Massage Therapists
Perform therapeutic massages of soft tissues and joints. May assist in the assessment of range of motion and muscle strength, or propose client therapy plans.
Also called: BCMT (Board Certified Massage Therapist), Bodywork Therapist, Certified Massage Therapist (CMT), Clinical Massage Therapist, Deep Tissue Massage Therapist, Licensed Massage Practitioner (LMP)
Median pay
$58,450
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$33,640 – $100,200
People employed
98,790
Holland code
SRI
Social · Realistic · Investigative
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Do you prefer doing your own work rather than directing others?
- 2.Do you want to stay at 40 hours a week or less?
- 3.Do you want a lot of freedom to make your own decisions?
- 4.Do you prefer a steady pace without constant deadlines?
- 5.Are you OK being on your feet and moving most of the day?
- 6.Do you want a job with little physical risk?
The hard parts
- Long hours on your feet
Massage Therapists pay by state
Annual median pay by state (49 states and DC with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
What massage therapists do
- 01Massage and knead muscles and soft tissues of the body to provide treatment for medical conditions, injuries, or wellness maintenance.
- 02Apply finger and hand pressure to specific points of the body.
- 03Confer with clients about their medical histories and problems with stress or pain to determine how massage will be most helpful.
- 04Maintain massage areas by restocking supplies or sanitizing equipment.
- 05Treat clients in professional settings or travel to clients' offices and homes.
- 06Develop and propose client treatment plans that specify which types of massage are to be used.
Skills that matter most
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
- Writing
Knowledge
- Customer and Personal Service
- English Language
- Biology
- Medicine and Dentistry
- Psychology
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
- Cooperation
- Empathy
- Sincerity
Education and first steps
O*NET has no education survey data for this job.
How people get started
- Usually needs vocational training or an associate degree (O*NET Job Zone 3).
- Related work experience: none.
- On-the-job training: anything beyond short demonstration, up to and including 1 month.
- A professional certification is often expected.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from massage therapists
- Physical Therapist Assistants85% · +17%
- Occupational Therapy Assistants85% · +24%
- Recreational Therapists80% · +6%
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses79% · +10%
- Registered Nurses73% · +67%
Change into massage therapists
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Acupuncturists77% · $76,040
- Occupational Therapy Assistants76% · $72,300
- Physical Therapist Assistants76% · $68,380
- Recreational Therapists76% · $61,960
- Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors74% · $47,160
Majors that lead here
- Massage Therapy/Therapeutic Massage
- Asian Bodywork Therapy
- Somatic Bodywork
- Somatic Bodywork and Related Therapeutic Services, Other
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.