Becoming a massage therapist in South Carolina: Education & salary data
Massage therapy in the United States is a growing industry. More and more people are recognizing the benefits of massage for pain management and its numerous applications from prenatal to palliative modalities. As a career that doesn’t require going back to school to get a yearslong degree and provides a lot of scheduling flexibility, it can be an especially appealing career option for people that may have another job or other commitments.
“Massage therapists are in deep demand. We are contacted almost weekly regarding employment opportunities for new graduates,” said Dana Ball, the owner and director of the Carolina School of Bodywork in North Charleston, South Carolina. “It seems as if nearly every employer of massage therapists has a vacancy.”
Before you can get started as a massage therapist in South Carolina, it’s important to familiarize yourself with the state’s licensing laws and standards for the massage therapy profession.
Massage therapists in South Carolina must obtain a license through the South Carolina Board of Massage Therapy, a division of the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation. The requirements are pretty similar to requirements in other states and consist of the following:
Be at least 18 years old
Have a high school diploma or equivalent education, such as a GED
Pass the Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx) from the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB) or the National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCETMB) formerly administered by the NCBTMB
Submit an application, which includes a background check with fingerprints
Pay the applicable fee
Education requirements
South Carolina recently passed new legislation in 2023 that increases the educational requirements for massage licensure. As of May 26, 2024, massage schools in the state must implement a 650-hour program. Massage therapist applicants previously only had to complete a 500-hour program to qualify for licensure, but this is increasing to 650 hours in 2024. Students who completed a 500-hour program can still apply for licensure up until May 26, 2024.
Within those 650 hours, the program must include instruction in the following subject areas:
Anatomy & physiology (250 hours)
Massage theory and practice (200 hours)
Business and ethics (85 hours)
Laws (15 hours)
Student clinics (100 hours)
For the student clinics portion, students must spend at least 75 hours doing hands-on practice on real patients under the supervision of a licensed massage therapy supervisor.
Exam and licensing requirements
New massage therapists must pass the Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx) administered by the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB) in order to qualify for licensure in South Carolina. The state also accepts the National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCETMB) which was formerly administered by the NCBTMB, but since this exam no longer exists, this only applies to people that may have taken this as their licensing exam in another state several years ago.
The MBLEx is now used as the primary licensing examination in numerous other states. You have two hours to complete all 100 items on this multiple-choice exam which covers the following content areas:
Anatomy & physiology
Kinesiology
Pathology, contraindications, areas of caution and special populations
Benefits and effects of soft tissue manipulation
Client assessment, reassessment and treatment planning
Ethics, boundaries, laws and regulations
Guidelines for professional practice
Once your application is complete, including your education and exam verification, you should be ready to receive your massage therapy license.
Continuing education
Newly licensed massage therapists are exempt from completing any continuing education (CE) the first time they renew their license, which is every two years. After that, they must complete 12 hours of CE on each subsequent renewal cycle.
In South Carolina, renewal cycles take place between July 1 of every even year and June 30 of every even year.
Your CE must be reported through CE Broker. If you do not complete and report enough CE on time, you could face disciplinary action from the Board.
Legal and ethical considerations for massage therapists in South Carolina
Transferability: Out-of-state applicants
For massage therapists in another state that wish to be licensed in South Carolina, you may be granted a license by endorsement if the state you are licensed in has licensure standards that are equal to or greater than those of South Carolina. In addition, applicants must:
Possess a massage therapist license in good standing
Pass a criminal history background check with fingerprints
Be a native English speaker or be able to demonstrate proficiency
Have passed the MBLEx on or after November 1, 2014 (for those licensed prior to this date, passing scores on the National Certification Examination are acceptable)
Submit an application with fees
Professional conduct and ethical guidelines
Massage professionals can find information about standards of conduct and ethical guidelines in the South Carolina Code of Laws (Title 40, Chapter 30). The chapter includes information about what actions are grounds for the denial of licensure and/or disciplinary action.
In addition, this chapter states that the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation may periodically inspect massage establishments to ensure they comply with all massage therapy laws and regulations set forth in the South Carolina Code of Laws.
Scope of practice
In the South Carolina Code of Laws (Title 40, Chapter 30), massage therapy is defined as “the application of a system of structured touch to the soft tissues of the human body with the hand, foot, knee, arm or elbow, whether or not the structured touch is aided by hydrotherapy, thermal therapy, a massage therapy device or application to the human body of an herbal preparation. Massage therapy includes, but is not limited to, bodywork modalities as approved by the board.”
Insurance and liability
Many massage therapists choose to obtain professional liability insurance even if it is not explicitly required by the state. Liability insurance is important to protect yourself in the case of unexpected events such as a client injury or damage to your property. Professional liability insurance for massage professionals can be obtained through many different insurance brokers or through a professional association such as the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) or the Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP).
