Massage Job Description

The Massage Job Description that is listed in the Occupational Outlook Handbook at the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics is very inaccurate and misleading.

Most massage therapists start their own business. Most massage jobs are also massage subcontractor positions which means that you will really be self employed.

The rejuvenating affects of relaxation massage are as effective as what people are calling "medical massage" if done in the proper manner and by the right person.

There are over 200 different types of massage and bodywork and more are being developed everyday.

Giving massage is a unique experience. You can go to the same massage school as someone else and learn the same techniques and your massage will feel totally different to the same person. Even though there are many different types of massage, what massage really does is allows you to feel yourself more and get back into your body.

Most massage therapists have in the past started their own business. But as more and more less mature massage therapists are sent out into the world, they seem to be looking for jobs. There are more jobs today in the massage profession.

Basically, if you start your own business you will have total control over your environment, salary and hours.

The biggest thing that is misleading to massage therapists is how much can you make. Hourly wages vary by location and employer. I have heard salaries ranging from $10.00 per hour to $45.00 per hour. The misleading thing is that the number of hours that you will be able to work is often limited by your physical endurance.

As a business owner, you will be able to charge more for your services anywhere from $50-$150 per hour and even more for specialized work, but you have to take into consideration your office expenses like rent, advertising and laundry to name a few.

The typical massage job description may look something like this for entry level jobs:

• training in pathology of different diseases and conditions and ability to apply that to clients conditions
• knowledge of anatomy and physiology and the ability to explain this in laymans terms
• able to work with clients of all ages, genders and personalities
• outstanding customer service and client care
• ability to be with people who are in pain and maintain appropriate boundaries for healing.
• able to work evenings and weekends
• know how to talk to clients to help get repeat clients and also referrals (basically you will have to build your clientele even if you get a job in massage)
• interview clients to obtain a health history and assess the clients condition and needs. (This will be key in building your business.)
• dependable, respectable, compassionate
• complete paperwork on clients as required
• attend employee meetings
• dress appropriately with no tatoos, piercings, blue hair and wear uniforms
• Sell spa products or other health related products to clients

If you want to make more as a massage therapist you will need to take advanced training in either a few specific techniques or working with specific diseases and conditions. Becoming a sports massage therapist or oncology massage therapist require ongoing and extensive training. Having these extra skills will set you aside from others in the profession and you will be able to charge more for your services if you own your own business or you can make a higher hourly wage in a job.

An advanced massage job description would look more like this:

• Extensive training and advanced skills in things like orthopedic massage, craniosacral therapy, structural integration methods so that you can learn more about assessing clients conditions. (You can not make a diagnosis as a massage therapist.)
• Interact with clients to explain their various injuries and conditions to educate them as to why and how massage can help.
• Write articles for your website to promote massage and your skills.
• Offer free classes on stress or various diseases and conditions to the community
• Speak at support groups for stress and health conditions
• Learn to engage clients in their massage session and learn to be present yourself so you don't get bored doing massage.
• Learn how to get and rebook clients. Even if you are an employee it is your responsibility to get and keep your clients coming in. It is in your hands -so to speak.

As a massage therapist with your own business you will need some of the following skills:

• Business planning
• Accounting and bookkeeping to keep track of your income, expenses and taxes so that you can run a profitable business.
• Invest in your business by enrolling in the Chamber of Commerce or other community groups
• Write or Speak about massage on a community level
• Create a website that is educational for potential massage clients
• Learn how to get clients to rebook.
• Work with clients to achieve better health

One of the biggest problems in the massage profession whether you have a job or not is the idea that clients will just magically appear on your table. Building a massage business (even if you have a job) takes putting in your time and sometimes doing things that you don't like to do like insurance billing, laundry or always having to do something to market your business.

Because massage jobs are a fairly new concept many massage employers don't know what massage therapists really do. You may be able to create your own massage job description and sell your unique skills and knowledge to potential employers and create better jobs for the future of the massage profession.

See also:Massage Therapy Jobs

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