Post job

What is a deep tissue massage therapist and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
2 min read
introduction image
There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a deep tissue massage therapist. For example, did you know that they make an average of $23.29 an hour? That's $48,453 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 20% and produce 29,900 job opportunities across the U.S.
ScoreDeep Tissue Massage TherapistUS Average
Salary
3.8

Avg. Salary $48,453

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
4.0

Growth rate 20%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
5.3
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.22%

Asian 11.66%

Black or African American 4.96%

Hispanic or Latino 10.81%

Unknown 5.09%

White 67.26%

Gender

female 82.61%

male 17.39%

Age - 40
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 40
Stress level
4.0

Stress level is moderate

7.1 - high

Complexity level
5.6

Complexity level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work life balance
10.0

Work life balance is excellent

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a deep tissue massage therapist

  1. Explore deep tissue massage therapist education requirements

    Most common deep tissue massage therapist degrees

    Associate

    36.4 %

    Diploma

    18.2 %

    High School Diploma

    18.2 %
  2. Start to develop specific deep tissue massage therapist skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Massage Services60.98%
    Deep Tissue39.02%
  3. Complete relevant deep tissue massage therapist training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New deep tissue massage therapists learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a deep tissue massage therapist based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real deep tissue massage therapist resumes.
  4. Obtain the necessary licensing

    Becoming a licensed deep tissue massage therapist usually doesn't require a college degree. However, you need to pass an exam to become a licensed deep tissue massage therapist in most of states. 37 states require deep tissue massage therapists to have license for their work. You can see the list of states below.
    StateEducationExamLicense url
    Alabama--Licensed Massage Therapist
    AlaskaSpecific course requiredThird-party exam requiredMassage Therapist
    ArkansasSpecific course requiredBoth state and third-party exams requiredMassage Therapist
    ColoradoSpecific course requiredThird-party exam requiredMassage Therapists
    ConnecticutSpecific course requiredThird-party exam requiredMassage Therapist
  5. Research deep tissue massage therapist duties and responsibilities

    • Manage confidential client health information in accordance with the HIPPA act.
    • Maintain professionalism and cleanliness of assign therapy room and maintain the confidentiality and sensitivity to relate issues during all client interactions.
    • Foot Reflexology demonstrating acupressure on specific areas of the feet for relief and relaxation.
  6. Prepare your deep tissue massage therapist resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your deep tissue massage therapist resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a deep tissue massage therapist resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable deep tissue massage therapist resume templates

    Build a professional deep tissue massage therapist resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your deep tissue massage therapist resume.
    Deep Tissue Massage Therapist Resume
    Deep Tissue Massage Therapist Resume
    Deep Tissue Massage Therapist Resume
    Deep Tissue Massage Therapist Resume
    Deep Tissue Massage Therapist Resume
    Deep Tissue Massage Therapist Resume
    Deep Tissue Massage Therapist Resume
    Deep Tissue Massage Therapist Resume
    Deep Tissue Massage Therapist Resume
  7. Apply for deep tissue massage therapist jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a deep tissue massage therapist job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first deep tissue massage therapist job

Zippi

Are you a deep tissue massage therapist?

Share your story for a free salary report.

Average deep tissue massage therapist salary

The average deep tissue massage therapist salary in the United States is $48,453 per year or $23 per hour. Deep tissue massage therapist salaries range between $25,000 and $91,000 per year.

Average deep tissue massage therapist salary
$48,453 Yearly
$23.29 hourly

What am I worth?

salary-calculator

How do deep tissue massage therapists rate their job?

-/5

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Deep tissue massage therapist reviews

profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Feb 2022
Pros

The satisfaction of knowing i help people to live a better quality of life through my craft.

Cons

I dont like working with team members who dont know anything about what a Massage Therapists job entails


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Nov 2021
Pros

I love helping people who have issues with having pain. And getting great results! I love to relax them and get them back to balance with a quality of life.

Cons

Being underpaid.


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Dec 2020
Cons

I haven't found that yet


Working as a deep tissue massage therapist? Share your experience anonymously.
Overall rating*
Career growth
Work/Life balance
Pay/Salary

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Browse healthcare support jobs