One of the earliest needs for massage therapy came about when Buddhist monks in ancient Thailand needed relief from sore muscles after hours of repetitive meditative posture.  The practice has been codified to what is now known as Thai massage.  This kind of massage is just one of the modalities, or approaches of tissue manipulation by hand, that a massage therapist is likely to practice.  There are about 80 modalities, and massage therapy careers are as diverse as these modalities.

One example of that diversity is in the area of remedial and rehabilitative care.  The approach massage therapists utilize in soft tissue manipulation to correct sports injury is entirely different from the modality they employ for relief of sore muscles due to repetitive strain.

Massage therapists often find work by private appointment, or in more structured environments like wellness clinics, health clubs, spas, hotels and resorts.  In the United States, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) recorded 55,920 massage therapists working in a broad spectrum of settings as of May 2009.   More than half of them were employed by personal care service providers, while 14,220 of them found work in offices of other health practitioners.  Travel, and amusement and recreation, were other industries where they were employed the most.

The nature of work is physically demanding.  Hence, those planning to enter the profession have to be physically fit to handle clients of various body frames.  The work of a therapist also entails flexible hours, which could easily mean after-office, on weekends, and on holidays.  These are the only times when the mass of working population seeking relief from stress would have sufficient time to unwind.
Holiday vacationers also tend to incorporate wellness activities in their travel plans.  Thus, a good number of well-paying jobs in the tourism industry includes massage therapists.  They typically earn minimum wage, but could earn more from gratuities, especially if they already have attained a level of skill that leaves the customer completely satisfied.

Training and education to enter the profession greatly vary by State and locality in the U.S.  Some states only require high school diploma and a completion of post-secondary education requiring 500 hours of hands-on training and coursework.  The body of coursework typically includes anatomy, kinesiology, physiology, motion and body mechanics, and massage techniques.  Accreditation is usually conferred by local regulating agencies where licensure program is not available.

Massage therapy careers can be as financially rewarding as white-collar professions.  In Alaska, massage therapists earned more than $85,000 annually as of May 2009, according to BLS.  Nationwide, annual mean wages as of the same cut-off period were close to $40,000.  Considering the minimal training initially involved to get into the profession, the physical nature of the job is all worth the effort.

Massage therapists specialize in a diverse field of modalities, or approaches to manipulate the soft-tissue muscles of the body to sooth tired muscles, break tension, or remedy injuries. The Bureau has even forecasted that the growth of employment opportunities for massage therapists is going to be faster than the average, which means a 19% increase (from 2008) through 2018.

Relative to other fitness-related jobs like fitness instruction and personal training, massage therapy salary is competitive.  As of May 2009, massage therapists earned annual mean wages of $39,780.  Their mean hourly rates were $19.13.  The middle 50% earned an annual wage of $35,230, while the bottom 10% and 25% earned $17,270 and $23,550, respectively.  The top 25% and 10% earned $51,750 and $68,670, respectively.

Most massage therapists work part-time in spas and hotels, or are self-employed.  Opportunities for advancement are more lateral than vertical.  A massage therapist increases his or her earnings from a large client base.  Trainings and workshops increase the therapists’ skills, and consequently, hourly rate.  Vertically, a massage therapist can move up to become a massage clinic’s or spa’s manager.

Massage therapists are well-paid in specialty hospitals, earning an annual mean wage of $55,100 as of May 2009.  They are however employed most in personal care clinics or in private practice, earning an annual mean wage of $37,700.
This occupational group is highly-compensated in Alaska, where they earned an annual mean wage of $85,050.  Washington followed at $52,550.  The rest of top-paying states were Oregon, Delaware and New York, where they earned an annual mean wage of $51,800, $49,900, and $48,900, respectively.

In metropolitan areas, massage therapy salary is most attractive in Anchorage, Alaska, where they earned an annual mean wage of $86,530.  This was followed in May 2009 by Chico, California, where the therapists earned $82,790.  Therapists in Eugene-Springfield, Oregon, Yakima, Washington, and Bremerton-Silverdale, Washington, were the other three top-paying states where therapists earned above $66,000 annually.

The future indeed looks bright for massage therapists.  If the current rate of earnings is any indication, the occupation is going to be an attractive alternative for other fitness professionals who may be interested to take advantage of flexible schedules and bigger paycheck.

