Massage Therapist

The career of massage therapy is a growing field, but the demand for this service is growing even faster. Massage therapists can work in a number of different settings, ranging from physician’s offices, private practices, health clubs, fitness centers, to spas and even hospitals. Some massage therapists even make house calls!

In order to succeed as a massage therapist, you need to have a desire to help people and a highly developed sense of touch. You must also be in reasonably good physical condition as the work is strenuous.

Education and Credentials Required
Massage therapy is finding a role within the traditional healthcare structure. As a result, training and credentials are starting to matter. There are large numbers of schools and vocational programs in massage therapy, and it is increasing constantly in popularity as a field. There are more and more courses and programs available. Typically, massage therapy schools award a certificate or diploma.

There are a number of institutions that certify massage therapists, and while this isn’t entirely standardized, the American Massage Therapy Association and the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork is one of the more respected of such certification organizations.

Future Prospects
Employment opportunities for massage therapists are difficult to track and gauge due to the high number of part-timers in the field. However, massage therapy is growing rapidly, and opportunities can be expected to grow faster than the national average for job creation.

Salary Range
The median expected salary for a massage therapist in the United States is $45,478. However, salaries vary dramatically, and a great many certified massage therapists work as freelancers or run their own business. Potentially, they could earn significantly more than they would as a salaried employee of a hospital, clinic, chiropractor or physical therapist, but that is contingent on their business skills.