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Massage Therapist salary in Australia
The median full-time salary for a massage therapist is $49,300 per annum, before tax, up $10,400 since 2018.
How much a massage therapist earns depends mostly on how many sessions they personally deliver, since casual, part-time and sole trader arrangements are common. Remedial work that attracts private health fund rebates generally pays better than relaxation massage in a spa, and therapists who rent a room or run their own practice keep more per session while carrying their own costs.
Roles that pay more than massage therapist
The largest typical pay rise is $17,300 a year, moving into Acupuncturist.
- Acupuncturist+$17,300/yr
- Myotherapist+$15,700/yr
- Naturopath+$13,100/yr
How to negotiate a higher massage therapist salary
- Know the market rate before you ask. The median full-time massage therapist salary is $49,300; use that, not a guess, as your anchor, and adjust for your experience and employer.
- Lead with what's scarce, not just tenure. Skills like Patient care and support and Clinical assessment and treatment tend to command a premium over general massage therapist experience, name them specifically when you ask.
- Bring a real alternative to the table. Acupuncturist pays a typical $17,300 a year more and draws on similar skills, even mentioning you're weighing it up is a legitimate data point in a pay conversation.
- Time it deliberately. Reviews, the end of a project you delivered, or taking on responsibility beyond your job description are stronger moments to ask than an arbitrary date on the calendar.
- Ask for a number, not a raise. "Based on the market rate and [specific contribution], I'd like to move to X" gets a clearer answer than "I think I deserve more."
Massage Therapist salary questions
How much do massage therapists earn in Australia?
The median full-time salary for a massage therapist is $49,300 a year before tax. Seniority, specialisation, sector and the award or agreement you're employed under all move it.
Is massage therapist pay rising or falling?
The median massage therapist salary is up $10,400 since 2018. Figures from 2025 onward on this page are a projection, not a measured result.
What pays more than massage therapist?
Acupuncturist pays a typical $17,300 a year more and draws on similar skills to massage therapist.