Massage Therapy Provider Training and Jobs
Training and Education
Obtaining a postsecondary vocational award will help job seekers. Massage therapy providers with four or more years of college are 32% of the total. An estimated 49% of workers attended college at some level but did not pursue a 4-year degree. High school was enough education for 19% of employees.
Job Overview
The term “massage therapist” refers to healthcare professionals who are skilled in the art of healing and relieving the pain caused by medical conditions through the administration of muscle massage. Clients often seek massages for medical benefit as well as for purposes of relaxation. To this end, there is a wide variety of massage treatments that cater to the specific needs of the client. This kind of therapy not only helps improve physical health, but also rejuvenates and relaxes the muscles.
There are over 80 different kinds of massage therapies that one can specialize in, including Acupressure, Swedish massage, reflexology, sports massage, deep tissue massage and neuromuscular massage. Massages also vary in duration, lasting anywhere from 5 minutes to two hours.
An aspiring massage therapist needs to complete a formal training before taking up the profession. One also needs to pass a State exam or a national certification examination. Postsecondary schools, college programs and training programs in massage therapy are available. Among the well known institutes offering such courses are:
- Academy of Healing Arts
- Allied Medical & Technical Institute
- Baltimore School of Massage
- Certified Careers Institute
- Daytona College
- Florida College of Natural Health
- IntelliTec Medical Institute
- Medical Careers Institute
- National Massage Therapy Institute
- Utah College of Massage Therapy
These colleges and universities generally offer associate’s degrees, diplomas, or certificate programs in massage therapy. After completing this course, one can opt for the National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork. This national credential can be renewed every 4 years, and in order to maintain the certification, a massage therapist is required to perform at least 200 hours of massage time over these 4 years.
In addition to the qualifications, a massage therapist also needs to have good communication skills. Since this profession involves creating a strong client base and fostering interpersonal relations, a friendly, empathetic nature can be very helpful. One should also have the ability to make their clients feel comfortable.
The working conditions of a massage therapist depends largely on the practice’s setting. One may be employed in private offices, hospitals, nursing homes, studios, sports medicine facilities, fitness centers, airports and even shopping malls. A massage therapist may also be required to travel to the client’s home. Under such circumstances, working conditions may vary widely. In general, massage therapists work 15 to 40 hours a week. Due to the physical nature of the work, massage therapists are often prone to injury if proper techniques are not used.
According to research conducted in 2006, massage therapists held about 118,000 jobs in the US. The industries employing the maximum number of massage therapists are:
- Offices of Other Health Practitioners
- Offices of Physicians
- Other Amusement and Recreation Industries
- Personal Care Services
- Traveler Accommodation
The mean hourly wages of massage therapists are $19.39, while the annual salary is around $40,330. A majority of massage therapists are self-employed. Employment in this sector is expected to increase by 20% in the next 10 years.
Area Job Conditions
Where are jobs most numerous? Napa (California), Olympia (Washington), and Ithaca (New York). Least common? Little Rock (Arkansas), Louisville (Kentucky), and Pittsburgh (Pennsylvania).
Salaries vary across the country, from highest in Anchorage (Alaska), Bremerton (Washington), and Olympia (Washington) to lowest in Dayton (Ohio), New Orleans (Louisiana), and Reno (Nevada).
Part-Time and Self Employment
Whether by choice or necessity, 43% of massage therapy providers work part-time. About 64% of workers do not work for a company or organization.
Career Videos
Massage Therapy Providers by Metropolitan Area (city and its surroundings)
In the table below, a Job Density near 0% means the area has an average number of people in this occupation, for its population. A higher or lower Job Density (e.g., +22% or -45%) tells you there are that many more or fewer workers of that type there than in the average US metro area. So, the higher the number, the more common the occupation.