Working as a massage therapist in South Carolina
As a massage therapist in South Carolina, there are many different settings that you can work in. If you don’t already know where you want to work, trying out various settings could help you figure out where you thrive. Many people also choose to get at least a few years of experience working for an employer before going into business for themselves.
According to the 2024 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual salary for massage therapists in South Carolina is $62,830. This is a little lower than the national median, but it’s important to remember that South Carolina has a cost of living that is 6% lower than the national average according to RentCafe.
Every individual salary as a massage therapist is determined by many factors, including experience and reputation, education, location, workplace and more. In South Carolina, the metro areas with the highest median annual wages include Charlotte, Spartanburg and Greenville. However, it’s important to point out that the BLS lacks data for massage therapists in many places in the country.
Massage Therapists
10%$17,870
25%$47,350
50%$62,830Median
75%$77,930
90%$98,550
Median Hourly Wage$30
Job growth15.4%
Total Employment1,500
Metro area
Median Salary
Bottom 10%
Top 10%
Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC
$81,630
$18,570
$137,300
Charleston-North Charleston, SC
$64,380
$18,800
$101,070
Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC
$63,490
$22,180
$96,980
Columbia, SC
$59,980
$18,040
$95,060
Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC
$49,840
$17,490
$133,250
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 2024 median salary; projected job growth through 2034. Actual salaries vary depending on location, level of education, years of experience, work environment, and other factors. Salaries may differ even more for those who are self-employed or work part time.
Job outlook
BLS projections for the growth of massage therapists in the coming decade are very bright, with the BLS estimating an 15.4% increase through 2034, which is much faster than the average across all occupations. That translates to about 22,000 new jobs each year.
One reason driving this growth is the increased acceptance of massage therapy as a safe and natural complementary treatment to help manage pain and promote overall wellness. Modalities such as medical massage, sports massage and even palliative massage are expanding the possibilities of how massage can be useful and incorporated into our everyday lives.
“I think massage is projected to grow because the public has recognized that taking care of yourself includes not only your physical health, but also your mental health. Massage has been shown to be a great resource for both,” Ball said. “I believe that although we still don’t understand a lot behind the outcomes of the research in massage or touch in general, as in the mechanisms of action, we do know that it is a powerful tool.
I believe that someday, hopefully soon, massage provided by massage therapists will be a covered benefit by health insurance nationwide.”
Setting up a private practice
Many massage therapists choose to start their own massage business. This could entail working out of a rented space, out of your own home or even visiting clients’ homes. Being self-employed is a popular option for massage therapists because it allows you to set your own hours and rates, providing an increased level of autonomy and flexibility. That said, being self-employed means starting your own business which comes with its own array of challenges and expenses.
“I always recommend one book to each of my students who are interested in starting their own business and it is ‘Profit First’ by Mike Michalowicz. This book is integral to learning how to manage your income while making sure that you are saving enough for taxes, supplies and paying yourself. Many new business owners reinvest nearly all of their income in their businesses in the beginning and never actually pay themselves,” Ball said.
To get started, you should begin by researching the business licensing laws in your area since you’ll need a local business license in order to offer services. These are usually set by your city and/or county.
“Next, one needs to determine if their business resides in a municipality and what requirements that municipality has for businesses. This may include business licenses, accident and property insurance, malpractice insurance and occupational licenses,” Ball said. “South Carolina now requires each massage establishment to obtain a Massage Therapy Establishment License.”
Increasing your earning potential
If you become a sole practitioner with your own business, making a solid income can be challenging at first.
“Pricing your services accordingly is the first step. A massage therapist should know exactly how much each service costs them to provide and what their operating costs are. The hardest part about starting a business is figuring out who your target market is, and how to market to that demographic. Staying relevant, keeping up with recent trends in massage and research is imperative to having a thriving practice,” Ball said.
Ball also pointed out that although it can be a large task for some, it’s important to make and maintain a social media presence—or at the very least, an internet presence.
“Retail and hosting self-care workshops can always be a great passive source of income as well. If a therapist is not a sole practitioner but an employee instead, make sure you work in an environment that values the service you provide as well as you as an individual,” Ball said.
Resources for staying up to date on industry developments
To learn more about the massage therapy profession in South Carolina, be sure to check out these relevant professional organizations:
Contact the South Carolina Board of Massage Therapy for all questions about the licensure of massage therapists in the state, including questions on continuing education requirements.
The Massage Therapy Foundation (MTF) is a nonprofit organization that supports the profession by providing research grants to study the science behind therapeutic massage. The MTF also publishes a scientific journal for massage therapists, educators and students.
The massage therapy profession is on the rise, and South Carolina is no exception. Between strong job growth projections and education programs that usually last a year or less, becoming a massage therapist in South Carolina could be a great career for someone that wants to improve the health and wellness of people in their community. Start by researching massage therapy programs in your area to kickstart your vocational calling as a natural healer today.
