These days, it’s common for people to spend years and tens of thousands of dollars on college degrees they don’t end up using. As such, it is important to know which kind of jobs you can get with the degree you’re pursuing. Luckily, if you’re thinking of becoming a massage therapist and enrolling in a massage therapy school in Atlanta, there are many industries you can work in.
Some obvious choices for post-graduation career paths include working as a massage therapist in a salon, spa, or wellness center around the Atlanta area. In fact, the personal care industry makes up a total of 33% of where massage therapists are employed in the US. While these are great positions, especially for entry-level employment, there are other career options for massage therapists in Atlanta to consider.
For example, many people aren’t aware that chiropractic clinics often employ massage therapists on staff to help treat their patients. In fact, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), massage therapists that are employed in the office of chiropractors earn $55,300 per year, making it the highest paying industry for massage therapists in the US. Similarly, other healthcare professions also employ massage therapists, including hospitals, pain clinics, and acupuncture offices.
The most common career route for massage therapists in recent years is to become self-employed or run their own business. According to the BLS, self-employed massage therapists make up 35% of the industry! This is unsurprising since many people go into massage therapy for the benefits of having a flexible schedule. It is worth noting that becoming self-employed requires a lot of initial work, including building a client base, and business skills, such as marketing and financial management. However, massage therapy is one of the most rewarding and flexible jobs you can have!
Additionally, many massage therapists work in multiple settings. For example, some massage therapists run their own business, but also work part-time in a clinic or spa to help supplement their income.
Beyond this, there are additional job opportunities available to advanced massage therapists, including higher education and even opportunities in clinical research. For example, the instructors at the Atlanta School of Massage have all spent years working in the industry prior to teaching. Other jobs in massage education include teaching Continuing Education (CEU) Courses, and/or holding workshops for specialized techniques. This is also a great way for massage therapists to supplement income if they’re self-employed or working at a clinic or spa.
Another way to supplement your income is to specialize in a specific type of massage therapy, like Neuromuscular Massage (NMT). Some massage schools, such as the Atlanta School of Massage, even offer advanced massage therapy certifications as part of their standard program. Additionally, some massage therapists also pursue complementary career training in related wellness fields, such as esthetics or personal training, in order to offer a wider range of services to clients and make themselves even more enticing to potential employers.
As long as there is a demand for massage therapy services, there will be a need for massage therapists. Luckily, the latest BLS reports that “employment of massage therapists is projected to grow 21 percent from 2019 to 2029,” which is much faster than the average for all occupations in the US. In fact, median wages for massage therapists increased from $41,420/year in May 2018 to $43,620 in May 2020, which was after the start of the pandemic.
Few careers offer as wide of a range of employment options and flexibility as massage therapy. If you think you might be interested in a massage therapy career, you request more info about the massage program at the Atlanta School of Massage!
If you have any questions, please reach out to us at 770-203-0210 or visit Atlanta School of Massage at 2 Dunwoody Park South, Atlanta, GA 30338 or click the button below to schedule a campus tour!
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