High School Students

High School Students are now looking into careers in massage for various reasons. Massage schools minimum requirements for entry are usually a high school diploma and be 18 years of age. That being said, it isn't really a career for people right out of high school in my opinion, but that doesn't mean you should not pursue a career in massage if you still want. From what I have seen, massage schools are currently struggling to get massage students so they are looking for more options and marketing to massage schools. High school students are eager to become massage therapists mainly because they can get out of having to take math classes and are drawn to the ads saying that you can make $60 an hour as a massage therapist.

The truth is that you don't really make $60 an hour unless you start your own business. Entry level jobs start at $12 an hour which may seem like a lot of money but that also is deceiving. As a massage therapist, you only get paid when you have a client. If you don't have a client, you will most likely get paid only minimum wage. You also don't usually work 40 hours a week because of the physical and mental demands of the work. Most people who do work that many hours end up with career ending injuries to their hands or forearms or something else. This is one of the many things I talk about in my book "A Career in Massage - Is it for you?" which I recommend that you read if you are serious about looking into a career in massage.

There is much more to being a massage therapist than you might think. I will tell you more about all of the issues that you will be faced with in the book - Things like what jobs are available and what you will be faced with when you go to start your own business. I also have information on massage schools and how to choose the best massage school for you.

My other major concern about people just out of high school becoming a massage therapist has to do with being mature enough to handle deep personal issues that people will bring to the massage table. Because you will be touching people in a semi-state of undress it can bring up many issues for massage clients and also the massage therapist doing the touching. People who have experienced deep trauma may have issues arise for them when they are touched. For example - a Vietnam vet almost hit me when I worked on his neck and I worked with him slowly to be able to touch his neck. When I finally could he was sobbing on the table. People with past abuse issues also have sensitivities to touch which need a certain amount of maturity to deal with. That being said I have also seen adults in their 30's and 40's who could not handle some of these issues either.

You will be working with people in a therapeutic relationship which is the basis for healing. In the therapeutic relationship, clients will often unconsciously re-establish the parent/child relationship. Yes people will actually unconsciously think of you as a parent. People's unresolved needs, feelings and issues are transferred on to the massage therapist. To be able to work with these issues, the massage therapist has to have clear boundaries and know how to handle people who are in such a state. Being so young you will be at a disadvantage.

Also since massage school is usually only a 6-12 month program, there isn't enough time to teach you how to effectively deal with such issues. Massage school until the last few years has been geared toward teaching adults with more life experience and better relationship skills.

My personal recommendation if you really want to become a massage therapist right out of high school is to go to Canada and take a 3 year program or find a 4 year massage degree program which I have not seen yet in the US. I also recommend that you go to college for business and marketing since most massage therapists start their own business and massage school is not able to teach you much in the way of business skills.

Massage therapists who are right out of high school can expect to get jobs at places like Massage Envy or other massage franchises where entry level pay is $12 an hour.

Many high school students have also requested an interview with me as a part of their homework assignments when researching careers in massage. I have written up some of the questions and answers and you can find it on the high school interview page. If you have more questions you can ask there or on my Facebook Fan page!.