Massage Therapy as a Career

Massage Therapy Fact Sheet

Massage therapy is a highly rewarding career that uses practical application of the sciences, enlivened by the creativity of the healing arts.

NHITA equips graduates to be successful and competitive in this growing health care profession with a thorough and knowledgeable education.

The following statistics provide information on the viability and practicality of massage therapy as career.

In 2005, massage therapy was projected to be a $6 to $11 billion a year industry.(1)
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, employment for massage therapists is expected to increase 20 percent from 2006 to 2016, faster than average for all occupations.(2)
Between August 2006 and June 2007, almost a quarter of adult Americans (24 percent) had a massage at least once in the last 12 months.(3)

The average annual income for a massage therapist (including tips) who provides 15 hours of massage per week is $30,000, compared to $28,170 for full-time healthcare support workers; $27,190 for full-time medical assistants and $23,290 for occupational therapist aides.(5)
Seventy-six percent of all practicing massage therapists work as sole practitioners or independent contractors.(4)
Of those massage therapists who earn income working in another profession, twenty-four percent work in healthcare while 21 percent practice other forms of body work and 20 percent work in education.(4)

Healthcare providers are increasingly promoting the benefits of massage to their patients.

Almost one in five adult Americans (19 percent) report discussing massage therapy with their doctors or healthcare providers.(4)
More than half of massage therapists (63%) receive referrals from healthcare professionals.(4)

Massage therapy usage in hospitals is also on the rise.

The number of hospitals offering massage therapy has increased by 30 percent in two years (from 2004 to 2006).(7)
Of the hospitals that have massage therapy programs, 71 percent indicate they offer massage for patient stress management and comfort while more than two-thirds (67 percent) utilize massage for pain management.(7)
Sixty-seven percent of hospitals with massage therapy programs offer massage to their staff for stress management.(7)

Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services. 2004 National Health Expenditure Projections 2004-2014. Barnes P, Powell-Griner E, McFann K, Nahin R. CDC Advance Data Report #34.
U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook.
2007 AMTA Consumer Survey
2007 AMTA Industry Survey
Based on a comparison of results of an AMTA 2007 Industry Survey and the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
The National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork. Consumers’ Guide to Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork.
National Survey conducted by the Health Forum/American Hospital Association 2006.