The number of massage therapists has seen a 14% increase in the last decade, with 86% of the profession being female. Nearly half of massage therapists have a bachelor's degree or higher, and massage therapy is rarely the first professional choice for most. Comparing job obligations, education, job growth, and salary with similar occupations, it's clear that massage therapy is a growing industry. The Pay tab typically describes earnings and how workers in the occupation receive annual wages, hourly wages, commissions, tips or bonuses.
Within each occupation, income varies depending on experience, responsibility, performance, tenure, and geographic area. The Career Outlook tab describes the factors that affect the growth or decline of employment in the occupation and, in some cases, describes the relationship between the number of job applicants and the number of job offers. The most common industries that employ massage therapists are health care, the Internet, and retail. These industries consider massage therapy to be a health benefit, a very important way to manage stress and a treatment for chronic pain.
According to an AMTA survey, 86% of participants consider massage to be beneficial to overall health and well-being. Only 16% of consumers cite pampering as the main reason for their last massage, and 30% of consumers received a pampering massage last year. In addition, many sports teams hire massage therapists to help their athletes recover from injuries and to relieve or control pain. The pandemic has also meant that massage therapists needed more supplies than ever before to run their business.
State regulations generally require graduating from an approved massage therapy program and passing an exam. The Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that this demand is likely to increase as more healthcare providers understand the benefits of massage and these services become part of treatment plans. Massage therapists should assess the needs of each client and recommend the best treatment based on that person's needs. Many states require massage therapists to complete continuing education credits and renew their license periodically.
In conclusion, massage therapy is a growing industry with many opportunities for those who are qualified. With its increasing popularity as a health benefit and its use in sports teams for injury recovery and pain relief, it's no wonder that more people are turning to this profession.
