How many massage therapist are there in the us

Others have been going to massage therapists to tackle muscle aches caused by posture, sports injuries, or spending all day at a desk. That means that there are plenty of customers lining up for massage appointments — roughly 48 million Americans had a massage at least once between July and July The massage industry has been working hard to spread the good news of the many health benefits people can reap from getting a regular massage.

The growing list of issues for which many find relief through massage includes stress-related insomnia, digestive disorders, headaches, sports injuries, soft tissue strains or injuries, anxiety, myofascial pain syndrome, fibromyalgia, and temporomandibular joint pain. In many other industries, this would look like professionals creating a need, but for massage, the need already exists, and these businesses are drawing attention to one of the most effective solutions.

The American massage industry saw good growth from to , increasing an average of 4. As the high ratio of businesses to employees shows, this is a highly fragmented industry, dominated by small businesses and lone operators.

While customers receive massages in a variety of venues including hotels and spas, specialist locations are the most popular. The massage industry is largely driven by discretionary spending. This is starting to change, as health providers take a growing interest in alternative and preventative treatments. By making connections in the healthcare sector, and particularly with insurance carriers, massage therapists have an opportunity to tap into a large and underserved market for their services.

The industry was often overlooked or misunderstood by state and local authorities as they hurried to bring in regulations. The close contact involved in massage meant that the spread of infection was highly likely, but healthcare links meant that businesses were allowed to stay open in some areas. Ultimately, safety concerns led to the widespread shutdown of the industry.

By June , most states allowed massage businesses to reopen, with specific guidelines and restrictions to support businesses while combating the spread of the disease. This allowed the industry to start its recovery and gave clients back the healthcare support they needed. Professional bodies have maintained lists of local regulations and restrictions , so that therapists can easily assess the situation where they are based. In returning safely to work, massage businesses have to incorporate extensive new measures, such as client testing, greater cleaning, use of PPE, strict management of appointments, and better ventilation of massage spaces.

Once COVID has been eradicated, the fortunes of massage services will depend upon how quickly the economy recovers. Because so much massage is paid for out of discretionary spending rather than from healthcare sources, these services are vulnerable to changes in disposable income.

On the other hand, massage can provide a boost to both physical and mental health. This will make it appealing to people as they emerge from the strains of the pandemic and look to rebuild better off the back of vaccination. With many small businesses and sole operators having shut because of the pandemic, there may be an opportunity for franchises to expand into the gap, restoring an industry that benefits the health of millions.

Massage Envy offers a basic membership that includes one monthly 1-hour massage or facial, special pricing on other services, discounts for family members, free massages when friends are referred, and automatic carryover of unused sessions or sharing. Massage license applicants must possess a high school diploma or GED, complete an application form , have completed hours of training, and pass a CPR certification course, as well as, the MBLEx exam.

In Pennsylvania, licensed massage therapists will then need 24 CEUs every two years to maintain their license. The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation issues licenses for massage therapists in the state. After approval, your massage license in Texas will be good for two years. Be sure to look for your specific modality when seeking initial licensing or a renewal. While some states require massage therapists to hold liability insurance, not every state does.

In any case, the costs of a claim against you or your practice far exceed the cost of a policy. Learn more about Massage Magazine Insurance Plus coverage and the many benefits that come with it. It all depends on the state you are seeking licensure in. Some states have no requirements for therapists and others require extensive training, certification, and passing examinations before a license will be issued. Get More.

Pay Less. Email Us. Arthur J. Gallagher Risk Management Services, Inc. Best Company. Persons insured by surplus lines companies are not eligible for recourse through any state guarantee fund for the obligations of an insolvent insurer. Healthcare Professionals Purchasing Group, LLC is for health, wellness and beauty professionals and students created for the purpose of providing valuable and important benefits and services to its members. Member Login Call We want to make finding the information you need easy.

That's why we've put together this easy guide to the requirements of all 50 states. Life Can Be Unpredictable. Select your state on the map below or. Pick Your State. Learn More. Arizona Prerequisites At least 18 years old U. Colorado Prerequisites U. Connecticut Prerequisites High school diploma or G. Florida Prerequisites At least 18 years old High school diploma or G.

Georgia Prerequisites At least 18 years old High school diploma or G. Idaho Prerequisites At least Indiana Prerequisites At least 18 years old High school diploma or G. Maine Prerequisites High school diploma or G.

Michigan Prerequisites High school diploma or G. Mississippi Prerequisites At least 18 years old High school diploma or G. North Carolina Prerequisites High school diploma or G. North Dakota Prerequisites High school diploma or G.

Ohio Prerequisites High school diploma or G. Oregon Prerequisites At least 18 years old High school diploma or G.

Pennsylvania Prerequisites High school diploma or G. Many massage therapists work part time. Because therapists work by appointment in most cases, their schedules and the number of hours worked each week vary considerably.

Moreover, because of the strength and endurance needed to give a massage, many therapists cannot perform massage services 8 hours per day, 5 days per week. Massage therapists typically complete a postsecondary education program of or more hours of study and experience, although standards and requirements vary greatly by state or other jurisdiction. Education requirements for massage therapists vary greatly by state or locality.

Education programs are typically found in private or public postsecondary institutions. Most programs require at least hours of study for their completion; some programs require 1, or more hours. A high school diploma or equivalent is usually required for admission to a massage therapy program.

Programs generally include both classroom study and hands-on practice of massage techniques. Programs cover subjects such as anatomy; physiology, which is the study of organs and tissues; kinesiology, which is the study of motion and body mechanics; pathology, which is the study of disease; business management; and ethics.

Programs may concentrate on certain modalities, or specialties, of massage. Several programs also offer job placement services and continuing education. Both full-time and part-time programs are available. In , 45 states and the District of Columbia regulated massage therapy. Although not all states license massage therapy, they may have regulations at the local level. In states with massage therapy regulations, workers must get a license or certification before practicing massage therapy.

State regulations typically require graduation from an approved massage therapy program and passing an exam. Massage therapists also may need to pass a background check, have liability insurance, and be certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation CPR. Many states require massage therapists to complete continuing education credits and to renew their license periodically. Those wishing to practice massage therapy should look into legal requirements for the state and locality in which they intend to practice.

Communication skills. Massage therapists need to listen carefully to clients in order to understand what they want to achieve through massage sessions. Decisionmaking skills. Massage therapists must give clients a positive experience, which requires building trust between therapist and client. Making clients feel comfortable is necessary for therapists to expand their client base.

Massage therapists often have access to client information such as medical histories. Therefore, they must be trustworthy and protect the privacy of their clients. Physical stamina. Massage therapists may give several treatments during a workday and have to stay on their feet throughout massage appointments.

Physical strength and dexterity. Time-management skills. They must use their appointment time wisely to help each client accomplish his or her goals. Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.

Source: U. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. In May , the median annual wages for massage therapists in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:. Most massage therapists earn a combination of wages and tips and may receive free or discounted massages as a benefit.

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program. Some of the projected employment growth in this occupation is due to recovery from the COVID recession that began in Continued growth in the demand for massage services also will lead to new jobs for massage therapists.

As more people recognize massage therapy as a way to treat pain and to improve overall wellness, demand for massage therapists is expected to increase. Similarly, demand will likely increase as more healthcare providers understand the benefits of massage and include these services in their treatment plans. However, in some healthcare settings demand will be tempered by limited insurance coverage for massage services.

In addition, many sports teams hire massage therapists to help their athletes recover from injuries and to relieve or manage pain, which should increase demand for these workers. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link s below go to OEWS data maps for employment and wages by state and area.