Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between massage therapists and certified massage therapists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a massage therapist has an average salary of $53,935, which is higher than the $50,956 average annual salary of a certified massage therapist.
The top three skills for a massage therapist include customer service, cleanliness and strong customer service. The most important skills for a certified massage therapist are customer service, sports massage, and taking care.
| Massage Therapist | Certified Massage Therapist | |
| Yearly salary | $53,935 | $50,956 |
| Hourly rate | $25.93 | $24.50 |
| Growth rate | 20% | 20% |
| Number of jobs | 34,262 | 61,567 |
| Job satisfaction | 4.6 | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 26% | Bachelor's Degree, 34% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
Massage Therapists are professionals who practice in treating chronic pains like back pain, neck pain or headaches, and physical stress. Their main focus is on the general wellness of their patients. They help rehabilitate injuries by administering therapy treatments to patients with the power of touch using hands, fingers, forearms, elbows, and sometimes even feet. They often use aiding products like scented oils, lotions, and also offer information about additional relaxation techniques or exercises to practice such as stretching, postural improvement, strengthening, and other rehabilitative exercises. They work either in private, and public settings, and some are required to travel to clients' homes or offices to provide service.
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. They may also discuss medical histories to learn of any existing injuries, identify problem areas, and develop personalized treatment plans. Moreover, aside from providing massage, they may also perform organizational and clerical tasks such as handling calls and correspondence, arranging appointments, monitoring and maintaining supplies, cleaning rooms and linen, and referring clients to specialists when necessary.
Massage therapists and certified massage therapists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Massage Therapist | Certified Massage Therapist | |
| Average salary | $53,935 | $50,956 |
| Salary range | Between $31,000 And $92,000 | Between $29,000 And $87,000 |
| Highest paying City | Arlington, MA | - |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | - |
| Best paying company | Huntington Hospital | - |
| Best paying industry | Government | - |
There are a few differences between a massage therapist and a certified massage therapist in terms of educational background:
| Massage Therapist | Certified Massage Therapist | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 26% | Bachelor's Degree, 34% |
| Most common major | Somatic Bodywork | Somatic Bodywork |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between massage therapists' and certified massage therapists' demographics:
| Massage Therapist | Certified Massage Therapist | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 23.6% Female, 76.4% | Male, 19.4% Female, 80.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.1% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 17.0% Asian, 11.0% White, 60.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 6.0% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 16.8% Asian, 11.0% White, 60.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 13% | 13% |