Is Massage Therapist a Good Job? Pros and Cons (2026)
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Massage therapy can be a good job for the right person, but the data tells a more complicated story than most career guides admit. BLS reports a median annual wage of $57,950 and 15 percent projected job growth from 2024 to 2034. The flexibility, autonomy, and meaningful client work are real. So is the burnout. The American Massage Therapy Association publishes regular guidance on preventing burnout in the profession, and BLS itself notes most therapists can't physically sustain a full 40-hour workweek. Honestly, whether this job is good for you depends less on whether you'll like the work and more on whether you'll set up your career to last past year five.
Carrington College - Spokane Campus (Washington)
- Format: In person, Spokane Valley
- Length: Certificate program, length varies by enrollment status
- Credential: Massage Therapy Certificate
- Notes: ACCJC-accredited; financial aid, grants, and scholarships available to those who qualify
Carrington College - Boise Campus (Idaho)
- Format: In person, Boise
- Length: Certificate program, length varies by enrollment status
- Credential: Massage Therapy Certificate
- Notes: Prepares graduates for entry-level massage therapy practice. ACCJC-accredited; financial aid, grants, and scholarships available to those who qualify
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the disadvantages of being a massage therapist?
The main disadvantages are physical wear (repetitive-motion injuries to wrists, thumbs, and shoulders), inconsistent income especially in the first few years of building a client base, emotional load from working with clients in pain, and limited employee-track upward mobility. BLS specifically notes most therapists can't physically sustain a full 40-hour workweek over the long term.
Are massage therapists in demand?
Yes. BLS projects 15 percent employment growth from 2024 to 2034, much faster than the average for all occupations, with about 24,700 openings projected each year over the decade. Demand is driven partly by replacement needs as therapists leave the field and partly by growing healthcare integration of massage for pain management.
Will AI replace massage therapists?
No, not in any practical way. Massage is hands-on physical work requiring real-time pressure modulation, sensory feedback, and direct client communication, which puts it among the lowest-risk occupations for AI automation in labor market analyses. Massage chairs and percussive devices serve different needs and have existed alongside therapists for years without displacing the field.
Is becoming a massage therapist worth it?
It depends on physical fit, business fit, and willingness to plan for career longevity. The training is short and inexpensive compared to most healthcare careers, the median pay is solid at $57,950, and demand is strong. The trade-offs are physical wear and high industry attrition. Therapists who plan body mechanics, boundary-setting, and clinical variety from the start tend to last longer than those who don't. To practice legally in most states, graduates also pass the MBLEx licensing exam through FSMTB.
Making the Massage Therapy Decision
The therapists who stay long-term aren't the most talented or the most passionate. They're the ones who plan body mechanics from week one of training, set boundaries with clients before burnout forces the issue, vary their clinical work to avoid repetitive-motion patterns, and treat their own physical maintenance as non-negotiable.
If you can commit to that approach, this is a job with strong fundamentals: short training, $57,950 median pay, 15 percent projected job growth, and meaningful client work. If you're hoping to coast through a 40-hour spa schedule for 20 years, the industry data suggests you'll be among the therapists who leave within a few years of starting.
Dreambound lists massage therapy programs from partnered schools across the country, with details on format, length, and what each program prepares graduates for. Compare options and verify your state's requirements before committing tuition.
