Massage therapy is steadily gaining popularity both as a means of relaxation and as an alternative solution to a variety of physical and mental health problems. Steady employment in health spas and fitness clubs, as well as hospitals, nursing care facilities and even office buildings, is becoming more readily available. Because massage therapists are becoming such a fixture in the rapidly expanding field of health care, the number of jobs for therapists is expected to rise faster than average through at least 2016.
Although ea
rnings for massage therapists vary depending on the workplace, the types of massage offered and the location, the average annual salary for massage therapists as of May 2008 was $39,850, with the top 10% or earners making an average of $69,620.
Average Massage Therapist Salaries by Location, 2008:
| Location | Salary |
|---|---|
| Offices of other health practitioners | $44,830 |
| Physicians' offices | $43,350 |
| Other amusement and recreation industries | $41,430 |
| Personal care services | $39,490 |
| Traveler Accommodation | $36,520 |
Figures courtesy of Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor.