How to hire a massage therapist

How to hire a massage therapist, step by step

Here's a step-by-step massage therapist hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a massage therapist job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new massage therapist
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a massage therapist do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The massage therapist hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A massage therapist's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, massage therapists from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   The following list breaks down different types of massage therapists and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Massage Therapist	Description	Hourly rate
   Massage Therapist	Massage therapists treat clients by using touch to manipulate the soft-tissue muscles of the body. With their touch, therapists relieve pain, help rehabilitate injuries, improve circulation, relieve stress, increase relaxation, and aid in the general wellness of clients.	$14-44
   Certified Massage Therapist	A certified massage therapist specializes in providing therapeutic massages on patrons to promote relaxation and improve circulation. The massage they provide primarily depends on the client's needs and preferences... Show more	$13-41

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Customer Service
   • Cleanliness
   • Strong Customer Service
   • Work Ethic
   • Wellness Benefits
   • Massage Therapy
   • Taking Care
   • Client Confidentiality
   • Patients
   • Treatment Rooms
   • Spa Treatments
   • Front Desk
   • Social Work
   • Excellent Guest

   Check all skills

   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.
   • Provide therapeutic massage, reflexology and relate services to enhance customer health and wellness
   • Provide massage therapy in various therapeutic settings including several chiropractic offices, in-home appointment (s) and at charity/sponsore events.

   More massage therapist duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your massage therapist job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A massage therapist can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, massage therapists' average salary in florida is 33% less than in alaska.
   • Seniority. Entry-level massage therapists 66% less than senior-level massage therapists.
   • Certifications. A massage therapist with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a massage therapist's salary.

   Average massage therapist salary

   $53,935yearly

   $25.93 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level massage therapist salary

   $31,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 9, 2026

   Average massage therapist salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Massachusetts	$62,450	$30
   2	Maine	$61,805	$30
   3	New York	$61,541	$30
   4	California	$58,808	$28
   5	Oregon	$58,047	$28
   6	Washington	$58,036	$28
   7	Michigan	$57,491	$28
   8	District of Columbia	$57,330	$28
   9	Virginia	$57,283	$28
   10	Nevada	$54,538	$26
   11	Minnesota	$54,259	$26
   12	Ohio	$54,094	$26
   13	Illinois	$53,526	$26
   14	West Virginia	$53,072	$26
   15	Arizona	$53,009	$25
   16	Indiana	$52,114	$25
   17	North Carolina	$51,854	$25
   18	South Dakota	$51,677	$25
   19	Utah	$51,065	$25
   20	Nebraska	$50,523	$24

   Average massage therapist salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Huntington Hospital	$113,964	$54.79
   2	Sharp HealthCare	$94,977	$45.66	1
   3	Montage Health	$90,148	$43.34
   4	Sutter Health	$90,048	$43.29	2
   5	Park Nicollet Medical Center Inc	$88,752	$42.67
   6	Southcoast Health	$88,283	$42.44
   7	Baxter International	$87,254	$41.95	1
   8	Hospice Buffalo	$86,215	$41.45
   9	West Tennessee Healthcare	$84,231	$40.50
   10	Palomar Health	$82,943	$39.88
   11	Nebraska Medicine	$81,708	$39.28	2
   12	GPAC	$81,159	$39.02
   13	Mount Sinai Health System	$81,005	$38.94
   14	Wellpath	$78,879	$37.92
   15	Oregon Health & Science University	$78,647	$37.81	1
   16	Mahaska Health	$78,516	$37.75
   17	Baptist Health Home Care	$78,222	$37.61
   18	NCH Healthcare System	$78,068	$37.53
   19	Johnston Memorial Hospital Corporation	$77,211	$37.12
   20	Valley View Hospital	$76,915	$36.98

4. Writing a massage therapist job description

   A good massage therapist job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a massage therapist job description:

   Massage therapist job description example

   Massage Therapist Ecumen Hospice is hiring a Massage Therapist for its location in Duluth, Minnesota. Ecumen Hospice is a non-profit, Medicare-certified hospice that has been providing life-honoring care in Minnesota for almost 30 years. We serve those who are experiencing a life-limiting condition and the people that are closest to them, through a comprehensive offering of services which include but are not limited to: physician oversight, nursing, social work, spiritual care, hospice aide assistance, music therapy, massage therapy, volunteer services, pet therapy, and bereavement care. Ecumen Overview: Ecumen is an industry leader dedicated to advocating for older adults by providing housing choices, compassionate healthcare, and innovative services. For 160 years Ecumen has cared for those in need. Now, as Minnesota’s 8th largest senior living provider, we continue to advocate for those we serve. Join a team where you can make a difference in advancing our mission to serve our older adults, while we commit to creating a place where everyone belongs. Responsibilities: Massage Therapist The Massage Therapist is responsible for providing massage therapy services under the direction of the Clinical Director according to the hospice patient’s unique plan of care. Essential job responsibilities include: Assesses patients for appropriate medical indication for service and performs assessment to determine effectiveness of therapy.
   
   Directs and assists patients through massage therapy interventions to assist with alleviating symptoms of anxiety, depression, isolation, agitation, restlessness, sleeplessness, pain, muscle tension, circulation, stiffness, contractures, limited mobility, relaxation, and comfort.
   
   Utilizes interventions such as comfort touch, energy work, and compressions.
   
   Maintains necessary records; clinical notes, charting, coordination notes, which will be incorporated into the patient’s clinical record within 24 hours of session and modified as needed.
   
   Provides ongoing education to the clinical team of appropriateness and/or contraindications for treatment.
   
   Qualifications: Massage Therapist Minimum Required Qualifications: High school diploma or GED. At least one year of clinical massage therapy experience. Licensure/Certification: Current license, state certification, or registered as a Massage Therapist in good standing. Ability to communicate effectively in both verbal and written formats. Ability to follow all safety rules, regulations, policies and procedures of the facility including, but not limited to, Vulnerable Adult and Abuse Policy, HIPAA, Resident’s Bill of Rights, Universal Precaution, AWAIR, OSHA, Right to know, SDS, ADA, HUD Policy and Procedures, Fair Housing laws and regulations Preferred Qualifications: Previous experience in home health, hospice or senior care environment.
   Equal Opportunity Employer: Ecumen is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, familial status, disability, or status as a protected veteran.
   Ensuring the safety and well-being of our residents, patients and staff is one of our highest priorities at Ecumen. To ensure we are complying with CMS guidelines, this position requires candidates to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 or submit for an exemption request prior to starting employment.
   We participate in E-Verify.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find massage therapists for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your massage therapist job on Zippia to find and recruit massage therapist candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting massage therapists requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new massage therapist

   Once you've found the massage therapist candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new massage therapist. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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