Massage Therapy--Career Opportunities

An increasing concern for total health and wellness, coupled with an expanding public interest in alternative therapies, has spurred significant growth in the field of massage therapy. Who are our clients? For more information on consumers of massage therapy, visit the American Massage Therapy Association’s Web site.

Contributing to this growth is the fact that many insurance companies are integrating massage therapy into their coverage. Employment of massage therapists is expected to increase by 19 percent from 2008 to 2018, faster than the average for all occupations. (http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos295.htm) While a number of full-time practitioners earn $40,000 to $60,000 per year, according to the Association of Bodywork and Massage Professionals, many therapists choose to pursue massage as a part-time vocation. As a result, annual income can vary considerably based on the number of hours the massage therapist chooses to work in a given year. Massage therapists charge between $25 and $110 an hour for their services, depending on what part of the country they practice in, the setting, with most charging an average of $50 to $60 an hour for their services. Visit the 2010 Massage Therapy Industry Fact Sheet for more information on the massage therapy industry.

Massage Therapy is identified by one of the '50 Best Careers for 2011' by U.S. News. View the report in its entirety.