Massage Therapists pay range in Santa Cruz
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,190 a year or less, while the top 10% make $113,710 or more. The middle half of massage therapists in Santa Cruz earn between $44,730 and $113,710.
- $35K10th
- $45K25th
- $58KMedian
- $114K75th
- $114K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $70,040 | $5,837 | $33.67 |
| Median | $58,050 | $4,838 | $27.91 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $44,730 | $3,728 | $21.50 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $113,710 | $9,476 | $54.67 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Massage Therapists pay in Santa Cruz vs. California and the U.S.
Massage therapists in Santa Cruz earn 26% more than the California average ($55,630) and 10% more than the U.S. average ($63,830). At the median the gap is -1% against the U.S. median of $58,450.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Cruz | $70,040 | $58,050 | $35,190 | $113,710 | 110 |
| 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 Santa Cruz
On the average salary of $70,040, a single filer in Santa Cruz takes home about $55,572 a year, or $4,631 a month and $2,137 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% 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 Santa Cruz a good place for massage therapists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Santa Cruz area are 10% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 109.9), so the average $70,040 buys what about $63,733 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Santa Cruz ($54,730). A typical home costs $1,157,157, or 16.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Massage Therapists salary in other California cities
Santa Cruz ranks 2nd 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 Santa Cruz: questions
How much do massage therapists make an hour in Santa Cruz?
$33.68 an hour on average, and $27.91 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level massage therapists salary in Santa Cruz?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,190 a year and the 25th percentile is $44,730, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the massage therapists take-home pay in Santa Cruz?
About $55,572 a year ($4,631 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $70,040. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do massage therapists earn more in Santa Cruz than elsewhere?
The average here is 10% more 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 Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA (42100). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 9.3%.
- 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 1.77, this job is 1.8 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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