What is a Massage Therapist?

A massage therapist is a worker who helps people recover from a variety of ailments by manipulating muscles and pressure points to relieve pain, stress, improve circulation, and increase overall wellness. Massage therapists work in a variety of settings including spas, chiropractic offices, physician’s practices, cruise ships, private practices, and athletic centers.

Since they deliver healthcare services, massage therapists are regulated by the states in which they practice. The regulations for practice and qualifications for licensure vary from state to state, but their profession is recognized by all states.

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What Does a Massage Therapist Do?

A massage therapist spends a large part of their day working with clients who have a variety of needs. Each session will start with an assessment of a client’s need. If the client is a medical referral, there may be relevant paperwork, and you, as a massage therapist, may discuss the ailment and its progress. There are a variety of environments that massage therapists inhabit, including private practice, spas and resorts, and medical facilities

If you are a massage therapist in a private practice, you could spend a good deal of time marketing your business and analyzing approaches for generating new business. For instance, you could seek out other health and wellness practitioners to establish a robust referral network.

On the other hand, if you work as a massage therapist in a spa or at a resort, your time might be more regimented. Other staff members might arrange your roster of clients for the day, and all you need to do is arrive and provide your professional service. The trade-off is that you have support staff and no personal expense for office maintenance.

Massage therapists who work in a medical facility likewise have a more regimented workday in which they are provided a schedule of patients to work with. Physicians and chiropractors may have you work in their office certain days of the week, or they may refer clients to your private practice when needed.​

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Massage Therapist Salary

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for massage therapists was $55,310 in May 2023. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $32,240, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $95,700.

Locally, in the Tucson Metropolitan area, the annual mean wage for massage therapists is $64,770 in May 2023.