Massage Therapists pay range in Modesto
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,320 a year or less, while the top 10% make $72,870 or more. The middle half of massage therapists in Modesto earn between $35,610 and $60,180.
- $34K10th
- $36K25th
- $45KMedian
- $60K75th
- $73K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $52,200 | $4,350 | $25.10 |
| Median | $45,360 | $3,780 | $21.81 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $35,610 | $2,968 | $17.12 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $60,180 | $5,015 | $28.93 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Massage Therapists salary after taxes in Modesto
On the average salary of $52,200, a single filer in Modesto takes home about $42,798 a year, or $3,567 a month and $1,646 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is Modesto a good place for massage therapists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Modesto area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 104.1), so the average $52,200 buys what about $50,140 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Modesto ($50,610). A typical home costs $468,302, or 9.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Massage Therapists salary in other California cities
Modesto ranks 18th of 20 California metro areas for this job; Salinas pays the most ($75,230).
- Salinas$75,230
- Santa Cruz$70,040
- Chico$69,110
- San Luis Obispo$66,080
- San Diego$59,940
- San Jose$59,870
- Oxnard$59,220
- Vallejo$58,570
- Santa Rosa$58,190
- Modesto$52,200
Highest-paying cities for massage therapists
Fairbanks, AK pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($116,560).
- Fairbanks, AK$116,560
- Kahului, HI$101,690
- Seattle, WA$92,510
- Salem, OR$91,630
- Manchester, NH$87,500
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Massage Therapists salary in Modesto: questions
How much do massage therapists make an hour in Modesto?
$25.10 an hour on average, and $21.81 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level massage therapists salary in Modesto?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,320 a year and the 25th percentile is $35,610, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the massage therapists take-home pay in Modesto?
About $42,798 a year ($3,567 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $52,200. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do massage therapists earn more in Modesto than elsewhere?
The average here is 17% less than the U.S. metro average for this job ($63,094).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 31-9011; area Modesto, CA (33700). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 7.5%.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.48, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.48).
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.