dakota offers a genuinely strong financial position for massage therapistss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, North Dakota
Entry-level massage therapists (10th percentile) start around $34K. Mid-career wages sit at $74K. Top earners bring in $111K or more, a $77K spread from bottom to top.
Massage Therapists salary by metro in North Dakota
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fargo | $74K | +0% | 60 |
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Frequently asked questions
Can a massage therapist afford a 2BR apartment alone in North Dakota?
Yes — at the median salary of $74K, rent takes 21% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,034/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for massage therapists in North Dakota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new massage therapists typically earn — is $34K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,047/month. At HUD’s $1,034/month FMR, rent would take 51% 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 Dakota?
Local pay is 27% above the national median — $74K here vs. $58K nationally.
How does North Dakota compare to the national average for massage therapists?
North Dakota pays $74K median vs. the U.S. average of $58K — that’s +27%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $83K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do massage therapists make in North Dakota?
The median is $74,140 a year, that works out to about $36 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $34,120, and experienced massage therapists can clear $110,870. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $74K enough to live in North Dakota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,925/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,034/month, which eats 21% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a massage therapists salary go in North Dakota?
North Dakota has a Regional Price Parity of 88.89 (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 $83,406 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.