Massage Therapists
Career, Salary and Education Information
What They Do: Massage therapists treat clients by using touch to manipulate the muscles and other soft tissues of the body.
Work Environment: Massage therapists work in an array of settings, such as spas, franchised clinics, physicians’ offices, hotels, and fitness centers. Some massage therapists also travel to clients’ homes or offices to give a massage.
How to Become One: Massage therapists typically complete a postsecondary education program of 500 or more hours of study and experience, although standards and requirements vary by state or other jurisdictions. Most states regulate massage therapy and require massage therapists to have a license or certification.
Salary: The median annual wage for massage therapists is $46,910.
Job Outlook: Employment of massage therapists is projected to grow 20 percent over the next ten years, much faster than the average for all occupations.
Related Careers: Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of massage therapists with similar occupations.
Following is everything you need to know about a career as a massage therapist with lots of details. As a first step, take a look at some of the following jobs, which are real jobs with real employers. You will be able to see the very real job career requirements for employers who are actively hiring. The link will open in a new tab so that you can come back to this page to continue reading about the career:
Top 3 Massage Therapist Jobs
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Licensed Massage Therapist
- McAuley Family Chiropractic
- Federal Way, WA
Licensed Massage Therapist We are seeking a Massage Therapist to join our Family-owned Chiropractic Clinic. As a Massage Therapist , you will tailor massage treatments to your patient's individual ...
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Licensed Massage Therapist
- Essence Massage & Bodywork LLC
- Janesville, WI
As a Massage Therapist , you will provide therapeutic massage treatments to clients to promote relaxation, relieve muscle tension, and improve overall well-being. If you have a passion for helping ...
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Massage Therapist
- Procovry
- Santa Barbara, CA
Massage Therapist Join Our Team at Procovry - Santa Barbara's Premier Body Wellness Clinic! Are you passionate about health and wellness? Do you have a deep understanding of human anatomy and a ...
What Massage Therapists Do[About this section] [To Top]
Massage therapists treat clients by using touch to manipulate the muscles and other soft tissues of the body. With their touch, therapists relieve pain, help heal injuries, improve circulation, relieve stress, increase relaxation, and aid in the general wellness of clients.
Duties of Massage Therapists
Massage therapists typically do the following:
- Talk with clients about their symptoms, medical history, and desired results
- Evaluate clients to locate painful or tense areas of the body
- Manipulate muscles and other soft tissues of the body
- Provide clients with guidance on stretching, strengthening, overall relaxation, and how to improve their posture
- Document clients' conditions and progress
Massage therapists use touch to treat clients' injuries and to promote the clients' general wellness. They use their hands, fingers, forearms, elbows, and sometimes feet to knead muscles and soft tissues of the body.
Massage therapists may use lotions and oils, and massage tables or chairs, when treating a client. A massage can be as short as 5–10 minutes or could last more than an hour.
Massage therapists talk with clients about what they hope to achieve through massage. They may suggest personalized treatment plans for their clients, including information about additional relaxation techniques to practice between sessions.
Massage therapists can specialize in many different types of massage or modalities. Swedish massage, deep-tissue massage, and sports massage are just a few of the many modalities of massage therapy. Most massage therapists specialize in several modalities, which require different techniques.
The type of massage given typically depends on the client's needs and physical condition. For example, massage therapists may use a special technique for elderly clients that they would not use for athletes. Some forms of massage are given solely to one type of client; for example, prenatal massage is given only to pregnant women.
Work Environment for Massage Therapists[About this section] [To Top]
Massage therapists hold about 149,900 jobs. The largest employers of massage therapists are as follows:
| Self-employed workers | 43% |
| Personal care services | 29% |
| Offices of all other health practitioners | 10% |
| Offices of chiropractors | 7% |
| Accommodation | 5% |
Some massage therapists travel to clients' homes or offices to give a massage. Others work out of their own homes. Many massage therapists, especially those who are self-employed, provide their own table or chair, sheets, pillows, and body lotions or oils.
A massage therapist's working conditions depend heavily on the venue in which the massage is performed and on what the client wants. For example, when giving a massage to help clients relax, massage therapists generally work in dimly lit settings and use candles, incense, and calm, soothing music. In contrast, a massage meant to help rehabilitate a client with an injury may be conducted in a well-lit setting with several other people receiving treatment in the same room.
Injuries and Illnesses for Massage Therapists
Because giving a massage is physically demanding, massage therapists can injure themselves if they do not use the proper techniques. Repetitive-motion problems and fatigue from standing for extended periods are most common.
Therapists can limit these risks by using good body mechanics, spacing sessions properly, exercising, and, in many cases, receiving a massage themselves regularly.
Massage Therapist Work Schedules
Many massage therapists work part time. Because therapists work by appointment in most cases, their schedules and the number of hours worked each week vary considerably. In addition to giving massages, therapists, especially those who are self-employed, may spend time recording clients’ notes, marketing, booking clients, washing linens, and conducting other general business tasks.
