The High Demand for Massage Therapists: Exploring the Reasons Behind It

The demand for massage therapists is on the rise due to its lucrative salary and rewarding career opportunities. Learn why there is such high demand for this profession.

The High Demand for Massage Therapists: Exploring the Reasons Behind It

The demand for massage therapists is on the rise, and it's no surprise. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, this career is expected to grow by a whopping 32% over the next decade - much faster than the average for all occupations. But why is there such a high demand for massage therapists? Let's explore. When comparing job duties, education, job growth, and salary for massage therapists with similar occupations, it's clear that massage therapy is a lucrative and rewarding career. The Pay tab of the Bureau of Labor Statistics describes typical earnings and how workers in the occupation are compensated by annual salaries, hourly wages, commissions, tips, or bonuses.

Within each occupation, earnings vary depending on experience, responsibility, performance, ownership and geographic area. The Job Outlook tab also describes the factors that affect the growth or decline of employment in the occupation and, in some cases, describes the relationship between the number of job applicants and the number of job offers. Massage therapists are in high demand now more than ever - with a low unemployment rate of 2.1% according to the United States. Companies are hiring and new massage therapists can find employment soon after graduating from massage school and obtaining their license. There are many types of massage therapy to choose from - Thai massage, medical massage, lymphatic massage (MLD), reflexology, shiatsu, chair massage and sports massage are just a few of your options.

Or you can choose to limit your practice and specialize in working with a specific clientele or offering a specific type of massage. People are learning about the benefits of massage as doctors and other healthcare providers are increasingly likely to refer their patients to a massage therapist. Over the course of your initial massage training, and then as you become a practicing massage therapist, you'll learn a lot about the body, health, and well-being that will benefit you for the rest of your life. Massage therapy requires strength and many massage therapists say that the requirement to stay in good physical shape is an advantage of the job. While some therapy settings offer massage therapists full-time positions Monday through Friday, there are many other work arrangements. The next reason massage therapy is a good career is because massage education programs are generally much shorter and more affordable than a traditional bachelor's degree program.

Some therapists choose to follow the career path of massage education by teaching part-time classes at a local massage school. One of the best reasons to consider a career in massage therapy is that you can develop your career helping people. Receiving advanced training and becoming an expert in 1 or 2 massage modalities will help you achieve better treatment results and stand out in your community. Practice tests are one of the best ways to increase information retention, improve assessment skills, and increase the chances of passing the massage exam. Consumers with children under 18 at home are more likely to receive a massage than those who do not have children at home. The latest research on consumer opinions about the massage therapy profession and its use of massage therapy services shows that people are increasingly recognizing its benefits. Massage therapists should evaluate the needs of each client and recommend the best treatment based on that person's needs.

Of course, you'll always have the opportunity to continue learning new skills related to massage therapy as much as you want - which is a great way to stay enthusiastic about your work.

Meagan Furgerson
Meagan Furgerson

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