Also called: Licensed Massage Therapist, LMT
Uses touch to relax muscles, relieve pain and reduce stress.
She does five or six one-hour massages: deep tissue for a construction worker's sore back, a relaxing Swedish massage for a stressed nurse, a prenatal massage. Between clients she changes linens and writes quick notes.
BLS median $57,950 (May 2024), including tips at many spas.
Certificate, about 1 year after high school. Massage therapy program (usually 500-1,000 hours) plus the MBLEx exam and a state license.
Ways in: Trade school, Certification. Training cost: Under $15k.
Majors to look at: Massage Therapy (trade school).
Growing much faster than average (about 15% over 10 years). BLS projection, 2024-34.
Low risk in 5 years, medium in 10. Robotic massage beds are arriving in gyms and could take some basic relaxation work by 2036; skilled, adaptive touch stays human.
Classes: Anatomy & Physiology, Biology, Health-science CTE class.
Official data: O*NET occupation 31-9011.
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