In addition to giving massages, therapists, especially those who are self-employed, may spend time recording clients' notes, marketing, booking clients, washing linens, and conducting other general business tasks.
How to Become a Massage Therapist[About this section] [To Top]
Get the education you need: Find schools for Massage Therapists near you!
Massage therapists typically complete a postsecondary education program of 500 or more hours of study and experience, although standards and requirements vary greatly by state or other jurisdiction. Most states regulate massage therapy and require massage therapists to have a license or certification.
Education for Massage Therapists
Education requirements for massage therapists vary greatly by state or locality. Education programs are typically found in private or public postsecondary institutions. Most programs require at least 500 hours of study for their completion; some programs require 1,000 or more hours.
A high school diploma or equivalent is usually required for admission to a massage therapy program. Programs generally include both classroom study and hands-on practice of massage techniques. Programs cover subjects such as anatomy; physiology, which is the study of organs and tissues; kinesiology, which is the study of motion and body mechanics; pathology, which is the study of disease; business management; and ethics.
Programs may concentrate on certain modalities, or specialties, of massage. Several programs also offer job placement services and continuing education. Both full-time and part-time programs are available.
Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations for Massage Therapists
In 2016, 45 states and the District of Columbia regulated massage therapy. Although not all states license massage therapy, they may have regulations at the local level.
In states with massage therapy regulations, workers must get a license or certification before practicing massage therapy. State regulations typically require graduation from an approved massage therapy program and passing an exam.
The exam may be a state-specific exam or the Massage and Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx) licensure exam, offered by the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards.
Massage therapists also may need to pass a background check, have liability insurance, and be certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Many states require massage therapists to complete continuing education credits and to renew their license periodically. Those wishing to practice massage therapy should look into legal requirements for the state and locality in which they intend to practice.
Important Qualities for Massage Therapists
Communication skills. Massage therapists need to listen carefully to clients in order to understand what they want to achieve through massage sessions.
Decisionmaking skills. Massage therapists must evaluate each client's needs and recommend the best treatment on the basis of that person's needs.
Empathy. Massage therapists must give clients a positive experience, which requires building trust between therapist and client. Making clients feel comfortable is necessary for therapists to expand their client base.
Integrity. Massage therapists often have access to client information such as medical histories. Therefore, they must be trustworthy and protect the privacy of their clients.
Physical stamina. Massage therapists may give several treatments during a workday and have to stay on their feet throughout massage appointments.
Physical strength and dexterity. Massage therapists must be strong and able to exert pressure through a variety of movements of the arms and hands when manipulating a client's muscles.
Time-management skills. Massage therapists must tailor an appointment to a client's specific needs. They must use their appointment time wisely to help each client accomplish his or her goals.
Massage Therapist Salaries[About this section] [More salary/earnings info] [To Top]
The median annual wage for massage therapists is $46,910. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $24,450, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $77,600.
The median annual wages for massage therapists in the top industries in which they work are as follows:
| Offices of chiropractors | $58,930 |
| Offices of all other health practitioners | $47,930 |
| Personal care services | $44,710 |
| Accommodation | $29,600 |
Most massage therapists earn a combination of wages and tips and may receive free or discounted massages as a benefit.
Many massage therapists work part time. Because therapists work by appointment in most cases, their schedules and the number of hours worked each week vary considerably. In addition to giving massages, therapists, especially those who are self-employed, may spend time recording clients’ notes, marketing, booking clients, washing linens, and conducting other general business tasks.
Job Outlook for Massage Therapists[About this section] [To Top]
Employment of massage therapists is projected to grow 20 percent over the next ten years, much faster than the average for all occupations.
About 25,200 openings for massage therapists are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Employment of Massage Therapists
Continued growth in the demand for massage services will lead to new jobs for massage therapists. As more people recognize massage therapy as a way to treat pain and to improve overall wellness, demand for massage therapists is expected to increase.
Similarly, demand will likely increase as more healthcare providers understand the benefits of massage and include these services in their treatment plans. However, in some healthcare settings demand will be tempered by limited insurance coverage for massage services.
In addition, many sports teams hire massage therapists to help their athletes recover from injuries and to relieve or manage pain, which should increase demand for these workers.
| Occupational Title | Employment, 2021 | Projected Employment, 2031 | Change, 2021-31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Percent | Numeric | |||
| Massage therapists | 149,900 | 179,900 | 20 | 29,900 |
More Massage Therapist Information[About this section] [To Top]
For more information about careers in massage therapy, visit
Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals
American Massage Therapy Association
National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork
For more information about national testing and national certification, visit
Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards
For more information about accredited massage therapy programs, visit
A portion of the information on this page is used by permission of the U.S. Department of Labor.