Which state pays massage therapy certificate graduates the most?

Florida, where the median program pays its graduates $21,108 in their first year, the highest of 6 state rankings. Texas is next, at $20,079.

Which massage therapy certificate program pays the most?

Alaska Career College in Alaska reports the highest first-year pay of the 150 programs ranked here, $35,057. Its median federal debt is $9,500.

How much debt do massage therapy certificate graduates have?

The median program leaves its graduates with $8,567 in federal debt. Across programs, the median debt is 41% of first-year pay.

Highest-Paying Massage Therapy (Certificate) Programs in the US

184 programs report first-year pay
6 state rankings
Certificate in Somatic Bodywork and Related Therapeutic Services

College Scorecard June 2026 release · BLS wages May 2025

The short answer

The median massage therapy certificate program in the US pays its graduates $20,576 in their first year and $25,081 five years after. Florida has the highest state median ($21,108), and Georgia the lowest ($17,629). The median program leaves its graduates with $8,567 in federal debt.

Median first-year pay$20,576Across 184 programs

Median pay after 5 years$25,081Across 176 programs

Median federal debt$8,567Across 168 programs

Debt-to-earnings41%Across 158 programs

All 150 programs, ranked by graduate pay

Each program is ranked by the median pay of its graduates one year after they finished, from College Scorecard. This measures what graduates earn, not how good the teaching is. Pay also depends on where graduates live and work. Programs that don't report a figure are listed last when you sort by it.

