Massage Therapists

Career summary

There are several different massage techniques, including:

• Swedish massage
• Sports massage
• Deep tissue massage
• Trigger point massage
• Acupressure
• Reflexology
• Shiatsu massage

Massage therapists often specialize in one or more techniques. They may also specialize by the type of client. For example, they may work with infants, pregnant women, athletes, even animals.

Massage therapists talk to their clients to find out their medical history and symptoms. They find out if the client has any painful or tense areas on the body. They check patients' mobility and stiffness in certain areas.

Therapists use their hands, elbows, and sometimes feet to knead muscles. They apply lotions or oils before massaging the body. They may also apply heat to an area that is very tense or sore. They give clients information about what to do after a massage to promote healing or relaxation. They also keep treatment records.

Massage therapists may work with doctors, chiropractors, or physical therapists. Depending on the size of practice they work in, they may have clerical duties, including:

• Making appointments
• Greeting clients
• Billing customers and insurance companies

They may also wash linens and clean and disinfect equipment and work areas. Some massage therapists travel to their clients and use portable massage tables.

Related careers

This career is part of the Human Services cluster of careers.

Related careers include:

• Acupuncturists
• Athletic Trainers
• Chiropractors
• Exercise Physiologists
• Fitness Trainers and Aerobics Instructors
• Naturopathic Physicians
• Physical Therapist Aides
• Physical Therapist Assistants
• Physical Therapists
• Skin Care Specialists

Job duties

Task list

The following list of tasks is specific to massage therapists.

• Interview patients to determine their needs. Assess their physical condition.
• Set up and prepare equipment such as oils, towels, and massage tables.
• Apply oils, powders, or lotions to skin.
• Massage body by rubbing, kneading, and stretching muscles and connective tissue.
• Keep records and books.
• Clean equipment, work areas, and linens.
• Recommend other forms of treatment if necessary.
• May consult with physicians, chiropractors, and other medical personnel to develop a treatment plan and share records.
• Develop treatment plans that specify the types of massage to be used.

Common work activities

Massage therapists perform the following tasks. These tasks are common to many careers.

• Perform activities that use the whole body
• Perform for or work with the public
• Get information needed to do the job
• Assist and care for others
• Establish and maintain relationships
• Update and use job-related knowledge
• Document and record information
• Make decisions and solve problems
• Think creatively
• Handle and move objects
• Identify objects, actions, and events
• Organize, plan, and prioritize work
• Schedule work and activities
• Evaluate information against standards
• Develop goals and strategies
• Analyze data or information

Work requirements

Working conditions

In a typical work setting, massage therapists:

Interpersonal relationships

• Have a high level of social contact. They work closely with clients.
• Communicate mostly by interacting in person. They also talk with clients by telephone or e-mail, but less often.
• Are responsible for the health and safety of clients.
• Often work as a team of other therapists and medical professionals.

Physical work conditions

• Almost always work indoors.
• Often stand for long periods of time.
• Come into close physical contact with clients and patients.

Work performance

• Must be exact in their work and be sure all details are done. Errors could endanger patients' health.
• Often repeat the same physical activities.
• Regularly make decisions that affect their clients and their business' reputation. They usually don't consult anyone before deciding a course of action.
• Determine most of their daily tasks and goals independently.
• Work in a moderately competitive atmosphere, where they compete for clients.

Hours/travel

• Often work part time. Most average about 25 hours per week.
• May have a flexible schedule.
• May travel to different locations for work.
• May work evenings and weekends.

Physical demands

Massage therapists frequently:

• Stand for long periods of time.
• Repeat the same movements.
• Use their hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools, or controls.

It is important for massage therapists to be able to:

• Use one or two hands to grasp, move, or assemble objects.
• Use muscles for extended periods without getting tired.
• Use stomach and lower back muscles to support the body for long periods without getting tired.
• Move two or more limbs together (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while remaining in place.
• Understand the speech of another person.
• Hold the arm and hand in one position or hold the hand steady while moving the arm.
• Be physically active for long periods without getting tired or out of breath.
• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• Use muscles to lift, push, pull, or carry heavy objects.
• See details of objects that are less than a few feet away.
• Bend, stretch, twist, or reach out.
• Use fingers to grasp, move, or assemble very small objects.

