Post job

Massage therapist vs licensed massage practitioner

The differences between massage therapists and licensed massage practitioners 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 $48,781 average annual salary of a licensed massage practitioner.

The top three skills for a massage therapist include customer service, cleanliness and strong customer service. The most important skills for a licensed massage practitioner are patients, spa treatments, and therapeutic massage.

Massage therapist vs licensed massage practitioner overview

Massage TherapistLicensed Massage Practitioner
Yearly salary$53,935$48,781
Hourly rate$25.93$23.45
Growth rate20%20%
Number of jobs34,26242,672
Job satisfaction4.6-
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 26%Bachelor's Degree, 35%
Average age4141
Years of experience--

Massage therapist vs licensed massage practitioner salary

Massage therapists and licensed massage practitioners have different pay scales, as shown below.

Massage TherapistLicensed Massage Practitioner
Average salary$53,935$48,781
Salary rangeBetween $31,000 And $92,000Between $27,000 And $87,000
Highest paying CityArlington, MA-
Highest paying stateAlaska-
Best paying companyHuntington Hospital-
Best paying industryGovernment-

Differences between massage therapist and licensed massage practitioner education

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

Massage TherapistLicensed Massage Practitioner
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 26%Bachelor's Degree, 35%
Most common majorSomatic BodyworkSomatic Bodywork
Most common college--

Massage therapist vs licensed massage practitioner demographics

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

Massage TherapistLicensed Massage Practitioner
Average age4141
Gender ratioMale, 23.6% Female, 76.4%Male, 24.7% Female, 75.3%
Race ratioBlack 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, 6.5% Unknown, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 15.0% Asian, 11.1% White, 61.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage13%13%

Differences between massage therapist and licensed massage practitioner duties and responsibilities

Massage therapist example 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.
  • Show more

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

Massage therapist vs licensed massage practitioner skills

Common massage therapist skills
  • Customer Service, 24%
  • Cleanliness, 14%
  • Strong Customer Service, 13%
  • Work Ethic, 7%
  • Wellness Benefits, 6%
  • Massage Therapy, 5%
Common licensed massage practitioner skills
  • Patients, 20%
  • Spa Treatments, 11%
  • Therapeutic Massage, 10%
  • Soft Tissue, 6%
  • Hot Stone Massage, 5%
  • Swedish Massage, 5%

Browse healthcare support jobs