Massage Therapy Schools in California
15 California schools offer Massage Therapy. Average graduate earnings run 15% below the national average — something worth factoring in alongside tuition, location, and program fit.
Massage Therapy Training in California: What You Need to Know
Local program supply
California has 15 schools offering Massage Therapy programs, concentrated in 6 cities including {'city': 'Palm Desert', 'city_slug': 'palm-desert', 'count': 2, 'avg_earn': 9965.0}, {'city': 'Visalia', 'city_slug': 'visalia', 'count': 1, 'avg_earn': 22774.0}, {'city': 'Ontario', 'city_slug': 'ontario', 'count': 1, 'avg_earn': 21533.0}. Most students attend within 60 miles of home — local choice matters more than national rankings.
Earnings vs. national
Massage Therapy graduates in California earn approximately $17,514/year on average, which is -15% below the national average for this trade. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
California-specific licensing
Most skilled trades require a state-issued license or certification before you can work independently. Requirements vary substantially by state. Verify California-specific licensing through the relevant state board (Department of Labor, Contractors Board, or trade-specific licensing body). Apprenticeship hours often count toward licensure.
How California compares
Average TradeSchoolOutlook Score for Massage Therapy programs in California is 37/100. Cost of living, wage levels, and program supply all vary by state — see the school list below ranked by TradeSchoolOutlook Score, which combines earnings, debt, and job-market demand.
Massage Therapy Programs in California
All 15 California schools offering Massage Therapy, ranked by TradeSchoolOutlook Score. Click a school to see full earnings projections and program details.
| # | School | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mayfield College Cathedral City, CA |
41 |
| 2 | Milan Institute-Visalia Visalia, CA |
40 |
| 3 | American Career College-Ontario Ontario, CA |
39 |
| 4 | Downey Adult School Downey, CA |
38 |
| 5 | Milan Institute-Clovis Clovis, CA |
38 |
| 6 | Milan Institute-Bakersfield Bakersfield, CA |
38 |
| 7 | Pacific College of Health and Science San Diego, CA |
38 |
| 8 | National Holistic Institute Emeryville, CA |
38 |
| 9 | Southern California Health Institute North Hollywood, CA |
38 |
| 10 | North-West College-West Covina West Covina, CA |
37 |
| 11 | Healing Hands School of Holistic Health Escondido, CA |
37 |
| 12 | California Healing Arts College Carson, CA |
36 |
| 13 | Milan Institute-Palm Desert Palm Desert, CA |
36 |
| 14 | International School of Beauty Inc Palm Desert, CA |
36 |
| 15 | Southern California University of Health Sciences Whittier, CA |
31 |
Where Massage Therapy Programs Cluster in California
Cities with the most Massage Therapy programs — useful if you want to minimize commute or relocate within state.
| City | Schools | Avg Earnings |
|---|---|---|
| Palm Desert, CA | 2 | $9,965/yr |
| Visalia, CA | 1 | $22,774/yr |
| Ontario, CA | 1 | $21,533/yr |
| San Diego, CA | 1 | $19,630/yr |
| Bakersfield, CA | 1 | $19,016/yr |
| Clovis, CA | 1 | $19,016/yr |
Compare Massage Therapy in Other States
Considering a nearby state? Here's how California compares to others with strong Massage Therapy offerings.