#	School	Year 1 pay	After cost of living	Year 5 pay	Debt	Debt to pay
1	Alaska Career CollegeAnchorage, AK · private for-profit	$35,057	$34,249	$33,184	$9,500	27%
2	Carrington College-BoiseBoise, ID · private for-profit	$34,434	$36,059	Not reported	$13,484	39%
3	Parker UniversityDallas, TX · private nonprofit	$32,172	$33,148	Not reported	$10,964	34%
4	Indiana Wellness CollegeCarmel, IN · private for-profit	$29,979	$32,122	Not reported	$11,587	39%
5	East-West Healing Arts InstituteMadison, WI · private for-profit	$29,450	$31,298	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
6	Fortis Institute-TowsonTowson, MD · private for-profit	$29,449	$28,058	$21,640	$7,600	26%
7	Madison Area Technical CollegeMadison, WI · public	$29,119	Not adjusted	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
8	Southeastern College-CharlestonNorth Charleston, SC · private for-profit	$28,890	$30,816	$23,037	$9,500	33%
9	Miami Dade CollegeMiami, FL · public	$28,714	$27,766	Not reported	$8,925	31%
10	Center for the Healing ArtsVoorhees, NJ · private for-profit	$28,634	$26,317	$30,006	$9,496	33%
11	Northwestern Health Sciences UniversityBloomington, MN · private nonprofit	$28,583	$28,983	Not reported	$19,500	68%
12	ECPI UniversityVirginia Beach, VA · private for-profit	$27,930	$27,625	Not reported	$7,916	28%
13	Paul Mitchell the School-Rapid CityRapid City, SD · private for-profit	$27,821	$31,406	$29,930	$7,917	28%
14	Colorado School of Healing ArtsLakewood, CO · private for-profit	$27,724	$26,903	Not reported	$7,600	27%
15	Northern Virginia School of Therapeutic MassageFalls Church, VA · private for-profit	$27,082	$26,786	$28,656	$6,333	23%
16	PCI Academy-AmesAmes, IA · private for-profit	$26,872	$30,619	$31,939	$8,250	31%
17	Carrington College-PortlandPortland, OR · private for-profit	$26,740	$25,870	$28,461	$9,500	36%
18	Victoria's Academy of CosmetologyKennewick, WA · private for-profit	$26,257	$24,536	$33,987	Not reported	Not reported
19	Universal College of Healing ArtsOmaha, NE · private for-profit	$26,005	Not adjusted	$21,007	$16,168	62%
20	Aveda Institute-ProvoProvo, UT · private for-profit	$25,581	$25,875	Not reported	$6,333	25%
21	Southeastern College-ColumbiaColumbia, SC · private for-profit	$25,459	$27,157	$27,932	$14,211	56%
22	Mayfield CollegeCathedral City, CA · private for-profit	$25,111	$22,680	$16,845	$9,025	36%
23	Pinnacle Career InstituteKansas City, MO · private for-profit	$24,980	$27,506	$31,521	$7,917	32%
24	Midwest InstituteEarth City, MO · private for-profit	$24,832	$27,343	$26,085	$14,250	57%
25	Fortis College-DothanDothan, AL · private for-profit	$24,718	$27,828	$26,546	$9,556	39%
26	Lee Professional InstituteFort Myers, FL · private for-profit	$24,586	$23,774	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
27	WellSpring School of Allied Health-Kansas CityKansas City, MO · private for-profit	$24,575	$27,060	$30,987	$9,910	40%
28	Salon Professional Academy-FargoFargo, ND · private for-profit	$24,541	Not adjusted	$26,542	$9,500	39%
29	River Valley Community CollegeClaremont, NH · public	$24,455	$23,477	Not reported	$20,312	83%
30	Daytona CollegeOrmond Beach, FL · private for-profit	$24,286	$23,484	$23,867	$9,048	37%
31	Institute of Beauty and WellnessMilwaukee, WI · private for-profit	$24,115	$25,628	$32,234	$8,792	36%
32	Palm Beach State CollegeLake Worth, FL · public	$24,097	$23,301	$33,110	Not reported	Not reported
33	Intellitec College-Grand JunctionGrand Junction, CO · private for-profit	$23,916	$23,208	$27,513	$7,916	33%
34	Cortiva Institute (St. Petersburg, Florida)St. Petersburg, FL · private for-profit	$23,843	$23,056	$29,226	$7,917	33%
35	Midwest Technical Institute-IllinoisSpringfield, IL · private for-profit	$23,708	$23,718	$19,532	$7,521	32%
36	Cortiva Institute (Maryland)Linthicum, MD · private for-profit	$23,356	$22,252	$29,306	$8,444	36%
37	Aveda Institute-Fort MyersFort Myers, FL · private for-profit	$23,316	$22,546	Not reported	$7,899	34%
38	Capri College-DavenportDavenport, IA · private for-profit	$23,285	Not adjusted	$31,389	$7,150	31%
