How to Become a Massage Therapist
Treat pain, stress, and injury through therapeutic massage, in clinics, spas, and private practice. It typically requires a postsecondary certificate, with a median salary of $58,450 per year and much faster than average projected job growth.
Median pay
$58,450/yr
Middle half
$43,480 to $78,320
Job growth
Much faster than average
Openings / yr
24,700
Majors that lead here
Key skills
- Therapeutic Massage
- Anatomy Knowledge
- Client Assessment
- Communication
- Self-Care
Helpful certifications
- State massage therapy licensure (MBLEx)
Is this career a fit?
Remote-friendly
0/100
Work-life balance
75/100
Stress level
34/100
Related careers
- Psychiatrist$281,870 median
- Physician (Family Medicine)$244,180 median
- Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)$236,590 median
- Dentist$170,950 median
- Pharmacist$140,910 median
- Optometrist$136,570 median
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Massage Therapist make?
The median pay for a Massage Therapist is $58,450 a year, and the middle half of workers earn between $43,480 and $78,320 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025). That covers everyone in the job, not only people starting out, so newer workers sit toward the lower end.
What degree do you need to become a Massage Therapist?
The usual entry point is a postsecondary certificate. Common majors are Massage Therapy, Kinesiology / Exercise Science, Kinesiology, and Exercise Science.
Is Massage Therapist a growing field?
Projected job growth for this role from 2024 to 2034 is much faster than average (BLS projections via O*NET), with roughly 24,700 U.S. openings a year.
What skills does a Massage Therapist use most?
Common skills for this role are Therapeutic Massage, Anatomy Knowledge, Client Assessment, Communication, and Self-Care.
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Take the major quizWhere these pay figures come from
Career pay is the annual wage of everyone working in that occupation, not only recent graduates, so it includes people who have done the job for decades. The middle half is the 25th to the 75th percentile. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).
All figures are national. What you earn depends on where you work, who you work for, and how far you take the degree.
Job-growth figures: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).