Therapeutic Massage
Career Facts
Nature of Work |
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| Massage therapists manipulate the soft tissues of the body
including muscles, connective tissue, tendons, ligaments and joints
to relax or reduce pain in patients or customers. Massage therapists
may be self-employed in private practice, employed in a variety of
health care settings, in health and beauty spas, in sports or
exercise complexes, or in large lodging and travel facilities. |
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Employment prospects |
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Jobs in massage therapy are expected to
increase faster than average. Graduates of this program are
eligible to take the National Certification Exam, which is necessary
in order to advertise as a "certified" massage therapist. Most
graduates are self-employed which requires building a clientele,
however many hospitals and chiropractic offices are using massage as
a enhancement to medical treatment. |
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Skills you need |
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To succeed as a massage therapist, you
will need physical strength, mobility, and good interpersonal,
communication, listening and critical thinking skills. |
Expected earnings |
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Average earnings for self-employed
practitioners is between $40 and $60 per hour. If employed in a
clinic, spa, salon, etc., practitioners earn a percentage of the
client fee. |
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