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What is a massage therapist and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
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A massage therapist uses various techniques to manipulate muscles, tendons, and soft tissues in the body to promote relaxation and alleviate pain. They work in spas, clinics, and private practices. Massage therapists assess clients' needs and tailor treatments to address issues. They may also offer guidance on stretching and exercise to help clients maintain their health. Communication skills are important for a massage therapist as they build rapport with clients while respecting privacy and boundaries.

ScoreMassage TherapistUS Average
Salary
4.2

Avg. Salary $53,935

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
4.0

Growth rate 20%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
5.4
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.25%

Asian 11.00%

Black or African American 6.06%

Hispanic or Latino 17.00%

Unknown 5.18%

White 60.50%

Gender

female 76.40%

male 23.60%

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

What are the pros and cons of being a massage therapist?

Pros

  • Potential for high earning potential with the right clientele and business plan

  • Opportunities for continuing education and professional growth

  • Satisfaction from helping clients feel better and relaxed

  • Ability to specialize in particular styles or techniques

  • Growing demand for massage therapy due to increased awareness of its benefits

Cons

  • High cost of education and certification requirements

  • Limited insurance coverage for massage therapy, making it less accessible to some clients

  • Difficulty finding affordable space to rent or buy for private practice

  • Need to market oneself effectively to attract and retain clients

  • High level of competition in the industry.

Massage therapist career paths

Key steps to become a massage therapist

  1. Explore massage therapist education requirements

    Most common massage therapist degrees

    Associate

    25.7 %

    Bachelor's

    24.8 %

    Certificate

    23.1 %
  2. Start to develop specific massage therapist skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Customer Service24.45%
    Cleanliness14.08%
    Strong Customer Service12.54%
    Work Ethic7.08%
    Wellness Benefits5.75%
  3. Complete relevant massage therapist training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New 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 massage therapist based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real massage therapist resumes.
  4. Obtain the necessary licensing

    Becoming a licensed massage therapist usually doesn't require a college degree. However, you need to pass an exam to become a licensed massage therapist in most of states. 37 states require 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. Gain additional massage therapist certifications

    Massage therapist certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific massage therapist certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

    The most common certifications for massage therapists include Massage Therapy Certification (MT) and National Certification for Therapeutic Massage (NCTM).

    More About Certifications
  6. Research massage therapist duties and responsibilities

    • Manage employees and office, administer payroll.
    • Manage confidential client health information in accordance with the HIPPA act.
    • Perform massage therapy and Reiki on palliative care patients
    • Work in a professional center performing massage therapy, energy therapies, hot stone therapy, and reiki.
  7. Prepare your massage therapist resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your 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 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 massage therapist resume templates

    Build a professional 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 massage therapist resume.
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    Massage Therapist Resume
  8. Apply for massage therapist jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a 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 massage therapist job

Natashia Zanza

Massage Therapist

My name is Natashia chengetai zanza, I just wanted to tell you how I become a massage therapist. In 2020 lockdown I used to when all the restaurant where closed I started looking for a job that can allow me to work lockdown my cousin asked me I I want to learn how to massage, Facials, Waxing, Lashes, meni&pedi and nails tech I said yes then we found a job in penaruise dam I'm not sure if the spelling its correct, then they started teaching how to apply everything and the sequence i was so interesting to learn more when the restaurant where opened i went back then I was putting my money aside so I can take my self to school as I found something I loved the most that was 2021 I went to excellence international beauty academy, I'm still going for my international certificate as I am looking for a job in the cruise ship thats how I become a massage therapist

Average massage therapist salary

The average massage therapist salary in the United States is $53,935 per year or $26 per hour. Massage therapist salaries range between $31,000 and $92,000 per year.

Average massage therapist salary
$53,935 Yearly
$25.93 hourly

What am I worth?

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How do massage therapists rate their job?

4.6/5

Based on 5 ratings

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Massage therapist reviews

profile
5.0
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
4.0
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
Pros

I love the clientele. From the young to the older, there is just a different type of job satisfaction that comes with working this position.

Cons

I haven't found that yet


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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.

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