Trade Career Comparison

Which trade career fits you best?

Massage Therapist

Treat clients by manipulating muscles and soft tissues to relieve pain, heal injuries, improve circulation, and promote relaxation and wellness.

$57,950/yr median

$33,280$97,450

Much Faster Than AvgHeavyUnion: LowEntry: Moderate

Training Path

Postsecondary certificate or associate's degree (500-1,000+ hours) + state licensure

Environment

Indoor

Outlook

Much Faster Than Avg (+15%)

BLS Code

31-9011

Pros

✓Strong job growth at 18% projected — one of the fastest-growing healthcare-adjacent occupations, driven by increasing acceptance of massage for pain management, stress relief, and rehabilitation.
✓Good earning potential once established — the median salary is around $58,000, but therapists with a strong private practice, medical focus, or sports specialization can earn $60,000-$80,000+.
✓Flexible work arrangements — you can work at a spa, chiropractic office, physical therapy clinic, sports facility, hospital, or build a private practice. Many massage therapists set their own hours and control their schedule.
✓Meaningful healing work — you help people manage chronic pain, recover from injuries, reduce stress, and improve their quality of life through skilled touch. The therapeutic impact is tangible and immediate.
✓Relatively accessible training — most programs require 500-1,000 hours (about 6-12 months), making this a reasonable time and financial investment with a clear career at the end.
✓Low startup costs for private practice — unlike many businesses, you can start a massage practice with a table, linens, oil, and a small rented space. The overhead is manageable.

Cons

✗The work is physically demanding in a way that limits career longevity. You are using your hands, thumbs, forearms, and body weight to apply sustained pressure for 50-90 minutes per session, multiple times per day. Repetitive strain injuries, particularly to the hands, wrists, and thumbs, are the number one occupational hazard and force many therapists to reduce hours or leave the profession.
✗Income depends heavily on your ability to fill your schedule and retain clients. Slow periods, cancellations, and no-shows directly affect your paycheck, and many massage therapists struggle with income consistency, especially early in their careers.
✗Chain spa employment (Massage Envy, Elements, etc.) often means low per-session pay with high physical output. These positions can be good for building experience but are not sustainable long-term for most therapists due to the volume of sessions required to earn a decent wage.
✗Benefits are typically your responsibility — most massage therapists are independent contractors or self-employed, meaning you handle your own health insurance, retirement, and taxes. There is no employer safety net.
✗Boundary issues and safety concerns are a real part of the profession. While rare, inappropriate client behavior does occur, and you need clear boundaries, safety protocols, and the confidence to enforce them.

What the Life Is Like

A massage therapist's day is structured around client sessions, typically 50-90 minutes each with breaks between for documentation, room turnover, and physical recovery. In a spa or clinical setting, you might perform 4-6 massages per day. In private practice, many therapists deliberately cap their sessions at 4-5 per day to protect their body. Between sessions, you change linens, sanitize the room, hydrate, and sometimes stretch or do hand exercises.

The work environment varies significantly. Day spas focus on relaxation and wellness, with dim lighting and calming music. Medical and clinical settings are more targeted — you work on specific injuries, chronic pain conditions, or post-surgical recovery in coordination with physicians or physical therapists. Sports massage therapists may work at athletic facilities, events, or with specific teams. Corporate chair massage is another niche, offering on-site stress relief at businesses.

Physically, body mechanics are everything in this career. Proper technique — using your forearms and body weight rather than just your thumbs and fingers — is what allows therapists to have long careers. Invest in continuing education on body mechanics early. Many experienced therapists cross-train in modalities that are less physically taxing, such as craniosacral therapy, myofascial release, or energy work. The financial reality is that this career rewards specialization and private practice more than working for someone else. Therapists who develop expertise in a specific area (sports recovery, prenatal, TMJ, chronic pain) and build a private client base have the highest satisfaction and earnings.

How to Get Started

Complete an accredited massage therapy program

Programs are offered at massage therapy schools, community colleges, and some universities. Requirements vary by state but typically require 500-1,000 hours of training. Curriculum includes anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, pathology, various massage modalities, ethics, and business practices, plus supervised clinical hours. Tuition ranges from $5,000-$15,000. Look for programs accredited by COMTA (Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation).

Pass your licensing exam

Most states require passing the MBLEx (Massage and Bodywork Licensing Examination) administered by FSMTB (Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards). The exam covers anatomy, kinesiology, pathology, client assessment, treatment planning, ethics, and business. Study seriously — the pass rate is not 100%. Some states accept NCBTMB (National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork) certification instead.

Get licensed in your state

Apply for your state massage therapy license with your exam scores, school transcripts, and any required background check. Also get CPR certified and obtain professional liability insurance — most employers require it, and you absolutely need it for private practice. Insurance is affordable (around $200-$300 per year through providers like ABMP or AMTA membership).

