Massage Therapists: Job 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.
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What Tasks Do Massage Therapists Perform?
The core tasks performed by massage therapists span:
- Confer with clients about their medical histories and problems with stress or pain to determine how massage will be most helpful.
- Massage and knead muscles and soft tissues of the body to provide treatment for medical conditions, injuries, or wellness maintenance.
- Maintain massage areas by restocking supplies or sanitizing equipment.
- Apply finger and hand pressure to specific points of the body.
- Develop and propose client treatment plans that specify which types of massage are to be used.
- Maintain treatment records.
- Assess clients' soft tissue condition, joint quality and function, muscle strength, and range of motion.
- Provide clients with guidance and information about techniques for postural improvement and stretching, strengthening, relaxation, and rehabilitative exercises.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Top massage therapists draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
These are the skills most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Related Job Titles
Common job titles for this role include:
- Bodywork Therapist
- Certified Massage Therapist (CMT)
- Clinical Massage Therapist
- Deep Tissue Massage Therapist
- Integrated Deep Tissue Massage Therapist
- Licensed Massage Practitioner (LMP)
- Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT)
- Massage Operator
Job Outlook
There are about 832,253 massage therapists working in the United States today. This occupation is expected to grow by +7.4% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Massage Therapists Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $44,831 |
| Hourly median | $21.55 |
| 10th percentile | $32,519 |
| 25th percentile | $38,675 |
| 75th percentile | $50,988 |
| 90th percentile | $57,144 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Massage Therapists Make in Different U.S. States?
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $135,200 |
| Vermont | $105,490 |
| Oregon | $82,860 |
| Washington | $82,820 |
| Hawaii | $80,590 |
| Minnesota | $75,500 |
| North Dakota | $70,720 |
| Idaho | $70,470 |
| Maine | $67,420 |
| Missouri | $66,870 |
| New Hampshire | $62,830 |
| South Carolina | $62,830 |
| Iowa | $62,400 |
| District of Columbia | $62,220 |
| North Carolina | $61,670 |
| Utah | $61,010 |
| Illinois | $60,640 |
| Colorado | $59,560 |
| Arizona | $59,550 |
| Massachusetts | $59,470 |
| Connecticut | $59,270 |
| New York | $58,730 |
| Maryland | $58,390 |
| Louisiana | $58,010 |
| Pennsylvania | $57,660 |
| Wisconsin | $57,530 |
| Virginia | $56,850 |
| New Jersey | $56,760 |
| Georgia | $56,740 |
| Texas | $56,540 |
| Nebraska | $55,080 |
| Kentucky | $54,890 |
| Michigan | $54,510 |
| Delaware | $53,920 |
| Indiana | $52,740 |
| Nevada | $52,000 |
| Montana | $52,000 |
| Ohio | $50,430 |
| Florida | $49,880 |
| Tennessee | $49,670 |
| Alabama | $48,960 |
| California | $48,430 |
| Oklahoma | $48,140 |
| Kansas | $47,940 |
| New Mexico | $47,660 |
| West Virginia | $42,730 |
| Mississippi | $42,510 |
| South Dakota | $40,780 |
| Wyoming | $32,430 |
| Arkansas | $31,280 |
| Guam | $23,060 |
| Puerto Rico | $22,410 |
Where Massage Therapists Earn the Most
Pay for massage therapists shift depending on where you work. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plains States | $64,581 | 5.0% | 0.72 |
| New England | $61,132 | 4.4% | 1.04 |
| Far Western US | $60,533 | 26.4% | 1.67 |
| Rocky Mountains | $59,632 | 7.0% | 1.98 |
| Middle Atlantic | $58,001 | 11.7% | 0.80 |
| Southwest | $56,634 | 12.0% | 1.00 |
| Great Lakes | $56,240 | 12.6% | 0.93 |
| Southeast | $53,829 | 20.8% | 0.95 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bend, OR | OR | $93,160 | 190 |
| Albany, OR | OR | $92,310 | 40 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | WA | $88,390 | 2,090 |
| Bellingham, WA | WA | $87,980 | 150 |
| Salem, OR | OR | $87,880 | 140 |
| Chico, CA | CA | $84,840 | 60 |
| Medford, OR | OR | $83,510 | 130 |
| State College, PA | PA | $83,200 | 40 |
Industry Breakdown
Most massage therapists are concentrated in the following sectors:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 50,170 | $55,640 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 31,590 | $62,990 |
| Accommodation and Food Services | 9,470 | $44,870 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 3,400 | $58,560 |
| Educational Services | 520 | $61,850 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 180 | n/a |
Below are examples of industries where massage therapists work:
Tools and Technology
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
The Day-to-Day Environment
The work environment for massage therapists is shaped by the following characteristics:
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Contact With Others
- Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
- Freedom to Make Decisions
Education and Training
Typical massage therapists positions require some college, no degree as the typical entry-level education. This career aligns with Medium Preparation Needed (Job Zone 3), indicating the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
Similar Occupations
- Chiropractors (Supplemental)
- Occupational Therapists (Supplemental)
- Physical Therapists (Supplemental)
- Radiation Therapists (Primary-Long)
- Recreational Therapists (Primary-Short)
- Respiratory Therapists (Primary-Long)
- Registered Nurses (Primary-Long)
- Nurse Practitioners (Supplemental)
Where to Study
Aspiring massage therapists commonly pursue programs in:
Health Professions and Related Programs
4 programs across 1 majors
Sources
Data on this page comes from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 31-9011.00 (Massage Therapists).
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