Massage Therapists pay range in Wilmington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $20,890 a year or less, while the top 10% make $121,240 or more. The middle half of massage therapists in Wilmington earn between $30,820 and $89,230.
- $21K10th
- $31K25th
- $81KMedian
- $89K75th
- $121K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $68,040 | $5,670 | $32.71 |
| Median | $81,390 | $6,782 | $39.13 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $30,820 | $2,568 | $14.82 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $89,230 | $7,436 | $42.90 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Massage Therapists pay in Wilmington vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Massage therapists in Wilmington earn about the same as the North Carolina average ($66,630) and 7% more than the U.S. average ($63,830). At the median the gap is +39% against the U.S. median of $58,450.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wilmington | $68,040 | $81,390 | $20,890 | $121,240 | 120 |
| North Carolina | $66,630 | $60,650 | $31,050 | $96,510 | 2,460 |
| 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 Wilmington
On the average salary of $68,040, a single filer in Wilmington takes home about $54,490 a year, or $4,541 a month and $2,096 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Wilmington a good place for massage therapists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Wilmington area are 4% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 96.4), so the average $68,040 buys what about $70,565 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Wilmington ($45,800). A typical home costs $446,210, or 6.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Massage Therapists salary in other North Carolina cities
Wilmington ranks 4th of 9 North Carolina metro areas for this job; Durham pays the most ($72,020).
- Durham$72,020
- Raleigh$71,770
- Winston-Salem$71,390
- Wilmington$68,040
- Fayetteville$67,290
- Greensboro$66,670
- Charlotte$63,130
- Pinehurst$58,820
- Asheville$51,620
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 Wilmington: questions
How much do massage therapists make an hour in Wilmington?
$32.71 an hour on average, and $39.13 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level massage therapists salary in Wilmington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $20,890 a year and the 25th percentile is $30,820, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the massage therapists take-home pay in Wilmington?
About $54,490 a year ($4,541 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $68,040.
Do massage therapists earn more in Wilmington than elsewhere?
The average here is 7% 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 Wilmington, NC (48900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 10.2%.
- 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 (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.95, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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