# Massage Therapists

> 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/massage-therapists
- SOC code: 31-9011.00
- Career family: Healthcare support
- Median annual pay: $58,450 (10th percentile $33,640, 90th percentile $100,200)
- Projected growth: Much faster than average, +15.3%
- Openings a year: 20,400
- Typical entry education: Postsecondary certificate
- Bright outlook: yes
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code SRI)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 64 |
| Investigative (I) | 47 |
| Artistic (A) | 21 |
| Social (S) | 79 |
| Enterprising (E) | 18 |
| Conventional (C) | 28 |

## What you'd do

- Performing General Physical Activities (importance 89/100)
- Assisting and Caring for Others (importance 85/100)
- Getting Information (importance 81/100)
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships (importance 68/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 66/100)
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (importance 66/100)
- Documenting/Recording Information (importance 66/100)
- Performing for or Working Directly with the Public (importance 64/100)
- Handling and Moving Objects (importance 58/100)
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards (importance 55/100)

## Skills

Active Listening, Speaking, Service Orientation, Social Perceptiveness, Critical Thinking, Judgment and Decision Making, Reading Comprehension, Complex Problem Solving, Monitoring, Active Learning

## Knowledge

Customer and Personal Service, English Language, Biology, Medicine and Dentistry, Psychology, Education and Training, Therapy and Counseling, Sales and Marketing, Administrative, Public Safety and Security

## Also called

BCMT (Board Certified Massage Therapist), Bodywork Therapist, Certified Massage Therapist (CMT), Clinical Massage Therapist, Deep Tissue Massage Therapist, Licensed Massage Practitioner (LMP), Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT), Masseur, Masseuse, Massotherapist

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Somatic Bodywork and Related Therapeutic Services](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5135) (CIP 5135, 201 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [WellSpring School of Allied Health-Wichita](https://www.collegesref.com/college/wellspring-school-of-allied-health-wichita-3193) | Somatic Bodywork and Related Therapeutic Services | $28,593 | $31,994 | $18,603 |
| [Swedish Institute a College of Health Sciences](https://www.collegesref.com/college/swedish-institute-a-college-of-health-sciences-2665) | Somatic Bodywork and Related Therapeutic Services | $42,130 | $31,205 | $30,473 |
| [Pacific College of Health Science-Chicago](https://www.collegesref.com/college/pacific-college-of-health-science-chicago-2056) | Somatic Bodywork and Related Therapeutic Services | $31,784 | $28,915 | $29,500 |
| [Pacific College of Health Science-New York](https://www.collegesref.com/college/pacific-college-of-health-science-new-york-2057) | Somatic Bodywork and Related Therapeutic Services | $31,784 | $28,915 | $29,500 |
| [CUNY Queensborough Community College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/cuny-queensborough-community-college-747) | Somatic Bodywork and Related Therapeutic Services | not reported | $28,517 | not reported |

## Related careers

- [Physical Therapist Assistants](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/physical-therapist-assistants): $68,380 median pay
- [Recreational Therapists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/recreational-therapists): $61,960 median pay
- [Occupational Therapy Assistants](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/occupational-therapy-assistants): $72,300 median pay
- [Physical Therapist Aides](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/physical-therapist-aides): $35,240 median pay
- [Skincare Specialists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/skincare-specialists): $45,330 median pay
- [Occupational Therapy Aides](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/occupational-therapy-aides): $39,160 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.