by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Massage Therapy/Therapeutic Massage involves the study of Massage Therapy/therapeutic Massage. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Provide Relief And Improved Health And Well-Being To Clients Through The Application Of Manual Techniques For Manipulating Skin, Muscles, And Connective Tissues. Includes Instruction In Western (Swedish) Massage, Sports Massage, Myotherapy/trigger Point Massage, Myofascial Release, Deep Tissue Massage, Cranio-Sacral Therapy, Reflexology, Massage Safety And Emergency Management, Client Counseling, Practice Management, Applicable Regulations, And Professional Standards And Ethics. Read on to learn the essential details every massage therapy/therapeutic massage major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering massage therapy/therapeutic massage programs.
Nationwide, massage therapy/therapeutic massage draws strong interest, with 11,029 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Massage Therapy/Therapeutic Massage Schools ranking analyzes these 371 schools to determine the best overall colleges for massage therapy/therapeutic massage students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of massage therapy/therapeutic massage programs later in this article.
Studies in Massage Therapy/Therapeutic Massage emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations massage therapy/therapeutic massage graduates commonly enter.
The skill set built by a massage therapy/therapeutic massage program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a massage therapy/therapeutic massage major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several massage therapy/therapeutic massage degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 3,558 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 390 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 13 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 7,068 |
People currently working in careers related to massage therapy/therapeutic massage tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Postsecondary certificate | 31.5% |
| Master’s degree | 21.3% |
| Doctoral degree | 14.7% |
| Post-doctoral training | 11.3% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 9.0% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 7.5% |
| Some college courses | 3.1% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 1.6% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in massage therapy/therapeutic massage careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying massage therapy/therapeutic massage opens doors to a variety of career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to massage therapy/therapeutic massage.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to massage therapy/therapeutic massage.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,335,407 | 10.7% |
| Massage Therapists | 893,791 | 7.4% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of massage therapy/therapeutic massage graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $20,348 |
| 4 years | $22,219 |
| 5 years | $24,335 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for massage therapy/therapeutic massage graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers massage therapy/therapeutic massage grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,663 |
| Massage Therapists | $44,831 |
With 371 different massage therapy/therapeutic massage programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased massage therapy/therapeutic massage school rankings to help you.
Those considering massage therapy/therapeutic massage, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Asian Bodywork Therapy | 140 |
| Somatic Bodywork | 28 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
