Massage Therapy Career Facts
Updated: 2021 Career data comes from the most recent BLS publication. Education information comes from schools, credentialing and accrediting organizations and is subject to change.
Massage Therapy Overview: Education & Job Outlook
The complete guide to massage therapy programs, certification, careers and advancement opportunities.
Introduction
One of the most relaxing therapies in the health care industry is a massage. Sometimes it’s a 30-minute massage, sometimes it’s 60 but if you have ever had a therapeutic massage with soothing music, aromatherapy scents, you know the magic a therapist performs.
A massage by definition is the manipulation of muscles and soft tissue of the body. This increases the circulation of the manipulated area, relieves pain, stress, and increases relaxation. Â A massage therapist performs this activity and their clients are often referred by Doctors and Physicians.
The human body muscular system is complex, and most Massage Therapists attend schools to train in the techniques of this profession to study the body.
The art of massages have Eastern and Western origins. Western massage programs such as Swedish, prenatal, deep-tissue, and sports massage among others are some of the different techniques that the therapist will use on the client.
A therapist uses these different techniques depending on their clients’ needs or body types such as athletes, the elderly, or those who just have pain.
Massage Therapy is a $16 billion industry today and expected to grow to be a $68 billion market within a decade. The Bureau of Labor (BLS) predicts 35,400 new jobs in the next 5 years so the job prospects are excellent.
Massage Therapist: Degrees and Programs
There are more than 300 massage therapy schools that offer an accredited program in Massage Therapy and average about 500 hours of training for certification.
A full-time program can be completed in about 8 months and part-time 10-12 months. California, Indiana, and Virginia require a Massage Therapy Certification. Wyoming, Kansas, Oklahoma, Minnesota, and Vermont do not require a license. The other states regulate therapist in various ways but usually require a minimum number of training hours but check with your state for exact requirements.
A state license helps to standardize practices and to ensure safety and confidence for clients.
The table below shows whether each state offers either a license or certificate, the number of required training hours, and the name of the licensing/certification exam.
| State + License or Certificate | Education Hours | Certified Exam |
|---|---|---|
Alabama - L | 650 | MBLEx |
Alaska - L | 500 | MBLEx |
Arizona - L | 700 | MBLEx |
Arkansas - L | 500 | MBLEx |
California - C | 500 | MBLEx, BCTMB |
Colorado - L | 500 | MBLEx, BCTMB |
Connecticut - L | 500 | MBLEx |
Delaware - C or L | 300 or 500 | none or MBLEx |
Florida - L | 500 | MBLEx |
Georgia - L | 500 | MBLEx |
Hawaii - L | 570 | HMTEx |
Idaho - L | 500 | MBLEx |
Illinois - L | 600 | MBLEx |
Indiana - C | 500 | MBLEx |
Iowa - L | 600 | MBLEx |
Kansas - none | none | none |
Kentucky - L | 600 | MBLEx |
Louisiana - L | 500 | MBLEx |
Maine - L | 500 | MBLEx |
Maryland - L | 600 | MBLEx |
Massachusetts - L | 550 | None |
Michigan - L | 500 | MBLEx |
Minnesota - none | none | none |
Mississippi - L | 700 | MBLEx and MSLE |
Missouri - L | 500 | MBLEx |
Montana - L | 500 | MBLEx |
Nebraska - L | 1,000 | MBLEx |
Nevada - L | 550 | MBLEx |
New Hampshire - L | 750 | MBLEx |
New Jersey - L | 500 | MBLEx |
New Mexico - C | 650 | MBLEx |
New York - L | 1,000 | NY Castle |
North Carolina - L | 500 | MBLEx |
North Dakota - L | 750 | MBLEx |
Ohio - L | 750 | MBLEx |
Oklahoma - L | 500 | None |
Oregon - L | 500 | MBLEx |
Pennsylvania - L | 600 | MBLEx |
Rhode Island - L | 500 | MBLEx |
South Carolina - L | 500 | MBLEx |
South Dakota - L | 500 | MBLEx |
Tennessee - L | 600 | MBLEx |
Texas - L | 500 | MBLEx |
Utah - L | 600 | MBLEx |
Vermont - none | none | none |
Virginia - C | 500 | MBLEx |
Washington - L | 500 | MBLEx |
West Virginia - L | 500 | MBLEx |
Wisconsin - L | 600 | MBLEx |
Wyoming - none | none | none |
District of Columbia (D.C.) - L | 500 | MBLEx |
The licensing and certifying exams are listed below:
- Massage and Bodywork Licensing Exam (MBLEx)
- Mississippi State Law Exam (MSLE)
- Board Certification Exam fpor Therapeutic Massage and Bodyworks (BCTMB)
- Hawaii Massage Therapy Exam (HMTEx)
Tuition costs will vary at the more than 300 different accredited technical schools. Tuition will be about $10 per credit hour which means on average you will pay about $5,000 for a 500-hour class.
