Massage Therapy

224 schools compared · Average earnings $20,588/yr

What Massage Therapy Graduates Do

Your journey often begins as a licensed massage therapist. You'll work in settings from serene spas and wellness centers to busy chiropractic offices, using your hands, oils, and specialized tools to perform techniques like deep tissue and myofascial release. Your days involve client consultations, hands-on therapy, and careful session documentation. As you build a reputation and client base, many practitioners go independent, opening a private studio or a mobile practice for greater control over their schedule and income. This is deeply human, hands-on work that can't be outsourced to AI or done from a laptop.

With years of experience, a powerful career path opens: teaching. You can transition into a role as a health specialties instructor at a vocational school, trading your massage table for a classroom. Here, you’ll demonstrate techniques to aspiring therapists, develop curriculum, and mentor the next generation. This advanced role not only commands a significantly higher salary but is also part of an exceptionally fast-growing field, reflecting strong demand for your deep expertise.

Schools Offering
224
Avg Grad Earnings
$20,588/yr
Avg TradeSchoolOutlook Score
31/100
AI-Proof Rating
Resilient
69% of tasks AI-shielded
Apprenticeship Paths
1

Registered Apprenticeship Pathways

The U.S. Department of Labor recognizes 1 registered apprenticeship occupation related to Massage Therapy. Apprenticeships let you earn while you learn — most have zero tuition costs and pay wages from day one.

Apprenticeship Training Hours Type Salary RangeSalary Growth
Certified Massage Therapist (Cmt)
RAPIDS 2091CB
CB hrs Competency $45K$57,950$77K 15.4%

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Registered Apprenticeship Partners Information Database (RAPIDS). Wages and job growth from Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024–2034 projections.

Best Schools for Massage Therapy

Top 20 of 224 schools ranked by TradeSchoolOutlook Score. Click any row for full earnings projections and AI-proof analysis.

# School Score EarningsEarn ROI
1 Miami Dade College
Miami, FL
58
54–58
$28,714/yr 100.2x
2 Palm Beach State College
Lake Worth, FL
55
48–55
$24,097/yr 107.6x
3 Madison Area Technical College
Madison, WI
53
49–53
$29,119/yr 59.9x
4 Alaska Career College
Anchorage, AK
49
44–49
$35,057/yr
5 Carrington College-Boise
Boise, ID
48
44–49
$34,434/yr
6 Lansing Community College
Lansing, MI
48
39–48
$17,927/yr 93.8x
7 San Jacinto Community College
Pasadena, TX
48
44–48
$15,416/yr 76.4x
8 Indiana Wellness College
Carmel, IN
45
41–45
$29,979/yr
9 East-West Healing Arts Institute
Madison, WI
45
40–45
$29,450/yr
10 Fortis Institute-Towson
Towson, MD
45
40–45
$29,449/yr
11 Parker University
Dallas, TX
44
40–44
$32,172/yr 17.4x
12 Center for the Healing Arts
Voorhees, NJ
44
40–44
$28,634/yr
13 Paul Mitchell the School-Rapid City
Rapid City, SD
44
39–44
$27,821/yr
14 Saint Paul College
Saint Paul, MN
44
38–44
$21,881/yr 44.9x
15 Northwestern Health Sciences University
Bloomington, MN
43
39–43
$28,583/yr 22.8x
16 Northern Virginia School of Therapeutic Massage
Falls Church, VA
43
38–43
$27,082/yr
17 PCI Academy-Ames
Ames, IA
43
38–43
$26,872/yr
18 PCI Academy-Iowa City
Iowa City, IA
43
38–43
$26,872/yr
19 Carrington College-Portland
Portland, OR
43
38–43
$26,740/yr
20 Carrington College-Spokane
Spokane, WA
43
38–43
$26,740/yr

Highest Earning Massage Therapy Programs

Schools where Massage Therapy graduates earn the most in their first year after graduation.

School 1-Year Earnings Score
Alaska Career College $35,057/yr 49
Carrington College-Boise $34,434/yr 48
Parker University $32,172/yr 44
Indiana Wellness College $29,979/yr 45
East-West Healing Arts Institute $29,450/yr 45
Fortis Institute-Towson $29,449/yr 45
Madison Area Technical College $29,119/yr 53
Southeastern College-Charleston $28,890/yr 39
Miami Dade College $28,714/yr 58
Center for the Healing Arts $28,634/yr 44

Best ROI for Massage Therapy

Schools with the highest earnings-to-tuition ratio for Massage Therapy.

School ROI Multiple Earnings Score
Palm Beach State College 107.6x $24,097/yr 55
Miami Dade College 100.2x $28,714/yr 58
Lansing Community College 93.8x $17,927/yr 48
San Jacinto Community College 76.4x $15,416/yr 48
Madison Area Technical College 59.9x $29,119/yr 53
Saint Paul College 44.9x $21,881/yr 44
Ivy Tech Community College 43.0x $21,614/yr 43
Chattanooga State Community College 35.3x $16,517/yr 39
Pacific College of Health and Science 34.9x $21,955/yr 41
Montgomery County Community College 34.6x $22,311/yr 41

Related Majors

Explore similar fields of study.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do Massage Therapy graduates make in their first year?
Across 224 schools, Massage Therapy graduates earn an average of $20,588 per year in their first year after completing the program. Earnings range from $7,610 to $35,057 depending on the school.
Will AI replace Massage Therapy jobs?
Our analysis rates Massage Therapy as "Resilient" for automation risk. With 69% of tasks requiring physical presence or manual skill, most the work in this trade remains beyond AI's reach.
What's the top-ranked school for Massage Therapy?
Our data ranks Miami Dade College first among 224 Massage Therapy programs. Its score of 58/100 reflects strong outcomes across earnings ($28,714/yr), return on investment, and career durability.
Do Massage Therapy graduates get a good return on their tuition?
The average 10-year earnings multiple is 24.2x tuition. This is a strong return on investment. The spread between the best and worst programs is wide, so individual school selection has a major impact.
Data from College Scorecard, Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024–2034, DOL RAPIDS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →