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Massage Therapists
Perform therapeutic massages of soft tissues and joints. May assist in the assessment of range of motion and muscle strength, or propose client therapy plans.
Other titles employers use
Bodywork Therapist · Certified Massage Therapist (CMT) · Clinical Massage Therapist · Integrated Deep Tissue Massage Therapist · Licensed Massage Practitioner (LMP) · Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT) · Massage Therapist · Registered Massage Therapist (RMT)
Inside the work
What you would actually do.
6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.
- Confer with clients about their medical histories and problems with stress or pain to determine how massage will be most helpful.
- Massage and knead muscles and soft tissues of the body to provide treatment for medical conditions, injuries, or wellness maintenance.
- Maintain massage areas by restocking supplies or sanitizing equipment.
- Apply finger and hand pressure to specific points of the body.
- Develop and propose client treatment plans that specify which types of massage are to be used.
- Maintain treatment records.
Who it suits
Would this work hold your attention?
This career often appeals to people drawn to helping, practical and analytical work.
- Practical
- Building, repairing, using tools, or working outdoors
- Analytical
- Investigating questions, testing ideas, and solving problems
Skills and strengths
What you would get good at.
Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.
Core skills
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Social Perceptiveness
- Service Orientation
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Reading Comprehension
Subjects to know
- Customer and Personal Service
- Biology
- English Language
- Psychology
- Medicine and Dentistry
Useful strengths
- Dynamic Strength
- Trunk Strength
- Oral Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Manual Dexterity
Working day
Picture yourself doing it.
These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.
| Measure | Out of 5 | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Close to other people | 4.3 | Arm’s length or closer, most of the day |
| On your feet | 4.2 | Standing or moving for most of it |
| Talking face to face | 4.8 | Continuous — the job is conversations |
| Working with your hands | 3.5 | Some of the day |
Preparation
How people prepare for this work.
Employers usually ask for a postsecondary certificate. Other routes may also lead into the field.
- A certificate or some college 81%
- A two-year degree 11%
- High school or less 4%
- A four-year degree 4%
Tools of the work
Technology you may use.
- Spreadsheet software
- Word processing software
- Medical software
- Calendar and scheduling software
Opportunity near you
See where this work is growing.
Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.
- People doing this work
- 26,900
- Job openings each year
- 3,750
- Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
- 22.3%
Compare every available state
| State | People doing it | Job openings each year | Expected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 26,900 | 3,750 | 22.3% |
| Florida | 15,540 | 2,180 | 27.2% |
| Texas | 13,550 | 1,910 | 29.0% |
| Washington | 11,840 | 2,010 | 37.2% |
| Colorado | 9,500 | 1,330 | 24.0% |
| New York | 9,360 | 140 | 17.9% |
| Illinois | 6,520 | 900 | 16.4% |
| Pennsylvania | 4,840 | 670 | 17.8% |
| Arizona | 4,540 | 640 | 29.0% |
| New Jersey | 4,490 | 630 | 23.7% |
| North Carolina | 3,960 | 560 | 26.9% |
| Ohio | 3,860 | 520 | 7.5% |
| Utah | 3,590 | 520 | 50.2% |
| Virginia | 3,480 | 480 | 21.3% |
| Michigan | 3,090 | 420 | 12.8% |
| South Carolina | 2,960 | 410 | 23.3% |
| Nevada | 2,900 | 410 | 33.6% |
| Oregon | 2,800 | 390 | 22.8% |
| Georgia | 2,750 | 380 | 23.9% |
| Missouri | 2,730 | 370 | 11.9% |
| Minnesota | 2,680 | 370 | 17.5% |
| Tennessee | 2,520 | 360 | 38.5% |
| Maryland | 2,320 | 320 | 23.4% |
| Wisconsin | 2,270 | 320 | 21.4% |
| Indiana | 2,240 | 310 | 17.3% |
| New Hampshire | 1,920 | 270 | 13.6% |
| Connecticut | 1,740 | 240 | 25.2% |
| Massachusetts | 1,480 | 210 | 21.3% |
| Alabama | 1,320 | 180 | 18.9% |
| Kentucky | 1,130 | 160 | 17.7% |
| Kansas | 1,100 | 150 | 13.4% |
| Iowa | 950 | 130 | 23.4% |
| Idaho | 740 | 110 | 34.5% |
| New Mexico | 710 | 100 | 36.5% |
| Montana | 680 | 100 | 21.4% |
| Nebraska | 670 | 90 | 17.5% |
| Vermont | 600 | 90 | 25.0% |
| Arkansas | 550 | 80 | 22.2% |
| Oklahoma | 550 | 80 | 14.6% |
| Louisiana | 520 | 70 | 20.9% |
| Alaska | 490 | 70 | 8.9% |
| Maine | 490 | 70 | 6.5% |
| Puerto Rico | 450 | 60 | 25.0% |
| Mississippi | 390 | 50 | 11.4% |
| North Dakota | 310 | 40 | 14.8% |
| Delaware | 260 | 40 | 18.2% |
| West Virginia | 260 | 40 | 18.2% |
| South Dakota | 220 | 30 | 22.2% |
| District of Columbia | 210 | 30 | 50.0% |
| Guam | 120 | 20 | 71.4% |
| Virgin Islands | 10 | 0 | — |
Career to college
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