39	Fortis Institute-ScrantonScranton, PA · private for-profit	$23,275	$23,854	$20,631	$9,500	41%
40	Gwinnett College (North Carolina)Raleigh, NC · private for-profit	$23,077	$24,465	$27,146	$11,759	51%
41	Soma Institute-The National School of Clinical Massage TherapyChicago, IL · private for-profit	$23,044	$23,054	$33,180	$9,093	39%
42	Cortiva Institute (Maitland, Florida)Maitland, FL · private for-profit	$22,969	$22,211	$25,580	$7,917	34%
43	Mind Body InstituteMadison, TN · private for-profit	$22,826	$24,846	Not reported	$7,389	32%
44	Milan Institute-VisaliaVisalia, CA · private for-profit	$22,774	$20,569	$28,878	$7,916	35%
45	Carlson College of Massage TherapyAnamosa, IA · private for-profit	$22,764	$25,938	Not reported	$10,125	44%
46	East West College of the Healing ArtsPortland, OR · private for-profit	$22,734	$21,995	$24,236	$16,728	74%
47	Cortiva Institute (Connecticut)Cromwell, CT · private for-profit	$22,731	$21,939	$28,024	$7,600	33%
48	Sheridan Technical CollegeHollywood, FL · public	$22,725	$21,975	$25,052	Not reported	Not reported
49	Avenue Five InstituteAustin, TX · private for-profit	$22,720	$23,409	Not reported	$7,442	33%
50	International AcademySouth Daytona, FL · private for-profit	$22,564	$21,819	Not reported	$9,500	42%
51	New York Institute of MassageWilliamsville, NY · private for-profit	$22,476	$20,826	Not reported	$12,113	54%
52	Boca Beauty AcademyBoca Raton, FL · private for-profit	$22,426	$21,686	$37,145	$6,018	27%
53	Montgomery County Community CollegeBlue Bell, PA · public	$22,311	$22,866	Not reported	$18,333	82%
54	Spa Tech Institute-WestbrookWestbrook, ME · private for-profit	$22,247	$22,923	$25,438	$8,127	37%
55	Parisian Spa InstituteJacksonville, FL · private for-profit	$22,201	$21,468	Not reported	$7,145	32%
56	Healing Mountain Massage SchoolSalt Lake City, UT · private for-profit	$22,176	$22,431	$29,869	$9,500	43%
57	Stautzenberger College-MaumeeMaumee, OH · private for-profit	$22,170	$23,897	$22,076	Not reported	Not reported
58	Hollywood InstituteMargate, FL · private for-profit	$22,141	$21,410	Not reported	$7,600	34%
59	Praxis InstituteMiami, FL · private for-profit	$21,968	$21,243	$22,281	$8,905	41%
60	Pacific College of Health and ScienceSan Diego, CA · private for-profit	$21,955	$19,829	$26,922	$12,271	56%
61	Saint Paul CollegeSaint Paul, MN · public	$21,881	Not adjusted	$29,003	Not reported	Not reported
62	Lexington Healing Arts AcademyLexington, KY · private for-profit	$21,766	$24,142	$29,179	$10,225	47%
63	Hands on TherapyMesquite, TX · private for-profit	$21,757	$22,417	$26,091	$7,917	36%
64	Ivy Tech Community CollegeIndianapolis, IN · public	$21,614	$23,159	Not reported	$10,886	50%
65	American Career College-OntarioOntario, CA · private for-profit	$21,533	$19,448	$23,215	$9,500	44%
66	Delta College IncCovington, LA · private for-profit	$21,463	$24,333	$16,553	$7,863	37%
67	Sarasota School of Massage TherapySarasota, FL · private for-profit	$21,270	$20,568	$26,193	$8,444	40%
68	Orion InstitutePerrysburg, OH · private for-profit	$21,252	$22,907	$20,869	$10,545	50%
69	Blue Cliff College-MetairieMetairie, LA · private for-profit	$21,202	$24,037	$21,673	$8,170	39%
70	Southwest Institute of Healing ArtsTempe, AZ · private for-profit	$21,070	$20,928	$27,605	$9,500	45%
71	Gwinnett College-LilburnLilburn, GA · private for-profit	$20,997	$21,805	Not reported	$13,000	62%
72	Southeastern College-Boynton BeachBoynton Beach, FL · private for-profit	$20,945	$20,254	$24,627	$9,500	45%
73	Dayton School of Medical MassageDayton, OH · private for-profit	$20,801	$22,421	$26,499	$13,458	65%
74	Lincoln Technical Institute-IselinIselin, NJ · private for-profit	$20,737	$19,059	$27,214	$7,917	38%
75	Arizona College of Nursing-TempeTempe, AZ · private for-profit	$20,414	$20,277	$26,149	$8,973	44%
76	Bene's Career AcademyNew Port Richey, FL · private for-profit	$20,132	$19,467	$23,840	$6,333	31%
77	College of Health Care Professions-NorthwestHouston, TX · private for-profit	$20,079	$20,688	$25,303	$7,084	35%