It is not as important, but still necessary, for massage therapists to be able to:

• See details of objects that are more than a few feet away.
• Make fast, repeated movements of fingers, hands, and wrists.
• Make quick, precise adjustments to machine controls.
• Keep or regain the body's balance or stay upright when in an unstable position.
• See differences between colors, shades, and brightness.

Skills and abilities

Massage therapists need to:

Communicate

• Understand spoken information.
• Listen to others and ask questions.
• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• Understand written information.
• Read and understand work-related materials.

Reason and problem solve

• Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong.
• Analyze ideas and use logic to determine their strengths and weaknesses.
• Use reasoning to discover answers to problems.
• Judge the costs and benefits of a possible action.
• Recognize the nature of a problem.
• Combine several pieces of information and draw conclusions.

Work with people

• Be aware of others' reactions and understand the possible causes.
• Look for ways to help people.

Education and training

Educational programs

The programs of study listed below will help you prepare for the occupation or career cluster you are exploring.

Programs of study directly related to this occupation

• Massage Therapy

Other programs of study to consider

• Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine
• Athletic Training
• Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations
• Naturopathic Medicine
• Physical Therapy
• Physical Therapy Assisting

Training

To work as a massage therapist, you typically need to:

• have a high school diploma or equivalent; and
• complete a massage therapy training program.

Education after high school

Massage therapists must have a degree in massage therapy. Professional-technical schools offer these programs. Massage programs take about one year to complete and grant a certificate in massage therapy. In a massage program you learn anatomy and physiology, massage theory, and technique.

On-the-job training

While completing a training program, you begin to do massages under the supervision of a fully-trained massage therapist.

Once on the job, little additional training is required beyond new employee orientation.

Helpful high school courses

In high school, take classes that prepare you for college. A college preparatory curriculum may be different from your state's graduation requirements.

You should also consider taking some advanced courses in high school. This includes Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses if they are available in your school. If you do well in these courses, you may receive college credit for them. Advanced courses can also strengthen your college application.

Helpful electives to take in high school that prepare you for this career include:

• Anatomy and Physiology
• Computer Fundamentals
• Food and Nutrition
• Health Education

Many massage therapists are self-employed. If you want to run your own business some day, you should consider taking these courses as well:

• Accounting
• Entrepreneurship
• Introduction to Business

The courses listed above are meant to help you create your high school plan. If you have not already done so, talk to a school counselor or parent about the courses you are considering taking.

You should also check with a teacher or counselor to see if work-based learning opportunities are available in your school and community. These might include field trips, job shadowing, internships, and actual work experience. The goal of these activities is to help you connect your school experiences with real-life work.

Join some groups, try some hobbies, or volunteer with an organization that interests you. By participating in activities you can have fun, make new friends, and learn about yourself. Maybe one of them will help direct you to a future career. Here are examples of activities and groups that may be available in your high school or community.

Things to know

Some employers prefer to hire therapists who are knowledgeable about one or more specific massage techniques. Employers also look for therapists who are at ease with clients, communicate clearly, and have good massage technique. A caring, helpful attitude is also an advantage in this occupation. Business skills are important, especially for self-employed massage therapists.

Tips

Talk with a massage therapist and experience a massage to find out if this is the kind of work you want to do. Knowledge of movement techniques such as Tai Chi and Aikido can be helpful. Chances for employment may be best in larger cities. You must be comfortable working with all sorts of people. It's helpful to have monetary resources or a part-time job before you begin a practice.

Costs to workers

Self-employed therapists must buy their own massage table, oils, linens, and other supplies. New tables usually cost $500 to $900. Some massage therapists lease space at fitness centers or other work sites for a set fee or a percentage of their income.

