What This Job Pays: Massage therapist

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June 9, 2008

What This Job Pays: Massage therapist

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Pay: The median pay for this job in the Seattle area is $46,079, with most ranging from $28,809 to $64,821, according to salary.com.

Demand: Employment for massage therapists is expected to increase 20 percent from 2006-16, faster than average for all occupations. Massage therapy is gaining growing acceptance as a medical tool, particularly by the medical provider and insurance industries.

Need to know: There are roughly 1,500 massage-therapy postsecondary schools, college programs and training programs in the country. After training, many massage therapists opt to take the National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork. Many states, including Washington, require that massage therapists pass this test in order to practice.

Massage therapists work in an array of settings, including offices, hospitals, nursing homes, malls, sports-medicine facilities and clients' homes and businesses. Strong communication skills and a friendly, empathetic personality are helpful qualities for fostering a trusting relationship with clients.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics