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Licensed massage practitioner vs clinical massage therapist

The differences between licensed massage practitioners and clinical massage therapists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a clinical massage therapist has an average salary of $49,219, which is higher than the $48,781 average annual salary of a licensed massage practitioner.

The top three skills for a licensed massage practitioner include patients, spa treatments and therapeutic massage. The most important skills for a clinical massage therapist are front desk, patients, and client confidentiality.

Licensed massage practitioner vs clinical massage therapist overview

Licensed Massage PractitionerClinical Massage Therapist
Yearly salary$48,781$49,219
Hourly rate$23.45$23.66
Growth rate20%20%
Number of jobs42,67279,875
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 35%Bachelor's Degree, 28%
Average age4141
Years of experience--

Licensed massage practitioner vs clinical massage therapist salary

Licensed massage practitioners and clinical massage therapists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Licensed Massage PractitionerClinical Massage Therapist
Average salary$48,781$49,219
Salary rangeBetween $27,000 And $87,000Between $27,000 And $87,000
Highest paying City-Boston, MA
Highest paying state-Alaska
Best paying company-Brigham and Women's Hospital
Best paying industry-Professional

Differences between licensed massage practitioner and clinical massage therapist education

There are a few differences between a licensed massage practitioner and a clinical massage therapist in terms of educational background:

Licensed Massage PractitionerClinical Massage Therapist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 35%Bachelor's Degree, 28%
Most common majorSomatic BodyworkSomatic Bodywork
Most common college--

Licensed massage practitioner vs clinical massage therapist demographics

Here are the differences between licensed massage practitioners' and clinical massage therapists' demographics:

Licensed Massage PractitionerClinical Massage Therapist
Average age4141
Gender ratioMale, 24.7% Female, 75.3%Male, 27.8% Female, 72.2%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 6.5% Unknown, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 15.0% Asian, 11.1% White, 61.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%Black or African American, 5.9% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 16.4% Asian, 11.1% White, 61.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage13%13%

Differences between licensed massage practitioner and clinical massage therapist duties and responsibilities

Licensed massage practitioner example responsibilities.

  • Manage confidential client health information in accordance with the HIPPA act.
  • Certify in traditional royal Thai massage, aromatherapy, reflexology, body treatment, and Thai natural homeopathy
  • Treat physical, mental, emotional and spiritual problems using Reiki.
  • Provide clients with various massages, such as Swedish, deep tissue, and Reiki.
  • Facilitate health and healing by cultivating caring relationships with patients.
  • Provide professional in-home massages using different modalities such as deep-tissue, Swedish and reflexology.
  • Show more

Clinical massage therapist example responsibilities.

  • Manage confidential client health information in accordance with the HIPPA act.
  • Provide care to chiropractic patients with specific condition treatments.
  • Schedule appointments, maintain records and accounts, and answer telephone calls to refer inquiries to providers for patients.
  • Maintain professionalism and cleanliness of assign therapy room and maintain the confidentiality and sensitivity to relate issues during all client interactions.
  • Perform massage therapy and Reiki on palliative care patients

Licensed massage practitioner vs clinical massage therapist skills

Common licensed massage practitioner skills
  • Patients, 20%
  • Spa Treatments, 11%
  • Therapeutic Massage, 10%
  • Soft Tissue, 6%
  • Hot Stone Massage, 5%
  • Swedish Massage, 5%
Common clinical massage therapist skills
  • Front Desk, 23%
  • Patients, 19%
  • Client Confidentiality, 11%
  • Physical Therapy, 9%
  • Soft Tissue, 8%
  • Pain Relief, 3%

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