Massage Therapists pay range in San Diego
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,320 a year or less, while the top 10% make $91,310 or more. The middle half of massage therapists in San Diego earn between $35,760 and $89,510.
- $34K10th
- $36K25th
- $45KMedian
- $90K75th
- $91K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $59,940 | $4,995 | $28.82 |
| Median | $45,200 | $3,767 | $21.73 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $35,760 | $2,980 | $17.19 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $89,510 | $7,459 | $43.03 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Massage Therapists pay in San Diego vs. California and the U.S.
Massage therapists in San Diego earn 8% more than the California average ($55,630) and 6% less than the U.S. average ($63,830). At the median the gap is -23% against the U.S. median of $58,450.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego | $59,940 | $45,200 | $34,320 | $91,310 | 1,820 |
| California | $55,630 | $45,970 | $34,320 | $89,880 | 14,600 |
| United States | $63,830 | $58,450 | $33,640 | $100,200 | 98,790 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Massage Therapists salary after taxes in San Diego
On the average salary of $59,940, a single filer in San Diego takes home about $48,553 a year, or $4,046 a month and $1,867 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% 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 San Diego a good place for massage therapists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Diego area are 12% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 111.9), so the average $59,940 buys what about $53,572 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in San Diego ($58,690). A typical home costs $946,365, or 15.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Massage Therapists salary in other California cities
San Diego ranks 5th 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
- Bakersfield$58,100
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
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Massage Therapists salary in San Diego: questions
How much do massage therapists make an hour in San Diego?
$28.82 an hour on average, and $21.73 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level massage therapists salary in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $34,320 a year and the 25th percentile is $35,760, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the massage therapists take-home pay in San Diego?
About $48,553 a year ($4,046 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $59,940. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do massage therapists earn more in San Diego than elsewhere?
The average here is 6% less than the U.S. average for this job ($63,830).
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 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA (41740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 8.8%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- 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 1.86, this job is 1.9 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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