Ideal States for Massage Therapy Work

The massage industry is a billion dollar industry. According to the American Massage Therapy Association, there are nearly 300,000 massage students and therapists in the United States alone. The United States Department of Labor has also indicated that there is an anticipated 20 percent increase in the need for massage therapists between the years 2006 and 2016--the occupation is growing at a rapid pace. Not all states are the same in terms of job prospects, however. Some states are more ideal than others when it comes to massage therapy work.

California

• According to the group Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals, the state of California has roughly 33,658 massage therapists working in the industry, more than any other state. This suggests that the occupational opportunities in the state are high. The Federation of State Massage Therapy Board asserts that the average hourly rate charged by massage therapists in California is $37.00 an hour, and this parallels the national average. Recently passed into law is the SB 731 bill, authorized by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Certification in the state of California is optional for qualifying individuals and the state is in the process of forming the California Massage Therapy Organization. Once the organization is formed, if you elect to become certified, you will be authorized to work anywhere in the state of California without having to get a special license from each county or city. If you choose to certify, you can save quite a bit of money in the state, because you will not be forced to pay for individual permits and licenses in every county or city where you choose to work.

Florida

• Florida has roughly 23,729 massage therapists, and the average hourly rate charged by massage professionals is a bit higher than national average--presently at $39.00. Florida is a common destination for retirees and for people looking to get away from the colder weather in the northern states. This makes it an good destination for the massage therapists as there are many opportunities. The state of Florida is also filled with a variety of massage schools where you can earn your education; there are massage therapy schools in Bradenton-Sarasota, Largo, Orlando, Brandon, Lauderdale Lakes, Ormond Beach, Clearwater, Maitland, Pembroke Pines, Daytona Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Tallahassee, Tampa, Orange Park and West Palm Beach, among other popular cities.

Texas

• Texas ranks third out of the 50 U.S. states in terms of the number of massage therapists presently employed. It is estimated that there are roughly 22,523 massage therapists working in the industry. The average hourly rate that massage therapists charge in the state of Texas is $4.00 an hour higher than the national average: typical charges in the state are $41.00 per hour for a massage session. The state of Texas takes the massage industry seriously, as is indicated by the Senate bill 854 introduced in February 2009, presently sponsored by Senator Dan Patrick. If and when this bill is passed, it will place various restrictions on massage businesses which will serve to make such establishments more trustworthy and professional. The bill calls for the use of daily employee logs, and would require that criminal background checks be conducted on all massage therapists before they can become employed. This law, if passed, may cause increases for massage therapists in terms of overhead expenses, but it will also increase the professionalism of the establishments.