Massage Therapy Careers

Associate of Applied Science and or Associate of Applied Business Programs

Offered at the following campuses:
Columbus, OH | Dayton, OH | Sharonville, OH | Springboro, OH | Troy, OH

Why Consider A Career in Massage Therapy?

• Massage Therapy is one of the fastest growing allied health professions!
  
• According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Massage Therapy career employment will grow faster than average-or increase between 21%-35%-between 2002 and 2012.
  
• According to an American Massage Therapy Association survey, conducted August 14-17, 2003, 21% of adults surveyed received a massage within the past 12 months-a three-point jump from 2002 and a 13-point jump from 1997.

Massage Therapy is a great way to help others!

• Massage therapy helps with joint and muscle aches, back strain, headache, fatigue, sports injuries, chronic and temporary pain, circulatory problems, anxiety and stress, allergies, depression, arthritis, insomnia, and overall health… and more.
  
• Considering how much massage therapy helps others, perhaps it's not surprising that in a 2002 survey of American Massage Therapy Association members, 88% were very or extremely satisfied with their chosen profession.

Massage Therapy offers a flexible career path!

• Massage therapists work in a wide variety of settings, from private practices to spas, club/gyms, hotels, salons, chiropractors' offices, doctors' offices, hospitals, and clinics.
  
• Massage therapists can often adjust their work schedule to fit their personal preferences, working full or part time.

Is Massage Therapy The Right Career For You?

If you enjoy helping others, value health, like working independently or as part of a team, and want to be part of a fast-growing allied health field, perhaps it is!

The following from Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Edition

Job Outlook

Employment of massage therapists is expected to grow faster than average. Opportunities should be available to those who complete formal training programs and pass a professionally recognized examination, but new massage therapists should expect to work only part time until they can build a client base of their own.

Employment change. Employment of massage therapists is expected to increase by 19 percent from 2008 to 2018, faster than the average for all occupations. Employment will grow as more people learn about the benefits of massage therapy.

Continued growth in the demand for massage services will lead to new openings for massage therapists. The number of spas, which employ a large number of therapists, has increased in recent years and will continue to do so. At the same time, there are an increasing number of massage clinic franchises, many of which offer massages cheaper than at spas and resorts, making them available to a wider range of customers. In addition, as an increasing number of States adopt licensing requirements and standards for therapists, the practice of massage is likely to be respected and accepted by more and more people.

Massage also offers specific benefits to particular groups of people, whose continued demand for massage services will lead to overall growth for the occupation. For example, as workplaces try to distinguish themselves as employee-friendly, providing professional in-office, seated massages for employees is becoming a popular on-the-job benefit. Older citizens in nursing homes or assisted-living facilities also are finding benefits from massage, such as increased energy levels and reduced health problems. Demand for massage therapy should grow among older age groups because they increasingly are enjoying longer, more active lives and persons aged 55 years and older are projected to be the most rapidly growing segment of the U.S. population over the next decade. However, demand for massage therapy is presently greatest among young adults, who lack the concerns about massage that previous generations had.

Job prospects. In States that regulate massage therapy, opportunities should be available to those who complete formal training programs and pass a professionally recognized examination. However, new massage therapists should expect to work only part time in spas, hotels, hospitals, physical therapy centers, and other businesses until they can build a client base of their own. Because referrals are a very important source of work for massage therapists, networking will increase the number of job opportunities. Joining a professional association also can help build strong contacts and further increase the likelihood of steady work.

Earnings

Median hourly wages of massage therapists, including gratuities, were $16.78 in May 2008. The middle 50 percent earned between $11.36 and $25.14. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $8.01, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $33.47. Because many therapists work part time, yearly earnings can vary considerably, depending on the therapist’s schedule. Generally, massage therapists earn some portion of their income as gratuities. For those who work in a hospital or other clinical setting, however, tipping is not common.

As is typical for most workers who are self-employed and work part time, few benefits are provided.

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