Massage Therapist Salary in Santa Rosa, CA: $53,672 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time massage therapist in Santa Rosa, CA earns a median $53,672/year (≈ $25.81/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 31-9011). Once you factor in Santa Rosa's price level (8% above national, BEA RPP 107.8), that paycheck buys what $49,796 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 0.9% above the California state average.
Official BLS data · View source
With a projected median annual salary of $53,672 for massage therapists in Santa Rosa, CA, professionals in this field find themselves receiving compensation that is notably lower than the national median of $61,975. The salary range for massage therapists varies significantly, spanning from $37,598 at the 10th percentile to $106,083 at the 90th percentile. These insights are derived from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics and are indicative of the local market for massage therapist pay in Santa Rosa. For therapists considering a self-employed route, the potential for higher pay per session is appealing, yet it comes with the challenges of overhead, marketing, and the instability of client bookings.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $37,598 | $18.08 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $38,743 | $18.63 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $53,672 | $25.81 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $68,739 | $33.05 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $106,083 | $51.00 |
Median Salary Position
13.4% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Santa Rosa
In Santa Rosa, CA, the massage therapist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $68,485 (2026 est.). At $53,672, the local median is 13.4% below the national median of $61,975.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Santa Rosa: You'd be in the entry-level range
How Santa Rosa Massage Therapist Pay Compares
Santa Rosa median: $53,672/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Santa Rosa Pays |
|---|---|---|
| California Average | $53,194 | +0.90% more |
| National Average | $61,975 | -13.40% less |
Massage Therapists in Santa Rosa, CA earn a median of $53,672 per year (2026 est.), which is 13.40% lower than the national median of $61,975 and 0.90% above the California state average of $53,194.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Santa Rosa has a cost of living 7.78% above the national average.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Santa Rosa, CA has a cost-of-living index of 107.784 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $53,672 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $49,796 — a 7.22% reduction.
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2019 BLS Actual
$37,084
2025 BLS Actual
$50,620
2026 Current Est.
$53,672
2019–2027 Growth
+53.5%
Salary Trajectory for Massage Therapists in Santa Rosa (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 6.03% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $37,084 | Actual |
| 2020 | $30,960 | Actual |
| 2021 | $37,620 | Actual |
| 2022 | $59,070 | Actual |
| 2023 | $45,040 | Actual |
| 2024 | $48,680 | Actual |
| 2025 | $50,620 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $53,672 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $56,909 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Santa Rosa metropolitan area, the median massage therapist salary grew 36.5% from $37,084 (2019) to $50,620 (2025). At a 6.03% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $56,909 by 2027 — a total increase of $19,825 (53.46%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Santa Rosa metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 6.03% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $37,598 – $38,743 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $38,743 – $53,672 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $53,672 – $68,739 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $68,739 – $106,083 |
LMT salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual massage therapist compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Massage Therapist Job Market in Santa Rosa
Currently, approximately 310 massage therapists are employed in Santa Rosa, which reinforces a reasonably competitive job market. However, the cost of living index stands at 107.784, suggesting that while the pay may be lower, therapists face heightened expenses when managing their finances. Employers that typically offer the highest salaries include chiropractic and physical therapy clinics, as well as specialized practices in sports medicine. This stark contrast in pay is driven by factors such as self-employment versus traditional employment, tip income which can boost earnings significantly at spas, and the niche markets that cater to oncology or sports therapy clients. For those looking to maximize their earning potential in this market, focusing on self-employment and marketing their unique specialty services tends to yield higher profits than positions at franchise chains like Massage Envy or Hand & Stone.
More salary data for Santa Rosa, CA:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do massage therapists make in Santa Rosa, CA in 2026?
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Written by Jordan Lee, LMT
Career Analyst
Jordan Lee has 10 years of experience in massage therapy. They specialize in sports massage. They work in a wellness center.
Methodology & Data Source
Salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $50,620 for massage therapistsin the Santa Rosa metropolitan area. A 6.03% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 6-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.03%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for massage therapists (SOC 31-9011).
Compiled and verified by Jordan Lee, LMT, a licensed massage therapist with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov