SOC 31-9011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Massage Therapists — North Carolina
North Carolina · 9 metro areas compared
The median wage for Massage Therapists in North Carolina is $60,650 per year, close to the national median of $58,450 for the same occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Massage Therapists in North Carolina is $60,650 per year, close to the national median of $58,450 for the same occupation. Pay ranges from under $31,050 at the tenth percentile to more than $96,510 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $48,100 to $85,150.
The area has 2,460 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 0.5 of every thousand jobs. Among the 50 states with published data for this occupation, North Carolina ranks 22nd by median wage. Wilmington leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $81,390. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 316th of 745 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $31,050 | −46.9% |
| 25th | $48,100 | −17.7% |
| Median (50th) | $60,650 | +3.8% |
| 75th | $85,150 | +45.7% |
| 90th | $96,510 | +65.1% |
| Mean | $66,630 | +14.0% |
Highest-paying metro areas in North Carolina
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wilmington | $81,390 | 120 | |
| 2 | Raleigh | $71,480 | 650 | |
| 3 | Winston-Salem | $70,120 | 70 | |
| 4 | Greensboro | $63,250 | 130 | |
| 5 | Durham | $61,170 | 130 | |
| 6 | Charlotte | $58,930 | 930 | |
| 7 | Pinehurst | $56,260 | 80 | |
| 8 | Fayetteville | $56,230 | 60 | |
| 9 | Asheville | $47,780 | 130 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in North Carolina run 5.7% below the national average, so the median of $60,650 goes as far as $64,316 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 10.0% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$60,650as reported by BLSLocal price level
94.3US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$64,316US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $60,650 a year, 3.8% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $31,050 to $96,510 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 2,460 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 22nd of 50 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Wilmington, at $81,390.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Massage Therapists in North Carolina?
The median annual wage is $60,650, or $29.16 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $58,450, so pay in North Carolina is 3.8% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in North Carolina earns more than $96,510 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $31,050 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Wilmington, at $81,390 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 2,460 jobs in this occupation in North Carolina. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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