Related job titles are: Massage Therapist, Licensed Massage Therapist, Certified Massage Therapist (CMT), Licensed Massage Practitioner, Registered Massage Therapist, Bodywork Therapist, Integrated Deep Tissue Massage Therapist, or Therapeutic Massage Technician.
How Much Does a Massage Therapist Make? | Massage Therapist Salary
The median yearly salary for massage therapists was $34,900 in May 2010 (the most recent data available). This median salary is simply the salary where half the employees earned more and half earned a lesser amount. Employees in the lower 10 percent had an annual salary less than $17,970, and those employees in the top 10 percent earned greater then $69,000.
What Does a Massage Therapist Do? | Job Description
Massage Therapist is one of U.S. News and World Report "100 Best Jobs of 2013." Massage Therapists treat clients by using touch to manipulate the soft-tissue muscles of the body. With their touch, therapists relieve pain, rehabilitate injuries, reduce stress, increase relaxation, and aid in the general wellness of clients.
Massage therapists can specialize in many different types of massage, called modalities. Swedish massage, deep-tissue massage, and sports massage are just a few of the many modalities of massage therapy. Most massage therapists specialize in several modalities, which require different techniques.
Usually, the type of massage given depends on the client’s needs and physical condition. For example, therapists may use a special technique for elderly clients that they would not use for athletes. Some forms of massage are given solely to one type of client; for example, prenatal massage is given to pregnant women.
How to Become a Massage Therapist?
Massage therapists typically complete a career college education program that can require 500 hours or more of study and experience, although standards and requirements vary greatly by state and locality. Most states regulate massage therapy and require massage therapists to have a license or certificate.
Massage Therapy Classes and Courses | Degree Programs
Training standards and requirements for massage therapists vary greatly by state and locality. Education programs are typically found in private or public career college institutions and can require 500 hours or more of study to complete.
Massage therapy programs generally cover subjects such as anatomy; physiology, which is the study of organs and tissues; kinesiology, which is the study of motion and body mechanics; business management; ethics; and the hands-on practice of massage techniques.
Training programs may concentrate on certain modalities, or specialties, of massage. Several programs also offer job placement and continuing education. Both full-time and part-time programs are available.
Massage Therapist Jobs | Who is Hiring?
Employment of massage therapistss is expected to grow by 20 percent from 2010 to 2020, faster than the average for all occupations. Continued growth in the demand for massage services will lead to new openings for massage therapists. The number of spas, which employ a large number of therapists, has increased in recent years. The number of massage clinic franchises has also been increasing, many of which offer more affordable massages than those at spas and resorts, making them available to a wider range of customers.
Get information on paying for college using Federal Student Financial Aid Programs.
