Massage Therapists pay range in New Orleans
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $18,860 a year or less, while the top 10% make $78,320 or more. The middle half of massage therapists in New Orleans earn between $24,320 and $50,200.
- $19K10th
- $24K25th
- $40KMedian
- $50K75th
- $78K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $44,580 | $3,715 | $21.43 |
| Median | $39,500 | $3,292 | $18.99 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $24,320 | $2,027 | $11.69 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $50,200 | $4,183 | $24.13 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Massage Therapists pay in New Orleans vs. Louisiana and the U.S.
Massage therapists in New Orleans earn 17% more than the Louisiana average ($38,140) and 30% less than the U.S. average ($63,830). At the median the gap is -32% against the U.S. median of $58,450.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans | $44,580 | $39,500 | $18,860 | $78,320 | 180 |
| Louisiana | $38,140 | $36,480 | $18,080 | $59,680 | 890 |
| 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 New Orleans
On the average salary of $44,580, a single filer in New Orleans takes home about $37,049 a year, or $3,087 a month and $1,425 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is New Orleans a good place for massage therapists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the New Orleans area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.6), so the average $44,580 buys what about $48,144 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in New Orleans ($47,290). A typical home costs $261,414, or 5.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Massage Therapists salary in other Louisiana cities
New Orleans ranks 1st of 7 Louisiana metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- New Orleans$44,580
- Shreveport$42,250
- Lake Charles$41,560
- Slidell$38,170
- Baton Rouge$37,550
- Lafayette$33,680
- Monroe$26,540
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 New Orleans: questions
How much do massage therapists make an hour in New Orleans?
$21.44 an hour on average, and $18.99 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level massage therapists salary in New Orleans?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $18,860 a year and the 25th percentile is $24,320, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the massage therapists take-home pay in New Orleans?
About $37,049 a year ($3,087 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $44,580.
Do massage therapists earn more in New Orleans than elsewhere?
The average here is 30% 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 New Orleans-Metairie, LA (35380). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 10.1%.
- 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 0.62, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.62).
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