How much does a massage therapist make?

In the U.S., pay can vary with experience, licenses or certification, location, and workplace: BLS data show differences among health-care offices, personal-care businesses, and hotels. Appointment-based or part-time hours affect how much they earn, and a specialty or good reputation may help attract returning clients.

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.

What's a typical day like?

A therapist greets a client, asks about their health and sore spots, then uses hands or forearms to work tense muscles and suggest stretches. Between appointments, they clean the table, update notes, and prepare the room.

In the U.S., finish high school and complete a massage-therapy program with classroom lessons and hands-on practice. Then pass the required state exam (often the MBLEx) and get licensed; rules and training lengths vary by state.

Vocational school or a few years' experience (preparation level 3 of 5)

Good for people who like helping and teaching and building and doing.

Many massage therapists cannot give massages for eight hours a day, five days a week—the work takes a lot of strength and endurance.