Massage therapists
Perform therapeutic massages of soft tissues and joints. May assist in the assessment of range of motion and muscle strength, or propose client therapy plans.
BLS SOC 31-9011 · O*NET-SOC 31-9011.00 · BLS 2025–2035 · O*NET 31.0
Median annual wage, 2025
$58,450
Projected change, 2025–2035
15.3%
2025–2035 annual average openings
20,400
AI exposure
Low
Editorial analysis
A recommendation app cannot feel muscle tension through its hands
Massage therapy has relatively little of the information-processing work that generative AI automates best. AI may help with scheduling, client intake, marketing, documentation, exercise suggestions, and business administration, but the service itself is tactile and highly responsive.
The feedback loop happens through touch
Therapists continually adjust pressure, positioning, technique, and pacing based on what they feel and what the client reports. The therapeutic experience also depends on trust, comfort, communication, privacy, and the ability to recognize when a concern is outside the therapist's scope.
- Booking, reminders, client records, and routine business communication can become more automated.
- AI may help generate educational material or home-care suggestions for review.
- Robotic massage devices may address some standardized relaxation or recovery uses.
- Individual assessment, hands-on adaptation, therapeutic relationships, and professional judgment remain difficult to reproduce.
The main AI impact may therefore be around the business rather than the treatment table. Therapists who use automation to reduce administrative work may be able to devote more attention to the part clients are actually paying a person to provide.
Labor-market picture
Two measures, different questions
These measures offer two different ways to understand the occupation: BLS projections show how national employment may change over time, while relative AI exposure highlights where tasks may intersect with AI-related capabilities. Read them with the work profile and your local context to decide what deserves closer investigation.
Employment
- Employment, 2025
- 155,400 jobs
- Projected employment, 2035
- 179,100 jobs
- Projected change, 2025–2035
- 23,700 jobs (15.3%)
Relative AI exposure
BLS category: Low. This is a relative task-exposure classification, not a forecast of employment change, automation, wages, or worker replacement.
Relative AI exposure · Low
Work profile
Representative tasks
These task statements come from O*NET 31.0. They are source facts, not labels assigned by the AI exposure measure.
- Massage and knead muscles and soft tissues of the body to provide treatment for medical conditions, injuries, or wellness maintenance.
- Apply finger and hand pressure to specific points of the body.
- Confer with clients about their medical histories and problems with stress or pain to determine how massage will be most helpful.
- Maintain massage areas by restocking supplies or sanitizing equipment.
- Treat clients in professional settings or travel to clients' offices and homes.
- Develop and propose client treatment plans that specify which types of massage are to be used.
Skills that matter
Skills in the source profile
Importance uses O*NET's 1–5 scale. Level uses its 0–7 scale. Select a skill to see its source definition and reported values.
Technology and tools
These technology records come from O*NET and show software or tools reported in the occupation profile. They describe work context, not a required checklist for every employer.
- Calendar and scheduling software
- Medical software
- Spreadsheet software
- Word processing software
Preparation
- Typical entry education
- Postsecondary nondegree award
- Related experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- None
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Source provenance
Labor-market and exposure facts: bls-ep-2025-35. Work profile: onet-31.0. Verify release details on the Sources page.