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.

$57,950
Median Annual Pay
Jobs growth:
+15% projected 2024โ€“2034
Postsecondary nondegree award
Typical Entry-Level Education

What They Do

Massage therapists work directly with clients to relieve pain, reduce stress, and promote healing through hands-on manipulation of muscles, connective tissues, and pressure points. They begin each session by consulting with clients about their health history, current discomfort, and treatment goals, then select appropriate techniques ranging from Swedish and deep tissue massage to sports therapy or trigger point work. During sessions, they apply varying degrees of pressure using their hands, fingers, forearms, and sometimes elbows to address specific problem areas or provide full-body relaxation.

Programs That Prepare You

College programs linked to this occupation, ranked by graduate earnings

Somatic Bodywork(certificate)Alaska Career College, AK
$35,057
Somatic Bodywork(certificate)Carrington College-Boise, ID
$34,434
Somatic Bodywork(certificate)Parker University, TX
$32,172
Somatic Bodywork(certificate)Indiana Wellness College, IN
$29,979
Somatic Bodywork(certificate)East-West Healing Arts Institute, WI
$29,450
Somatic Bodywork(certificate)Fortis Institute-Towson, MD
$29,449
Somatic Bodywork(certificate)Madison Area Technical College, WI
$29,119
Somatic Bodywork(certificate)Southeastern College-Charleston, SC
$28,890
Somatic Bodywork(certificate)Miami Dade College, FL
$28,714
Somatic Bodywork(certificate)Center for the Healing Arts, NJ
$28,634
Somatic Bodywork(certificate)Northwestern Health Sciences University, MN
$28,583
Somatic Bodywork(certificate)ECPI University, VA
$27,930
Somatic Bodywork(certificate)Paul Mitchell the School-Rapid City, SD
$27,821
Somatic Bodywork(certificate)Colorado School of Healing Arts, CO
$27,724
Somatic Bodywork(certificate)Northern Virginia School of Therapeutic Massage, VA
$27,082
Somatic Bodywork(certificate)PCI Academy-Iowa City, IA
$26,872
Somatic Bodywork(certificate)PCI Academy-Ames, IA
$26,872
Somatic Bodywork(certificate)Carrington College-Spokane, WA
$26,740
Somatic Bodywork(certificate)Carrington College-Portland, OR
$26,740
Somatic Bodywork(certificate)American Massage & Bodywork Institute, VA
$26,360
Somatic Bodywork(certificate)Victoria's Academy of Cosmetology, WA
$26,257
Somatic Bodywork(certificate)Universal College of Healing Arts, NE
$26,005
Somatic Bodywork(certificate)Aveda Institute-Provo, UT
$25,581
Somatic Bodywork(certificate)Greenville Technical College, SC
$25,459
Somatic Bodywork(certificate)Horry-Georgetown Technical College, SC
$25,459

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