Job Outlook for Massage Therapy Careers

If you are considering becoming a masseuse, you should know that the job outlook for massage therapy careers is good, especially if you want to start your own business. The demand for trained massage therapists is expected to grow as a result of the continuing acceptance of the healing arts and alternative medicines. The fact is that people love getting massages, and if you are good at what you do, you can have a very satisfying and rewarding career.

As a massage counselor?you will specialize in the manipulation of soft tissue to help improve circulation, accelerate detoxification, relieve stress and reduce pain in the body. You can concentrate on many different styles of massage such as Swedish massage, deep tissue massage, Chinese massage, Thai massage, prenatal massage and the list goes on and on. Some people do massage therapy part time so they can focus on other things such as school or parenting, others do it "on the side" to augment their main income and others do it full time.

The growth for this career is faster than that of many other industries because people are seeing its therapeutic benefits more and more. In fact, experts point to a 20 percent increase in the number of massage therapist positions by 2016. Although a report released in 2006 showed that the average massage therapist wage in the United States was about $16 per hour, there is potential to earn as much as $35 per hour. This is especially possible if you are self employed and build a good rapport with your clients. Some massage tcounselors charge as much as $65 per hour and have very low overhead costs. And with such a good job outlook for massage therapy careers, this average wage is bound to increase.

If you want to become a massage counselor you should learn the requirements first. Almost 40 states currently require professional licenses for massage counselors, which entails schooling, examinations and a certain number of practice hours. You may also need to invest in continuing education throughout your career. With such a good job outlook, though, the investment is worth it.