78	Holistic Massage Training InstituteBaltimore, MD · private for-profit	$20,071	$19,123	$18,185	$8,550	43%
79	Irene's Myomassology InstituteSouthfield, MI · private for-profit	$19,951	$20,735	$24,041	$7,389	37%
80	Laurel Technical Institute (Uniontown, Pennsylvania)Uniontown, PA · private for-profit	$19,903	$20,398	Not reported	$7,915	40%
81	Cayce/Reilly School of MassageVirginia Beach, VA · private nonprofit	$19,899	$19,682	$20,734	$7,389	37%
82	Jones Technical InstituteJacksonville, FL · private nonprofit	$19,815	$19,161	$26,005	$7,962	40%
83	Cortiva Institute (Pennsylvania)King of Prussia, PA · private for-profit	$19,708	$20,198	$23,666	$8,444	43%
84	Downey Adult SchoolDowney, CA · public	$19,464	$17,579	$18,617	Not reported	Not reported
85	Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute MinneapolisMinneapolis, MN · private for-profit	$19,427	$19,699	$28,558	$7,266	37%
86	Orange Technical College-East CampusOrlando, FL · public · closed	$19,409	$18,768	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
87	Great Lakes Institute of TechnologyErie, PA · private for-profit	$19,364	$19,846	$26,276	$9,500	49%
88	Academy of CosmetologyMerritt Island, FL · private for-profit	$19,283	Not adjusted	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
89	Northwest Career CollegeLas Vegas, NV · private for-profit	$19,242	$19,246	Not reported	$9,500	49%
90	Universal Spa Training AcademyDowners Grove, IL · private for-profit	$19,205	$19,213	$20,369	$6,861	36%
91	Fort Pierce Beauty AcademyFort Pierce, FL · private for-profit	$19,101	$18,470	$25,891	$7,916	41%
92	American Institute of Alternative MedicineColumbus, OH · private for-profit	$19,100	$20,588	Not reported	$9,678	51%
93	Milan Institute-San Antonio IngramSan Antonio, TX · private for-profit	$19,016	$19,593	$22,886	$7,690	40%
94	Medical Institute of Palm BeachGreenacres, FL · private for-profit	$18,996	$18,369	Not reported	$6,320	33%
95	Artistic Nails and Beauty Academy-TampaTampa, FL · private for-profit	$18,968	$18,342	Not reported	$10,982	58%
96	American Institute-West HartfordWest Hartford, CT · private for-profit	$18,889	$18,231	$22,291	$8,496	45%
97	Southeastern College-CharlotteCharlotte, NC · private for-profit	$18,788	$19,918	$24,334	$13,000	69%
98	College of WilmingtonWilmington, NC · private for-profit	$18,705	$19,830	$25,890	$14,311	77%
99	National Holistic InstituteEmeryville, CA · private for-profit	$18,613	$16,811	$23,871	$9,500	51%
100	Arizona School of Integrative StudiesMesa, AZ · private for-profit	$18,503	$18,379	$17,047	$8,444	46%
101	Academy of Natural TherapyGreeley, CO · private for-profit	$18,343	$17,800	$17,225	$7,917	43%
102	SPBK EnterprisesWebb City, MO · private for-profit	$18,338	$20,192	Not reported	$6,333	35%
103	Lancaster School of Cosmetology & Therapeutic BodyworkLancaster, PA · private for-profit	$18,318	$18,774	$26,158	$6,667	36%
104	Florida School of MassageGainesville, FL · private for-profit	$18,231	$17,629	$19,023	$7,073	39%
105	Capri College-DubuqueDubuque, IA · private for-profit	$18,176	Not adjusted	$33,672	$10,940	60%
106	Miller-Motte College-ChattanoogaChattanooga, TN · private for-profit	$18,129	$19,733	$23,008	$9,273	51%
107	Concorde Career College-MemphisMemphis, TN · private for-profit	$17,998	$19,591	$30,444	$9,553	53%
108	Southern California Health InstituteNorth Hollywood, CA · private for-profit	$17,997	$16,255	$19,016	$9,500	53%
109	Lansing Community CollegeLansing, MI · public	$17,927	$18,632	$38,016	$10,560	59%
110	Gwinnett College (Georgia)Roswell, GA · private for-profit	$17,922	$18,612	$27,445	$12,976	72%
111	Central Oklahoma CollegeOklahoma City, OK · private for-profit	$17,902	$20,380	Not reported	$9,288	52%
112	Integrated Massage Therapy ServicesBlackfoot, ID · private for-profit	$17,692	$18,527	Not reported	$6,734	38%
112	Rexburg College of Massage TherapyRexburg, ID · private for-profit	$17,692	$18,527	Not reported	$6,544	37%
114	Estelle Medical AcademySkokie, IL · private for-profit	$17,673	Not adjusted	$25,616	$5,272	30%
115	Celebrity School of BeautyMiami, FL · private for-profit	$17,644	$17,062	Not reported	$7,004	40%