In existence since the inception of the oldest human civilizations, particularly in the eastern cultures of India, China and Japan, massage has been an integral part of the daily lifestyle. Deeply rooted in the human biology and the energy chakras, the theory behind massage is that negative or blocked energy is released by massaging specific energy points on the body and pain is thereby healed. It is enthralling to understand massage and its science and it is certainly very exciting to be a masseuse.

The masseuse salary is competitive when we look at the number of hours one needs to work as a masseuse and many masseuses are able to earn good money by working lesser hours per week and as a part time job. Many people pursue massage as a hobby and it is a great way to earn some good money on the side and with this being a very individual choice, one cannot survive in this profession without being deeply motivated in their interests in massage therapy. For people who have a driving desire to learn the intricacies in this profession, the masseuse salary is very decent and ranges from $30,000 to $60,000 with a few years of experience. One needs to be mindful, that, like other occupations, the masseuse salary fluctuates depending on various factors.

Masseuse Salary

Though the job description of a masseuse seems a very routine and unscientific task, at its core, it is satisfying in its own way and masseuses feel the satisfaction when people thank them for relieving body aches and emotional pains. Owing to their deep motivation in helping people get treatment from this age old science of healing, massage therapies like Shiatsu and deep tissue massage techniques are very popular in pain relief.

Like the other professional salaries, the masseuse salary depends on several factors namely work experience, work location, educational qualification, number of hours worked and types of services offered. A high school diploma is the minimum educational qualifications for becoming a masseuse and must be further supplemented with proper graduate degrees in massage therapy or other similar rehabilitation courses to command better salaries.

A training course of 6 to 12 months is very important for becoming a professional masseuse and the United States has established and authentic organizations for imparting education for massage therapy and to promote massage therapy as an alternative to expensive medicines and treatment options. The masseuse salary on hourly bases ranges from $10 to $30 per hour and most masseuses work on weekends on a part-time basis since these days are the most convenient for clients to avail of their services. The annual masseuse salary is from $30,000 to $60,000 and one can open their own spa and massage center with enough experience and loyal clientele. Professionals who own their own spa and massage business earn more by way of masseuse salary than those who work for others. Owning a massage parlor is one of the best work at home business opportunities.

Latest job trends indicate that massage therapist jobs are on a rise and increasingly large numbers of corporate employers are hiring masseuses for helping their employees get relieved of stress. Hospitals, spas, health care units, yoga and meditation centers are in great need of masseuses and with more jobs in this field, professional masseuse salary is certainly going to rise.

Individuals who are interested in different types of therapies that promote well-being and a higher quality of life are typically those who pursue a career in massage therapy. With over 100 different massage therapy techniques available today, it is hard to know where to start and getting an education as a massage therapist sets the groundwork for your future. Expanding from this training, it is possible to add new therapies to your practice and the following information will come in handy.

Qualification criteria for massage therapy training

Different entrance requirements apply based on the schools. However, a high school diploma is required for most schools and a post-secondary education is really useful.

The characteristics and qualities assessed are:

• Communication skills
• Capacity of empathy
• Trust and understanding
• Listening skills
• Sciences (anatomy, physiology)
• Psychology
• Humanities
• Business

Some educational facilities may waive certain entrance requirements if you are considering taking massage therapy part-time. Checking with the educational facilities in your area and comparing the entrance requirements before you apply will be a good thing to do prior to going ahead with the program.

Details of Massage Therapy Training

Offered both in private and community colleges in the United States, massage therapy is taught in private as well as community colleges. The more expensive and fast paced programs are usually offered in private colleges while community college programs are usually slower paced and less expensive. In addition, fees differ between schools and states and investigating the different options in your area will help in deciding what educational program best suits your individual needs.

The fees will differ from school to school and from different countries, states and provinces. The details of the curriculum covered for a massage therapy program are:

• Anatomy
• Physiology
• Kinesiology
• Pathology
• Massage history and theory
• Massage techniques and practical
• Assessment (the study of regional orthopedic tests for client evaluation)
• Principles of treatment
• Nutrition
• Ethics
• Business

Offering supervised clinics which are available to the general public, many schools allow students the opportunity to work on a variety of clients and conditions.

Cost of Massage Therapy Training

The general tuition fee in 2006-2007 was around $2,500. Private massage therapy schools may cost anywhere from $3,000 to $10,000 for a basic 500 hour course. Upon completion of the course, a license is required to be able to practice and requirements vary by region.