Alaska
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage | $87,000 | 170 | +145% |
Arizona
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix | $46,000 | 1,080 | +41% |
| Tucson | $41,000 | 290 | +99% |
Arkansas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville | $31,000 | 130 | +52% |
| Hot Springs | $32,000 | 60 | +353% |
| Little Rock | $42,000 | 60 | -59% |
California
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield | $37,000 | 150 | +36% |
| Fresno | $41,000 | 150 | +10% |
| Los Angeles | $35,000 | 1,670 | -5% |
| Napa | $38,000 | 430 | +1673% |
| Oakland | $48,000 | 640 | +48% |
| Oxnard | $37,000 | 150 | +19% |
| Redding | $33,000 | 50 | +117% |
| Riverside | $41,000 | 890 | +70% |
| Sacramento | $39,000 | 640 | +70% |
| Salinas | $41,000 | 220 | +232% |
| San Diego | $40,000 | 1,030 | +81% |
| San Francisco | 1,290 | +199% | |
| San Jose | $46,000 | 480 | +23% |
| Santa Ana | $40,000 | 800 | +27% |
| Santa Barbara | $37,000 | 90 | +29% |
| Santa Cruz | $39,000 | 40 | +16% |
| Santa Rosa | $58,000 | 110 | +52% |
| Vallejo | $30,000 | 80 | +64% |
Colorado
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado Springs | $37,000 | 250 | +134% |
| Denver | $43,000 | 720 | +33% |
| Fort Collins | $29,000 | 120 | +134% |
| Grand Junction | $43,000 | 30 | +37% |
| Greeley | $35,000 | 30 | +6% |
Connecticut
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgeport | 290 | +58% | |
| Hartford | $35,000 | 450 | +81% |
| New Haven | $39,000 | 70 | -39% |
| Norwich | $53,000 | 120 | +140% |
Delaware
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wilmington | $58,000 | 80 | -42% |
District of Columbia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $50,000 | 1,190 | +12% |
Florida
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Coral | $27,000 | 130 | +61% |
| Deltona | $32,000 | 100 | +58% |
| Fort Lauderdale | $35,000 | 440 | +46% |
| Jacksonville | $31,000 | 250 | -4% |
| Lakeland | $41,000 | 40 | -49% |
| Miami | $40,000 | 920 | +116% |
| Naples | $40,000 | 110 | +142% |
| Orlando | $37,000 | 740 | +68% |
| Palm Bay | $42,000 | 40 | -52% |
| Pensacola | $39,000 | 100 | +63% |
| Sarasota | $41,000 | 260 | +150% |
| Tallahassee | $71,000 | 90 | +35% |
| Tampa | $32,000 | 630 | +27% |
| West Palm Beach | $36,000 | 580 | +160% |
Georgia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta | $40,000 | 1,650 | +64% |
| Savannah | $27,000 | 90 | +46% |
Hawaii
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honolulu | $33,000 | 420 | +122% |
Idaho
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boise | $40,000 | 70 | -37% |
Illinois
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Champaign | 40 | -3% | |
| Chicago | $36,000 | 1,810 | +10% |
| Peoria | $39,000 | 40 | -44% |
| Springfield | $41,000 | 30 | -31% |
Indiana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bloomington | $42,000 | 30 | +10% |
| Evansville | $34,000 | 30 | -58% |
| Fort Wayne | $50,000 | 40 | -53% |
| Gary | $33,000 | 150 | +31% |
| South Bend | $32,000 | 80 | +51% |
Iowa
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Davenport | $33,000 | 90 | +15% |
| Waterloo | $37,000 | 40 | +17% |
Kentucky
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville | $43,000 | 170 | -35% |
Louisiana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baton Rouge | $29,000 | 40 | -75% |
| Lafayette | $35,000 | 30 | -49% |
| New Orleans | $32,000 | 180 | -21% |
| Shreveport | $44,000 | 40 | -47% |
Maine
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland | $51,000 | 180 | +114% |
Maryland
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore | $52,000 | 610 | +7% |
| Bethesda | $41,000 | 390 | +56% |
| Cumberland | $23,000 | 30 | +122% |
| Hagerstown | $26,000 | 40 | +3% |
Massachusetts
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barnstable Town | $43,000 | 50 | +25% |
| Boston | $42,000 | 1,110 | +47% |
| Framingham | $35,000 | 50 | -26% |
| Lowell | $34,000 | 60 | +22% |
| New Bedford | $47,000 | 40 | +59% |
| Pittsfield | $26,000 | 40 | +241% |
Michigan
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ann Arbor | $46,000 | 40 | -43% |
| Detroit | $29,000 | 280 | -3% |
| Flint | $22,000 | 40 | -25% |
| Grand Rapids | $34,000 | 110 | -32% |
| Holland | $45,000 | 60 | +55% |
| Kalamazoo | $44,000 | 70 | +25% |
| Lansing | $47,000 | 140 | +68% |
| Niles | $41,000 | 80 | +259% |
| Warren | $33,000 | 350 | -25% |
Minnesota
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis | $41,000 | 1,460 | +88% |
