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.
Also called: Bodywork Therapist · Certified Massage Therapist (CMT) · Clinical Massage Therapist · Integrated Deep Tissue Massage Therapist · Licensed Massage Practitioner (LMP) · Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT)
Median pay (national)
$57,950
$33,280–$97,450 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
96,040
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
+15.4%
~24,700 openings/yr
Typical entry
Postsecondary nondegree award
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for massage therapists shows an unusually wide range: the top 10% earn $97,450 versus $33,280 at the bottom 10% — 2.9x. The median of $57,950 leaves roughly 68% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change +15.4% from 2024 to 2034 — much faster than the 3% average for all occupations. Even so, BLS projects about 24,700 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 52 states with released data, Alaska pays the most for this role (median $135,200, +133% vs the national median), while Puerto Rico sits lowest at $22,410 — a 503% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Active Listening, Speaking, Reading Comprehension as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list.
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Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
- Critical Thinking
- Active Learning
- Monitoring
- Learning Strategies
- Mathematics
- Science
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- 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.
- Assess clients' soft tissue condition, joint quality and function, muscle strength, and range of motion.
- Provide clients with guidance and information about techniques for postural improvement and stretching, strengthening, relaxation, and rehabilitative exercises.
- Treat clients in professional settings or travel to clients' offices and homes.
- Refer clients to other types of therapists when necessary.
Tools & technology
- AppointmentQuest Online Appointment Manager
- ICS Software SammyUSA
- Land Software Customer Pro-File
- Massage Suite
- Scheduling software
- WinCity Custom Software WinCity Massage SOAP Notes
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
Knowledge areas
- Customer and Personal Service
- Biology
- English Language
- Psychology
- Medicine and Dentistry
- Sales and Marketing
- Public Safety and Security
- Administration and Management