Life As a Massage Therapist
Position Description 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
- 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.
- Maintain treatment records.
- Treat clients in professional settings or travel to clients' offices and homes.
- Confer with clients about their medical histories and problems with stress or pain to determine how massage will be most helpful.
- Provide clients with guidance and information about techniques for postural improvement and stretching, strengthening, relaxation, and rehabilitative exercises.
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Massage Therapist Required Skills
When polled, Massage Therapists say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
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.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Types of Massage Therapist Jobs
- Masseur
- Therapeutic Massage Technician
- Massotherapist
- Licensed Massage Practitioner (LMP)
- Massage Therapist
Are There Job Opportunities for Massage Therapists?
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 160,300 jobs in the United States for Massage Therapist. 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.
Do Massage Therapists Make A Lot Of Money?
The salary for Massage Therapists ranges between about $21,340 and $78,280 a year.

Massage Therapists who work in Alaska, Washington, or Oregon, make the highest salaries.
How much do Massage Therapists make in each U.S. state?
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 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
How to Become a Massage Therapist
Are there Massage Therapists education requirements?

How Long Does it Take to Become a Massage Therapist?

Who Employs Massage Therapists?

Below are examples of industries where Massage Therapists work:

Related 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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