Start building experience and clients

Your first position may be at a spa, chiropractic office, wellness center, or chain massage franchise. While chain positions often pay less per session, they provide a steady stream of clients and help you develop speed, confidence, and technique. Focus on delivering excellent sessions and building client loyalty — ask clients to request you specifically.

Join a professional association and invest in continuing education

AMTA (American Massage Therapy Association) and ABMP (Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals) provide liability insurance, continuing education, business resources, and professional community. Most states require continuing education credits for license renewal. Use these to develop specializations — sports massage, deep tissue, prenatal, oncology massage, and medical massage are in high demand and command premium rates.

Build toward private practice or clinical specialization

The highest earning and longest-lasting careers in massage therapy come from either building a private practice or specializing in medical or clinical settings. For private practice, you will need a treatment space (rented room, salon suite, or home office where legally permitted), a booking system, and a marketing strategy. For clinical work, pursue advanced certifications in medical massage, orthopedic massage, or lymphatic drainage. Many successful therapists combine a few days of clinical work with private clients for both financial stability and variety.

Felony Record & Licensing

Varies by State

State licensing boards conduct background checks. Policies vary — some states have blanket bans for certain felonies, others do individualized review.

Check your state's licensing board before enrolling in a program. Rules vary significantly.

Training Funding & Support

Pell Grants Are Available Again

As of July 2023, the FAFSA no longer asks about drug convictions. The FAFSA Simplification Act restored Pell Grant eligibility for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated students. If a past drug conviction kept you from financial aid before, you can apply again.

WIOA Workforce Funding

The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) funds free job training, career counseling, and supportive services (transportation, work clothes, childcare) for people reentering the workforce. Contact your local American Job Center (careeronestop.org) to see what's available in your area.

Ban-the-Box & Fair Chance Hiring

Over 37 states and 150+ cities have "ban-the-box" or fair chance hiring laws that prevent employers from asking about criminal history on job applications. Many require waiting until after an interview or conditional job offer. These laws are expanding rapidly — check your state's specific rules.

Licensing laws vary by state and change frequently. This is general guidance, not legal advice. Always verify with your state's licensing board before enrolling in a training program.

Data last verified March 2026 · View sources

We verify our data against official sources. Verification dates show when we last checked — they do not guarantee the information is still current. Laws, rates, and thresholds can change at any time. Always confirm critical information at the official source or with a qualified professional.

National Employment Law Project (NELP) — Fair Chance Hiring

General trade accessibility levels for people with felony convictions — categorized as generally-accessible, varies-by-state, often-restricted, or highly-restricted

https://www.nelp.org/policy-issue/criminal-records-and-employment/

Verified March 2026

trade-schools.net — Jobs for Felons

Trade accessibility and reentry employment guidance for specific trades

https://www.trade-schools.net/articles/jobs-for-felons

Verified March 2026

Hire Felons — Reentry Employment Guide

Employer reentry hiring policies and trade accessibility for people with felony convictions

https://www.hirefelons.org/

Verified March 2026

ASE — About ASE Testing

ASE (Automotive Service Excellence) certification — no criminal history screening

https://www.ase.com/certification-series/

Verified March 2026

OSHA — Powered Industrial Trucks

OSHA forklift certification — employer-provided, no criminal history screening

https://www.osha.gov/powered-industrial-trucks

Verified March 2026

EPA — Section 608 Technician Certification

EPA Section 608 refrigerant certification — no criminal history screening

https://www.epa.gov/section608

Verified March 2026

Federal Student Aid — FAFSA Simplification Act

Pell Grant eligibility restored for people with drug convictions and incarcerated individuals, effective July 1, 2023; PELL_GRANT_RESTORED_DATE: "July 2023"

FAFSA Simplification Act, Pub. L. 117-103 (2021); 20 U.S.C. § 1070a

https://studentaid.gov/announcements-events/fafsa-simplification

Verified March 2026

National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) — Ban the Box Legislation

Ban-the-box and fair chance hiring laws — 37+ states + DC + 150+ localities as of 2026; BAN_THE_BOX_STATE_COUNT: 37; BAN_THE_BOX_CITY_COUNT: 150

https://www.ncsl.org/labor-and-employment/ban-the-box-legislation

Verified March 2026

NELP — Ban the Box: U.S. Cities, Counties, and States

Fair chance hiring law coverage — 37+ states + DC + 150+ localities; BAN_THE_BOX_PRIVATE_EMPLOYER_STATES: ["California", "Illinois", "New Jersey", "Washington"]

https://www.nelp.org/publication/ban-the-box-fair-chance-hiring-state-and-local-guide/

Verified March 2026

U.S. Department of Labor — Reentry Employment Opportunities (REO)

WIOA Section 169 workforce funding for reentry — job training, career counseling, and supportive services

Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, 29 U.S.C. § 3224; WIOA Sec. 169

https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/reentry

Verified March 2026

Legal Information Institute — 18 U.S.C. § 922

18 U.S.C. § 922(g) — federal prohibition on felons possessing firearms, effectively barring law enforcement careers

18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1)

https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/922

Verified March 2026