116	International School of Skin Nailcare & Massage TherapySandy Springs, GA · private for-profit	$17,629	$18,308	$22,003	$13,625	77%
117	Mountain State School of MassageCharleston, WV · private for-profit	$17,404	$19,446	$12,963	$8,181	47%
118	Academy of Massage and BodyworkBear, DE · private for-profit	$17,303	Not adjusted	$28,518	$6,967	40%
119	Georgia Career InstituteConyers, GA · private for-profit	$17,297	$17,963	Not reported	$7,917	46%
120	Community Care CollegeTulsa, OK · private nonprofit	$17,283	$19,675	$21,194	$12,561	73%
121	Columbia College (Virginia)Vienna, VA · private for-profit	$17,237	Not adjusted	Not reported	$4,665	27%
122	Carrington College-Phoenix NorthPhoenix, AZ · private for-profit	$17,068	$16,953	Not reported	$9,182	54%
123	Dorsey CollegeMadison Heights, MI · private for-profit	$16,914	$17,579	$18,124	$11,661	69%
124	Augusta School of MassageEvans, GA · private for-profit	$16,776	$17,422	Not reported	$9,542	57%
125	Dr. Ida Rolf InstituteBoulder, CO · private nonprofit	$16,723	Not adjusted	$23,450	$11,702	70%
126	European Medical School of MassageSinking Spring, PA · private for-profit	$16,677	$17,092	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
127	Unitech Training Academy-LafayetteLafayette, LA · private for-profit	$16,634	$18,858	$21,318	$9,375	56%
128	Chattanooga State Community CollegeChattanooga, TN · public	$16,517	$17,979	Not reported	$6,367	39%
129	Western Technical College (Texas)El Paso, TX · private for-profit	$16,446	$16,945	$24,686	$7,914	48%
130	Lake Superior CollegeDuluth, MN · public	$16,331	Not adjusted	$13,785	$11,000	67%
131	Hollywood Institute of Beauty CareersHollywood, FL · private for-profit	$16,075	$15,544	$23,750	$9,317	58%
132	North-West College-West CovinaWest Covina, CA · private for-profit	$16,026	$14,474	Not reported	$9,500	59%
133	Marion Technical College (Florida)Ocala, FL · public	$15,779	$15,258	$35,347	Not reported	Not reported
134	Healing Hands School of Holistic HealthEscondido, CA · private for-profit	$15,667	$14,150	$13,993	$9,476	60%
135	Center for MassageAsheville, NC · private for-profit	$15,452	$16,381	$23,682	$6,333	41%
136	San Jacinto Community CollegePasadena, TX · public	$15,416	$15,883	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
137	Technical College of the RockiesDelta, CO · public	$14,804	$14,366	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
138	Clarksburg Beauty Academy and School of Massage TherapyClarksburg, WV · private for-profit	$14,586	Not adjusted	$25,791	Not reported	Not reported
139	Fox Valley Technical CollegeAppleton, WI · public	$14,554	$15,467	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
140	Southern California University of Health SciencesWhittier, CA · private nonprofit	$14,378	$12,986	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
141	Centura College-ChesapeakeChesapeake, VA · private for-profit	$14,301	$14,145	$26,383	$8,021	56%
142	Aveda Institute-Tampa BayClearwater, FL · private for-profit	$13,943	$13,483	$27,449	$9,500	68%
143	Raphael's School of Beauty Culture Inc-BoardmanBoardman, OH · private for-profit	$13,336	$14,375	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
144	NUC UniversityBayamon, PR · private for-profit	$12,865	Not adjusted	$16,196	$9,500	74%
145	La Belle Beauty AcademyMiami, FL · private for-profit	$12,632	$12,215	Not reported	$5,909	47%
146	California Healing Arts CollegeCarson, CA · private for-profit	$11,231	$10,144	Not reported	$9,500	85%
147	Milan Institute-Palm DesertPalm Desert, CA · private for-profit	$11,065	$9,994	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
148	Fortis Institute-WayneWayne, NJ · private for-profit	$10,477	$9,629	$24,145	$7,917	76%
149	International School of BeautyPalm Desert, CA · private for-profit	$8,864	Not adjusted	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
150	Lakewood School of Therapeutic MassagePort Huron, MI · private for-profit	$7,610	$7,909	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported

