Overview

Massage therapists methodically apply focused, hands-on techniques to promote relaxation and increase circulation in the body’s soft tissues (muscles, tendons, connective tissue, etc.).  Although the warming and stimulating effect of massage has a positive effect on joint mobility and range of motion, direct work on the skeleton is outside the massage therapists’ scope of practice. 

While many choose to practice independently, certified massage therapists also may work closely with other members of the healthcare team – i.e., physicians, physical therapists, rehabilitation counselors, chiropractors, and acupuncturists, among others.  In recent years, massage has gained attention from NIH and other respected sectors of the healthcare community, as a highly effective complementary and alternative medical therapy.

The news about the health benefits of massage should come as no surprise, since it is one of the oldest “healing arts” known to man – dating back to 2,700 B.C., when it was first recorded as a therapeutic technique in the ancient Traditional Chinese Medicine treatise, The Yellow Emporer’s Classic of Internal Medicine. 

Today, therapeutic massage is employed throughout the healthcare system – in hospitals, long-term care facilities, and private clinics, for patients ranging from premature infants to the elderly.  Many hospices have massage therapists on staff, and massage frequently is offered in wellness centers, drug treatment programs, and pain clinics.

Virtually all massage therapists in the U.S. are trained in Swedish and deep tissue techniques; in addition, they may specialize in other methods and adjunct modalities, such as:

• Acupressure
• Connective tissue massage
• Infant massage
• Lomi-Lomi (Hawaiian massage)
• Manual lymphatic drainage
• Pregnancy massage
• Rolfing
• Shiatsu
• Sports massage
• Thai massage
• Trager Method
• Trigger point therapy
• Tui Na (Traditional Chinese Medical massage)

To learn more, watch the video profile of "Massage Therapists."

You can download, save and print a PDF of this career profile:

Massage Therapist Massage Therapist 05 Oct 2010 [pdf, 245 KB]

For more information on becoming a massage therapist, see the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) website.

Working Conditions

There are a wide range of work settings for massage therapists: their own home-based practice or on-site work in client’s home; corporate offices, shopping malls, or airport lobbies; hospitals, nursing homes, or wellness centers; fitness centers, salons, or hotels; even airport lobbies or cruise ships, among others.

Most massage therapists are sole practitioners, and many work part-time because the work can be physically demanding.  Many therapists use their massage practice as an adjunct to another profession, earning approximately half their income from massage.  The average amount of hands-on work for most massage therapists is 15 hours per week (excluding administrative tasks, such as keeping client health records, book-keeping, marketing, scheduling, maintaining supplies, etc.). 

Hourly fees for massage therapy vary widely, depending upon geographic location and work setting. For instance, a massage therapist at a high-end urban salon might charge $75 to $90/hour, whereas a sole proprietor working out of his or her home in a small town may charge no more than $40 or $50.  The average rate nationally is $58/hour, although the rate is generally higher in large metropolitan areas.