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All About Massage Therapists
Massage Therapist Example Perform therapeutic massages of soft tissues and joints. May assist in the assessment of range of motion and muscle strength, or propose client therapy plans.
Life As a Massage Therapist: What Do They Do?
- Assess clients’ soft tissue condition, joint quality and function, muscle strength, and range of motion.
- Perform other adjunctive therapies or treatment techniques in addition to massage.
- Massage and knead muscles and soft tissues of the body to provide treatment for medical conditions, injuries, or wellness maintenance.
- Refer clients to other types of therapists when necessary.
- Consult with other health care professionals, such as physiotherapists, chiropractors, physicians, and psychologists, to develop treatment plans for clients.
- Maintain treatment records.
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Qualities of a Massage Therapist
Massage Therapists state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Types of Massage Therapist
- Rolfer
- Masseur
- Medical Massage Therapist
- Swedish Masseuse
- Skin Therapist
Are There Job Opportunities for Massage Therapists?
There were about 160,300 jobs for Massage Therapist in 2016 (in the United States). New jobs are being produced at a rate of 26.3% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 42,100 new jobs for Massage Therapist by 2026. The BLS estimates 22,600 yearly job openings in this field.
The states with the most job growth for Massage Therapist are Washington, Utah, and Tennessee. Watch out if you plan on working in Maryland, Vermont, or Kansas. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Salary for a Massage Therapist
The typical yearly salary for Massage Therapists is somewhere between $21,340 and $78,280.
Massage Therapists who work in Alaska, Washington, or Oregon, make the highest salaries.
How much do Massage Therapists make in different U.S. states?
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $34,890 |
| Alaska | $82,280 |
| Arizona | $42,340 |
| Arkansas | $41,890 |
| California | $41,460 |
| Colorado | $46,190 |
| Connecticut | $43,170 |
| District of Columbia | $40,890 |
| Florida | $46,240 |
| Georgia | $37,210 |
| Hawaii | $61,750 |
| Idaho | $50,560 |
| Illinois | $46,340 |
| Indiana | $48,650 |
| Iowa | $40,030 |
| Kansas | $29,370 |
| Kentucky | $52,960 |
| Louisiana | $30,060 |
| Maine | $43,450 |
| Maryland | $42,430 |
| Massachusetts | $53,750 |
| Michigan | $42,710 |
| Minnesota | $52,910 |
| Mississippi | $29,080 |
| Missouri | $37,100 |
| Montana | $46,500 |
| Nebraska | $45,340 |
| Nevada | $29,620 |
| New Hampshire | $47,360 |
| New Jersey | $44,610 |
| New Mexico | $42,260 |
| New York | $52,830 |
| North Carolina | $41,560 |
| North Dakota | $39,640 |
| Ohio | $39,370 |
| Oklahoma | $41,770 |
| Oregon | $64,360 |
| Pennsylvania | $42,730 |
| Rhode Island | $40,970 |
| South Carolina | $41,440 |
| South Dakota | $34,350 |
| Tennessee | $44,190 |
| Texas | $49,100 |
| Utah | $40,880 |
| Vermont | $44,580 |
| Virginia | $38,990 |
| Washington | $62,520 |
| West Virginia | $34,750 |
| Wisconsin | $42,440 |
| Wyoming | $43,060 |
What Tools & Technology do Massage Therapists Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Massage Therapists may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Word processing software
- Spreadsheet software
- Scheduling software
Becoming a Massage Therapist
Education needed to be a Massage Therapist:
How many years of work experience do I need?
Where do Massage Therapists Work?
The table below shows the approximate number of Massage Therapists employed by various industries.
Similar Careers
Those thinking about becoming a Massage Therapist might also be interested in the following careers:
References:
Image Credit: Senior Airman Melanie Bulow-Kelly via Public domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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