A typical massage therapy program that meets many state requirements would be:
- Anatomy: 50 hours
- Kinesiology: 50 hours
- Physiology: 25 hours
- Pathology: 40 hours
- Techniques, theory, and practice of soft tissue manipulation: 200 hours (with no less than 125 hours devoted to Swedish massage therapy technique)
- Hydrotherapy: 20 hours
- Laws and rules, ethics, and business practice: 45 hours
- Hygiene, health, universal precautions, first aid, and CPR: 20 hours
- Internship: 50 hours
Many states follow the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB) licensing programs which offers the Massage and Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEX) but check your state for the latest requirements. You can also take the NCBTMB Board Certification exam that is accepted by states for licensing purposes.
Massage Therapist Salaries
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has detailed statistics on role which vary state by state but the median average salary for Massage Therapist is $41,420 per year.
Several factors determine the final salary or wage of a Massage Therapist including specialization within a field, experience, and geography to name a few. The areas with a higher cost of living tend to pay above average. Alaska, Oregon, Washington, Hawaii and Massachusetts are the top five top paying states according to the BLS.
| Quick Facts: Massage Therapy | |
| 2018 Median Pay | $41,420 per year $19.92 per hour |
| Typical Entry-Level Education | Post-secondary non degree award |
| On-the-job Training | None |
| Number of Jobs, 2018 | 159,800 |
| Job Outlook, 2018-28 | 22% (Faster than average) |
| Employment Change, 2018-28 | 35,400 |
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
Massage Therapy Job Growth
The future is very bright for Massage Therapist job growth. According to BLS, they predict employment to grow 22% from now through 2028.
This is a much faster than average growth occupation in the Allied Health industry in terms of jobs. The BLS predicts 35,400 Massage Therapist jobs will be added in the next several years.
The need for Massage Therapists is in every state but some areas have more need and are willing to pay more to start. California, Florida, Texas, Colorado and Illinois are the top five states with the most jobs needs according to BLS.
Massage Therapy Career Opportunities
After learning the skills through training and practice, you can choose to work full-time or part-time in a variety of different environments such as:
Holistic
- Wellness Centers
- Rehabilitation Centers
- Massage Clinics
Athletic
- Sports teams
- Marathon and Sporting Events
- Fitness Centers
Luxury Lifestyle
- Spas
- Resorts
- Cruise Lines
- Upscale hotels
Professional
- Hospitals
- Medical Offices
- Chiropractic
- Physical Therapy
A typical job description for a Massage Therapists:
- Discuss with clients their symptoms, medical history, and desired results
- Locate painful or tense areas of the body
- Massage muscles and other soft tissues of the body
- Guide clients on stretching, strengthening, overall relaxation
- Track clients’ conditions and progress
Massage Therapist Personality Traits
Massage Therapists help heal and comfort their patients and patients look for a therapist they can trust.
Here are some traits that can help you succeed:
- Social and business skills
- A great listener
- Patience
- Genuine compassion for clients
- Thrive in interacting with people
If you love a hands on and caring profession with clients who need healing and are passionate about the health industry, a Massage Therapist maybe the career that will be fulfilling for you.
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