Massage Therapists pay range in Asheville
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $30,560 a year or less, while the top 10% make $74,720 or more. The middle half of massage therapists in Asheville earn between $36,900 and $61,150.
- $31K10th
- $37K25th
- $48KMedian
- $61K75th
- $75K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $51,620 | $4,302 | $24.82 |
| Median | $47,780 | $3,982 | $22.97 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $36,900 | $3,075 | $17.74 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $61,150 | $5,096 | $29.40 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Massage Therapists pay in Asheville vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Massage therapists in Asheville earn 23% less than the North Carolina average ($66,630) and 19% less than the U.S. average ($63,830). At the median the gap is -18% against the U.S. median of $58,450.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asheville | $51,620 | $47,780 | $30,560 | $74,720 | 130 |
| 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 Asheville
On the average salary of $51,620, a single filer in Asheville takes home about $42,106 a year, or $3,509 a month and $1,619 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 Asheville a good place for massage therapists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Asheville area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 96.5), so the average $51,620 buys what about $53,489 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Asheville ($46,870). A typical home costs $428,742, or 8.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Massage Therapists salary in other North Carolina cities
Asheville ranks 9th 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 Asheville: questions
How much do massage therapists make an hour in Asheville?
$24.82 an hour on average, and $22.97 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level massage therapists salary in Asheville?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $30,560 a year and the 25th percentile is $36,900, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the massage therapists take-home pay in Asheville?
About $42,106 a year ($3,509 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $51,620.
Do massage therapists earn more in Asheville than elsewhere?
The average here is 19% 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 Asheville, NC (11700). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.8%.
- 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 1.11, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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