Life As a Massage Therapist
Occupation 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.
List of Massage Therapist Job Duties
- Apply finger and hand pressure to specific points of the body.
- Prepare and blend oils and apply the blends to clients’ skin.
- Massage and knead muscles and soft tissues of the body to provide treatment for medical conditions, injuries, or wellness maintenance.
- Consult with other health care professionals, such as physiotherapists, chiropractors, physicians, and psychologists, to develop treatment plans for clients.
- Assess clients’ soft tissue condition, joint quality and function, muscle strength, and range of motion.
- Treat clients in professional settings or travel to clients’ offices and homes.
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Massage Therapist Required Skills
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.
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
- Bodywork Therapist
- Deep Tissue Massage Therapist
- Integrated Deep Tissue Massage Therapist
- Therapeutic Massage Technician
- Registered Massage Therapist
What Kind of Massage Therapist Job Opportunities Are There?
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. There will be an estimated 22,600 positions for Massage Therapist per year.
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.
Massage Therapist Average Salary
Massage Therapists make between $21,340 and $78,280 a year.
Massage Therapists who work in Alaska, Washington, or Oregon, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Massage Therapists 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 do Massage Therapists Use?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Massage Therapists:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Word processing software
- Spreadsheet software
- Scheduling software
How to Become a Massage Therapist
What education is needed to be a Massage Therapist?
How many years of work experience do I need?
Where do Massage Therapists Work?
Massage Therapists work in the following industries:
Related Careers
Those interested in being a Massage Therapist may also be interested in:
References:
Image Credit: Senior Airman Melanie Bulow-Kelly via Public domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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