Career Center - Best Massage Therapy Cities

Massage Hot Spots: Top Five Cities to Work as a Massage Therapist

Among the many enticements of a massage therapy career, one, in particular, stands out—location. You can practice this natural healing art anywhere in the world, including on a ship at sea.

The field continues to thrive and will experience an estimated 14 to 20 percent increase in employment through 2016, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. With an abundance of job choices pending in the field, do certain locations offer more promise when it comes to practicing massage therapy? Learn which cities can deliver significant job opportunities as well as cultural and educational advantages:

1. Houston, Texas

The fourth largest US city, Houston has built a reputation as a multicultural locale, with over 20 percent of its residents born in other countries. Among its many offerings, the city boasts strong industry, performing arts, tourism and sports scenes, as well as an abundance of highly ranked educational institutions. Massage therapists living in Houston earn average annual salaries of approximately $38,000 and can look forward to outstanding career opportunities as this big city makes greater demands on natural healing alternatives.

2. Dallas, Texas

Another major business and cultural center in Texas, the city of Dallas offers graduates of massage therapy school the opportunity to explore a variety of health care settings in which to practice. Attracting residents and visitors alike, the spas, wellness centers, resorts and hotels available in Dallas offer massage therapists an environment filled with thriving career opportunities—along with average annual earnings starting at $39,000.

3. San Diego, California

Warm, sunny beaches that call to vacationers year round and a population that perceives the immeasurable value in healthy living and health care, the city of San Diego stands as an ideal location to practice massage therapy. In this city, a massage school degree can earn you $42,000 per year on average. Plus, the culture's high demand for natural health alternatives translates into prosperous entrepreneurial opportunities for massage therapists looking to settle in the beauty and relaxation San Diego has to offer.

4. Phoenix, Arizona

Massage therapy school graduates who prefer desert sunsets, sprawling terrains and less dense populations might consider Phoenix for its exceptional career choices in public and private practice—not to mention its climate, which draws tourists, athletes, fitness enthusiasts, retirees and other snowbirds. Therapists who work here earn an average salary of $42,000 per year and remain in high demand across the city's top-rated resorts, medical offices, chiropractic clinics, health care facilities, and fitness centers and spas.

5. Seattle, Washington

This west coast gem offers a climate somewhere between Mediterranean and marine, where diverse cultures mix and many trend-setting artists and musicians spent their formative years. In Seattle, massage therapists can earn average annual salaries of $45,000 and make their mark in an area that not only embraces natural healing arts, but also provides extensive educational choices in this arena. With a massage school degree in hand, you can find your niche in public or private practice, delivering a therapeutic touch to the city's holistic healing enthusiasts.

Whether they qualify as hot spots, coastal cities or sprawling metropolises, the top areas for massage therapists to work have one vital characteristic in common—long-term opportunities. In these cities, therapists will find cultures that perceive massage as vital to lifelong health, which, in turn, can mean lasting career rewards for practitioners who choose to rest in these locales.

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