Pay after cost of living divides first-year pay by the Bureau of Economic Analysis price level of the school's state, where the US average is 100. It is shown for 135 programs where at least half of the graduates who work are working in the school's state. The other 15, whose graduates mostly work in other states or whose state has no price level, are listed last when you sort by it.

22 programs report pay but not debt, so they are ranked only by pay. One of these schools has since closed.

College Scorecard withholds pay for programs with too few graduates, to protect their privacy, so those programs can't be ranked. 34 more programs report pay but aren't listed, because College Scorecard's school file doesn't name their schools. The national medians above still count them.

Massage Therapy (Certificate) programs by state

Each row is the median across the state's massage therapy certificate programs. State names link to the full ranking of that state's programs.

#	State	Programs	Year 1 pay	Debt
1	Florida	28	$21,108	$7,917
2	Texas	7	$20,079	$7,802
3	Virginia	5	$19,899	$7,389
4	Pennsylvania	7	$19,708	$8,972
5	California	13	$17,997	$9,500
6	Georgia	5	$17,629	$11,259

Programs in 35 more states and territories report pay, but too few to rank. A state ranking needs at least five programs that report both pay and debt.

Quick picks nationwide

Lowest median debt

Columbia College (Virginia), VA$4,665
La Belle Beauty Academy, FL$5,909
Boca Beauty Academy, FL$6,018
Medical Institute of Palm Beach, FL$6,320
Northern Virginia School of Therapeutic Massage, VA$6,333
Bene's Career Academy, FL$6,333
Lancaster School of Cosmetology & Therapeutic Bodywork, PA$6,667
Celebrity School of Beauty, FL$7,004
Florida School of Massage, FL$7,073
College of Health Care Professions-Northwest, TX$7,084

Lowest debt for the pay

Northern Virginia School of Therapeutic Massage, VA23%
Boca Beauty Academy, FL27%
Columbia College (Virginia), VA27%
ECPI University, VA28%
Miami Dade College, FL31%
Bene's Career Academy, FL31%
Parisian Spa Institute, FL32%
Avenue Five Institute, TX33%
Cortiva Institute (St. Petersburg, Florida), FL33%
Medical Institute of Palm Beach, FL33%

Only the 53 programs with their own page here are included. "Debt for the pay" is median debt divided by first-year pay.

What massage therapists earn

Pay for massage therapists across the US, across all experience levels, from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Massage Therapists

$58,450

Median pay in the US. 98,790 people work in this job in the US. Nationally, jobs are projected to grow 15% from 2025 to 2035, with about 20,400 openings a year. Typical education to start: postsecondary nondegree award.

Bottom 10%: $33,640Top 10%: $100,200

Common questions

The median massage therapy certificate program in the US pays its graduates $20,576 in their first year and $25,081 five years after. Massage therapists earn a median of $58,450 across all experience levels.

About this data

Earnings and debt only include students who received federal financial aid, and earnings only count graduates who were working and not enrolled in more school.
Debt only includes federal loans. Private loans and credit cards are not counted.
Medians are across programs, not students: each program counts once, however many graduates it has.
National medians include every program in the 50 states, DC, and US territories, including schools that have since closed. Schools with several campuses that report one combined figure are counted once.
Programs are ranked by College Scorecard median pay one year after graduation. Pay after cost of living uses the price level of the school's state.
Scorecard figures describe graduating classes from several years ago. BLS wages are from May 2025. Price levels are the Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities for 2024.

Sources

U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, field of study and institution files, June 2026 release
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025 to 2035
NCES, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk
Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities, 2024