Massage therapist: A Decent Vocation with a Decent Income
Certified and licensed massage therapists are relatively few in number at this point, but the massage therapy profession has become a six billion dollar business in the United States, making it a lucrative career for the picking. However, this is a profession that requires a lot of homework before taking it up professionally, because massage therapy can be a mentally taxing and physically demanding job to grapple with.
Physical as Well as Mental Work Required
Anyone who is interested in becoming a massage therapist will need to realize that besides hard physical work, there is mental work too that is a part of the job. A massage therapist will need to learn how to manipulate soft tissue in the body so that the client is given therapeutic benefits. You will also need to learn how to provide stress reduction through the gentle manipulation of muscles and joints.
The massage therapist should also be able to increase the client’s blood circulation and stimulate the lymphatic system to promote relaxation. It is an all encompassing job that will require you to pass a board certification examination before obtaining a state license. He or she should also register with a professional association before becoming eligible for a massage therapist’s job.
Once you get a license to become a registered massage therapist, a lot of doors will open for you. There are many massage clinics that offer jobs for qualified therapists and you can also apply for a job with sports teams, health or fitness clubs, nursing homes and chiropractor’s offices. For those who wish to experience a little adventure on the job, there are many openings on cruise ships that take their own massage therapists onboard.
Another good option open to you as a massage therapist is to go into business for yourself. It will require making an initial investment, but the rewards can be ample. If you feel that you have an entrepreneurial spirit and are a good business person, this may be an avenue worth exploring.
A massage therapist earns a fair salary that can be anything from $30-$60 an hour, depending on the city where you are employed. It is also a job where the hours must be limited because of the physical demands of the work, and there is no obvious career growth path that presents itself to a massage therapist. To grow in this field, you will need to learn advanced techniques and raise your fees as your experience increases. It is nevertheless a good vocational skill that provides a decent income for many.
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