Licensing/certification

Massage therapists must be licensed in the State of Washington. Licensing requirements include:

• being age 18 or older;
• completion of a 500-hour course in a Washington State approved massage school program or apprenticeship program;
• passing the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards  examination (MBLEx) or the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork  examination (NCBTMB);
• a current first aid and CPR card;
• answering personal data questions;
• four-clock hours of HIV/AIDS education;
• passing a criminal history check; and
• 24 hours of continuing education every two years.

Some massage therapists may also be endorsed to perform intraoral massage or animal massage. To earn the intraoral endorsement, they must complete an additional 16 hours of training in this subject directly supervised by a licensed massage practitioner endorsed in intraoral massage or from an individual who is licensed, certified, or registered and who has provided intraoral massage services within their authorized scope of practice. To qualify for the animal massage endorsement, they must complete a minimum of 100 hours in either small or large animal massage from an approved school or training program.

In Washington, individuals can also be certified as only animal massage  practitioners. Certification requirements include:

• completion of 300 hours of approved training in either large or small animal massage; or
• completion of 600 hours total in small and large animal massage;
• passing the National Board of Certification for Animal Acupressure and Massage  national equine massage examination for large animal massage and/or canine massage examination for small animal massage;
• completion of a state jurisprudence examination; and
• four-clock hours of HIV/AIDS education.

For more information on requirements and fees, contact:

Washington State Department of Health
Health Systems Quality Assurance
Customer Service Center 
PO Box 47877
Olympia, WA 98504
360.236.4700

Licensing requirements vary from state to state. Some states do not require massage licenses. However, employers in that state may require licensing. People who want to work in another state should find out what that state requires and also talk to massage therapists for additional information.

Job listings

Listed below are links to job categories from the National Labor Exchange that relate to this career. Once you get a list of jobs, you can view information about individual jobs and find out how to apply. If your job search finds too many openings, or if you wish to search for jobs outside of Washington, you will need to refine your search.

• Massage Therapists 

To get a listing of current jobs from the WorkSource system, go to the WorkSource website .

Wages

Wages vary with the location, employer, and clientele. Massage therapists typically charge $35-$60 per hour. However massage therapists pay for their office equipment, supplies, rent, and utilities from their earnings. Therapists also must pay for liability insurance, taxes, advertising, and continued training.

Some therapists work as contract employees for massage schools, health practitioners, or fitness clubs and earn 40 to 70 percent of the fee the customer pays. In this situation, therapists earn about $15-$25 per hour. As a trade-off, they use the employer's space and supplies instead of buying their own.

Most massage therapists are self-employed or work part time. These workers must provide their own health insurance and retirement plan.

Employment and outlook

State Outlook

The table below provides information about the number of workers in this career in various regions. It also provides information about the expected growth rate and future job openings.

National employment

About 33% of massage therapists are self-employed.

Major employers:

• Spas and health clubs
• Doctors' offices

National outlook

Demand for massage therapists will remain strong. More people are becoming interested in massage as a way to relieve stress and promote health. There will also be demand for massage therapists at full-service spas and salons. The aging population will increase the number of people with conditions that can benefit from massage therapy.

More naturopaths, acupuncturists, chiropractors, physical therapists, and physicians will refer their patients to massage therapists. More insurance plans cover massage therapy.

Competition for jobs is very strong. Job prospects are best for those who are licensed and have experience.

Other resources

American Massage Therapy Association 
500 Davis Street, Suite 900
Evanston, IL 60201
877.905.0577
847.864.0123

Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals 
25188 Genesee Trail Road, Suite 200
Golden, CO 80401
800.458.2267
303.674.8478

Becoming a Professional Massage Therapist 

National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork 
800.296.0664
630.627.8000

Washington State Massage Therapy Association 

References

Career cluster

• Human Services

Career path

• Social

O*Net  occupation

• Massage Therapists (31-9011.00) 

O*Net job zone 

• Job Zone 3 - Medium preparation needed. Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations.

DOT occupation

• Masseur/Masseuse (334.374-010) 

Holland occupational cluster

• Social/Realistic/Investigative

COPSystem

• Service Skilled