Massage Therapist Lucrative Career Options
Discover why demand for licensed massage therapists is booming nationwide and across North Carolina, offering strong earning potential, workplace flexibility, and personal fulfillment.
If you’ve ever considered a career as a massage therapist, now’s the perfect time. Demand for massage therapists has increased dramatically across the country over the past few years. North Carolina, in particular, has seen remarkable growth in the number of people discovering massage’s health benefits for pain relief, reduced inflammation, and stress management.
According to 2020 Department of Labor statistics, the massage industry grew by 20%. Two years later, the trend continues: professional massage therapists are in high demand and command excellent pay. And the best news is that becoming a qualified, professional massage therapist is within anyone’s grasp.
What Does a Massage Therapist Do?
As a massage therapist, you’d join the health care industry and help improve the health and well-being of a wide range of clients. You’ll apply dozens of massage disciplines and techniques to relieve customers of tense or sore muscles, improve blood flow, and encourage an overall sense of good health and positive energy.
Massage therapists can find work in a variety of settings. Some provide massage therapy in hospitals and medical centers. Others work for private massage therapy practices, health centers, spas, hotels, resorts, and cruise ships. You can also work as an independent massage therapist and choose your clients.
On Becoming a Professional Massage Therapist
To become a professional massage therapist, you need a comprehensive understanding of human anatomy and physiology to find the best ways to relieve stress and pain.
Most US states require massage therapists to be trained and licensed. Depending on where you choose to get licensed and how intensely you pursue your training, massage therapy school can last anywhere from several months to a few years. States that issue licensure require 250 to 1000 hours of instruction, followed by an exam administered by the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (fsmtb.org).
The Advantages of Becoming a Massage Therapist
There are several tangible benefits to becoming a massage therapist. Top among those is flexibility. You can often set your hours and choose where you’ll work.
As for pay, it’s among the best in the country. With moderate effort, the median annual income a massage therapist takes home from salary and gratuities is around $50,000. But if you’re serious about promoting yourself as a massage therapist and building a business, your earning potential is almost unlimited.
How To Make a Living As a Massage Therapist
Many practices offer sign-on bonuses of $2,000 or more and rates up to $50 per hour.
But it doesn’t stop there. You may stay for years, or you may become an independent contractor and set your rates, often double what you made at someone else’s practice.
By combining aggressive marketing with your recent experience and knowledge, you can start building a client base. From there, you can build momentum with positive reviews and word of mouth from existing clients to attract new ones. Soon, you’ll have no shortage of work and income.
Getting Started At NC Massage School
To help you start your new career, NC Massage School offers individualized massage therapy training to help you get licensed. We also take a holistic approach to education, encouraging students to explore personal development of mind, body, and spirit in a small, supportive environment.
We offer six- and twelve-month programs to launch your new career in helping people better their lives.
Interested in Becoming a Massage Therapist?
NC Massage School in Cornelius, North Carolina offers a 700-hour Massage Therapy Diploma Program that combines foundational massage techniques, clinical neuromuscular therapy, and hands-on training in a supportive learning environment.
Whether you’re exploring a new career or seeking a more rewarding professional direction, our full-time and part-time programs offer a structured path to massage therapy licensure.
Learn more about our Massage Therapy Diploma Program, review tuition and payment options, or contact NC Massage School to discuss your next steps.