| Rochester | $38,000 | 40 | -3% |
Missouri
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | $23,000 | 60 | +89% |
| Kansas City | $39,000 | 470 | +7% |
| Springfield | $48,000 | 90 | +13% |
| St Louis | $32,000 | 480 | -17% |
Montana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Missoula | $30,000 | 30 | +50% |
Nebraska
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln | 70 | +5% | |
| Omaha | $27,000 | 270 | +33% |
Nevada
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas | $26,000 | 1,320 | +258% |
| Reno | $18,000 | 80 | +0% |
New Hampshire
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester | $38,000 | 50 | +19% |
| Nashua | $36,000 | 50 | -11% |
| Portsmouth | $48,000 | 40 | +81% |
New Jersey
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Camden | $43,000 | 140 | -38% |
| Edison | $34,000 | 570 | +28% |
| Newark | $26,000 | 350 | -19% |
| Trenton | $31,000 | 40 | -58% |
New Mexico
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque | $48,000 | 170 | +3% |
| Santa Fe | $34,000 | 70 | +191% |
New York
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albany | $46,000 | 130 | -33% |
| Buffalo | $34,000 | 150 | -37% |
| Ithaca | $53,000 | 40 | +163% |
| Nassau | $37,000 | 290 | -47% |
| New York | $52,000 | 1,400 | -38% |
| Poughkeepsie | $30,000 | 70 | -33% |
| Rochester | $29,000 | 40 | -82% |
| Syracuse | $39,000 | 60 | -55% |
North Carolina
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asheville | $38,000 | 220 | +198% |
| Charlotte | $46,000 | 460 | +24% |
| Durham | $42,000 | 110 | -6% |
| Winston Salem | $48,000 | 40 | -55% |
Ohio
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Akron | $26,000 | 120 | -13% |
| Canton | $34,000 | 30 | -57% |
| Cincinnati | $29,000 | 310 | -30% |
| Cleveland | $35,000 | 340 | -24% |
| Columbus | $34,000 | 320 | -20% |
| Dayton | $30,000 | 90 | -45% |
| Springfield | $21,000 | 80 | +342% |
| Youngstown | $33,000 | 70 | -27% |
Oregon
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bend | $27,000 | 50 | +104% |
| Eugene | $63,000 | 160 | +176% |
| Medford | $43,000 | 40 | +31% |
| Portland | $45,000 | 1,200 | +170% |
| Salem | $29,000 | 60 | -3% |
Pennsylvania
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allentown | $34,000 | 30 | -80% |
| Erie | 70 | +33% | |
| Lancaster | $32,000 | 70 | -30% |
| Philadelphia | 590 | -29% | |
| Pittsburgh | $34,000 | 80 | -84% |
| Reading | $48,000 | 70 | +1% |
| Scranton | $43,000 | 90 | -19% |
| State College | $51,000 | 40 | +64% |
Rhode Island
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Providence | $28,000 | 120 | -50% |
South Carolina
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $33,000 | 140 | +14% |
| Greenville | $39,000 | 110 | -14% |
| Spartanburg | $24,000 | 40 | -15% |
South Dakota
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls | $32,000 | 60 | +4% |
Tennessee
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Knoxville | $45,000 | 70 | -51% |
| Memphis | $33,000 | 260 | -3% |
| Nashville | $39,000 | 160 | -50% |
Texas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amarillo | $30,000 | 50 | +16% |
| Austin | $44,000 | 840 | +146% |
| Corpus Christi | $34,000 | 70 | -6% |
| Dallas | $39,000 | 560 | -39% |
| Fort Worth | $32,000 | 280 | -25% |
| Houston | $35,000 | 1,240 | +8% |
| San Antonio | $34,000 | 650 | +72% |
| Sherman | 50 | +226% | |
| Tyler | 60 | +66% |
Utah
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Provo | $40,000 | 70 | -1% |
| Salt Lake City | $37,000 | 230 | -13% |
| St George | $33,000 | 40 | +133% |
Virginia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlottesville | $39,000 | 70 | +103% |
| Virginia Beach | $41,000 | 230 | -30% |
Washington
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bellingham | $62,000 | 90 | +210% |
| Bremerton | $57,000 | 50 | +52% |
| Mount Vernon | $56,000 | 50 | +202% |
| Olympia | $57,000 | 260 | +553% |
| Seattle | $58,000 | 1,320 | +116% |
| Spokane | $56,000 | 290 | +237% |
| Tacoma | $47,000 | 270 | +140% |
| Wenatchee | $42,000 | 50 | +249% |
West Virginia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntington | $27,000 | 50 | +8% |
| Parkersburg | $36,000 | 50 | +88% |
Wisconsin
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eau Claire | $35,000 | 40 | +37% |
| Green Bay | $33,000 | 30 | -57% |
| La Crosse | $39,000 | 40 | +42% |
| Milwaukee | $43,000 | 260 | -28% |
| Oshkosh | $34,000 | 40 | +14% |