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Massage Therapy Career Highlights
What is a Massage Therapist ?
An Overview of Massage Therapy
Massage therapy is used to treat painful ailments, promote general health, rehabilitate sports injuries, and reduce stress. A trained massage therapist accomplishes his task by manipulating a customer’s soft tissues to remove waste products from the muscles, loosen muscles, and improve circulation within the body.
Massage therapists work within a variety of public and private settings, including:
- Nursing homes
- Studios
- Cruise Ships
- Hospitals
- Private offices
Sometimes massage therapists travel to customers’ offices or homes to provide massages. Often full-time massage therapists work in several different settings throughout a single workday, depending on the needs of clients.
Many states regulate massage therapy. People who pass the national certification exam after completing formal training programs are likely to have excellent job opportunities for many years in the future.
Massage Therapy Salary Range
$ 32,890 - Annual Massage Therapy Degree Salary
$ 29,300 - Average U.S. Salary
Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics ( 2005 )
Massage Therapy Job Outlook
Employment for massage therapists is anticipated to rise faster than average from 2006 to 2014 as more people seek the benefits of massage therapy.
Around two-thirds were self-employed. Of those people, most owned their own businesses, while the rest worked as independent contractors. Other therapists found work in fitness and recreational sports centers; spas and salons; hotels; and the offices of chiropractors and physicians.
Around three-quarters of all massage therapists had variable schedules or worked part-time, although many massage therapists working 15-30 hours a week consider themselves full-time workers.
Average Salary
Median earnings for massage therapists in 2005, including gratuities earned, were $32,890. Full-time massage therapists with their own businesses can earn $55,700.
Usually, massage therapists earn 15-20 % of their income in gratuities. However, tipping is not common for those employed in a hospital or other clinical setting.
