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The differences between massage therapists and nurses can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a nurse has an average salary of $57,564, which is higher than the $53,935 average annual salary of a massage therapist.
The top three skills for a massage therapist include customer service, cleanliness and strong customer service. The most important skills for a nurse are patients, home health, and CPR.
| Massage Therapist | Nurse | |
| Yearly salary | $53,935 | $57,564 |
| Hourly rate | $25.93 | $27.68 |
| Growth rate | 20% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 34,262 | 696,124 |
| Job satisfaction | 4.6 | 4 |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 26% | Bachelor's Degree, 43% |
| Average age | 41 | 44 |
| Years of experience | - | 2 |
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.
Nurses are medical professionals assigned to a specific department in the hospital and provide their trusted department services. Nurses are in charge of taking patients' medical histories, getting vital signs, preparing patients for checkups or procedures, explaining upcoming practices, answering any questions, and communicating any concerns to the assigned doctor. Nurses should ensure that patients follow the medical advice given to them. They also assist patients in completing administrative requirements, such as filling out forms, validating details, and endorsing payments.
Massage therapists and nurses have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Massage Therapist | Nurse | |
| Average salary | $53,935 | $57,564 |
| Salary range | Between $31,000 And $92,000 | Between $38,000 And $86,000 |
| Highest paying City | Arlington, MA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | California |
| Best paying company | Huntington Hospital | Conviva |
| Best paying industry | Government | Government |
There are a few differences between a massage therapist and a nurse in terms of educational background:
| Massage Therapist | Nurse | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 26% | Bachelor's Degree, 43% |
| Most common major | Somatic Bodywork | Nursing |
| Most common college | - | Duke University |
Here are the differences between massage therapists' and nurses' demographics:
| Massage Therapist | Nurse | |
| Average age | 41 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 23.6% Female, 76.4% | Male, 14.0% Female, 86.0% |
| 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, 11.5% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 9.6% Asian, 8.9% White, 65.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 13% | 9% |