Massage Therapists pay range in Columbia
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $17,840 a year or less, while the top 10% make $88,960 or more. The middle half of massage therapists in Columbia earn between $38,890 and $65,220.
- $18K10th
- $39K25th
- $59KMedian
- $65K75th
- $89K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $53,900 | $4,492 | $25.91 |
| Median | $59,310 | $4,942 | $28.51 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $38,890 | $3,241 | $18.70 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $65,220 | $5,435 | $31.36 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Massage Therapists pay in Columbia vs. South Carolina and the U.S.
Massage therapists in Columbia earn 5% less than the South Carolina average ($56,750) and 16% less 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | $53,900 | $59,310 | $17,840 | $88,960 | 240 |
| South Carolina | $56,750 | $58,000 | $17,340 | $95,540 | 1,840 |
| 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 Columbia
On the average salary of $53,900, a single filer in Columbia takes home about $44,230 a year, or $3,686 a month and $1,701 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 (2026 rules).
Is Columbia a good place for massage therapists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Columbia area are 6% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.7), so the average $53,900 buys what about $57,547 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Columbia ($46,430). A typical home costs $256,154, or 4.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Massage Therapists salary in other South Carolina cities
Columbia ranks 4th of 6 South Carolina metro areas for this job; Hilton Head Island pays the most ($64,970).
- Hilton Head Island$64,970
- Spartanburg$64,020
- Charleston$62,730
- Columbia$53,900
- Greenville$51,590
- Myrtle Beach$44,620
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 Columbia: questions
How much do massage therapists make an hour in Columbia?
$25.91 an hour on average, and $28.51 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level massage therapists salary in Columbia?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $17,840 a year and the 25th percentile is $38,890, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the massage therapists take-home pay in Columbia?
About $44,230 a year ($3,686 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $53,900.
Do massage therapists earn more in Columbia than elsewhere?
The average here is 16% 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 Columbia, SC (17900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 9.5%.
- 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 0.96, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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