Why a massage therapy career?
The number of persons using massage in the United States has doubled in the last three years. According to the American Massage Therapy Association the mainstream acceptance of massage continues to grow as consumers will receive 114 million treatments each year expending over five billion dollars annually.
The National Institutes of Health’s Office of Alternative Medicine recently reported that one-third of Americans use alternative or complimentary medicine. In addition, the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics now says the employment opportunities in the complimentary health field will grow faster than the average for most other occupations through the year 2016.* Massage therapists are likely to see a 21% to 35% increase in job opportunities. At the same time, the massage therapy career is ranked in the Top 20 Fastest Growing U.S. Occupations requiring post secondary training or an Associate’s Degree. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Labor ranks massage therapy in the “high” earning quartile.
Job opportunities are diverse. Licensed therapists work in medical massage and spa massage fields in virtually every area of the country in venues ranging from hospitals and rehabilitation centers to rodeos and destination spas.
*Bureau of Labor Stastistics, US Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2008-09 Addition, Massage Therapists. (More Information)