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The differences between massage therapists and practitioners can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a practitioner has an average salary of $84,058, 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 practitioner are patients, patient care, and social work.
| Massage Therapist | Practitioner | |
| Yearly salary | $53,935 | $84,058 |
| Hourly rate | $25.93 | $40.41 |
| Growth rate | 20% | 40% |
| Number of jobs | 34,262 | 42,062 |
| Job satisfaction | 4.6 | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 26% | Bachelor's Degree, 51% |
| Average age | 41 | 43 |
| 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.
The duties of a practitioner depend on one's line of work or industry of employment. In the medical field, a practitioner is a doctor who provides medical services to patients according to their health issues or concerns, primarily by diagnosing and treating illnesses and injuries. Their responsibilities include performing examinations and assessments, providing consultations and advice, prescribing medication, and referring patients to specialists when necessary. They must also maintain an active communication line with nurses and technicians for a smooth and efficient workflow.
Massage therapists and practitioners have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Massage Therapist | Practitioner | |
| Average salary | $53,935 | $84,058 |
| Salary range | Between $31,000 And $92,000 | Between $50,000 And $138,000 |
| Highest paying City | Arlington, MA | Hartford, CT |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | Huntington Hospital | Morgan Stanley |
| Best paying industry | Government | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a massage therapist and a practitioner in terms of educational background:
| Massage Therapist | Practitioner | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 26% | Bachelor's Degree, 51% |
| Most common major | Somatic Bodywork | Psychology |
| Most common college | - | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between massage therapists' and practitioners' demographics:
| Massage Therapist | Practitioner | |
| Average age | 41 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 23.6% Female, 76.4% | Male, 36.8% Female, 63.2% |
| 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, 4.7% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 6.7% Asian, 6.3% White, 77.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 13% | 12% |