Massage Therapists pay range in Madison
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $20,770 a year or less, while the top 10% make $102,800 or more. The middle half of massage therapists in Madison earn between $37,970 and $81,710.
- $21K10th
- $38K25th
- $49KMedian
- $82K75th
- $103K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $60,740 | $5,062 | $29.20 |
| Median | $49,080 | $4,090 | $23.60 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $37,970 | $3,164 | $18.25 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $81,710 | $6,809 | $39.28 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Massage Therapists pay in Madison vs. Wisconsin and the U.S.
Massage therapists in Madison earn about the same as the Wisconsin average ($61,060) and 5% less than the U.S. average ($63,830). At the median the gap is -16% against the U.S. median of $58,450.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madison | $60,740 | $49,080 | $20,770 | $102,800 | 260 |
| Wisconsin | $61,060 | $58,070 | $20,280 | $105,360 | 1,520 |
| 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 Madison
On the average salary of $60,740, a single filer in Madison takes home about $48,879 a year, or $4,073 a month and $1,880 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 Madison a good place for massage therapists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Madison area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.3), so the average $60,740 buys what about $62,434 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Madison ($58,080). A typical home costs $452,769, or 7.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Massage Therapists salary in other Wisconsin cities
Madison ranks 8th of 10 Wisconsin metro areas for this job; Sheboygan pays the most ($78,520).
- Sheboygan$78,520
- Appleton$68,980
- Racine$68,010
- Janesville$67,650
- Oshkosh$63,560
- Green Bay$62,410
- La Crosse$61,180
- Madison$60,740
- Milwaukee$58,620
- Eau Claire$54,450
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 Madison: questions
How much do massage therapists make an hour in Madison?
$29.20 an hour on average, and $23.60 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level massage therapists salary in Madison?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $20,770 a year and the 25th percentile is $37,970, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the massage therapists take-home pay in Madison?
About $48,879 a year ($4,073 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $60,740.
Do massage therapists earn more in Madison than elsewhere?
The average here is 5% 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 Madison, WI (31540). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 12.3%.
- 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 (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.00, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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