2010 Massage Therapy Industry Fact Sheet  

Massage Therapy As A Profession

• In 2005, massage therapy was projected to be a $6 to $11 billion a year industry.1
• AMTA estimates that in 2009, massage therapy was a $16-20 billion industry.2
• According to the U.S. Department of Labor employment for massage therapists is expected to increase 20 percent from 2006 to 2016, faster than average for all occupations. 3
• Between July 2008 and July 2009, roughly 48 million adult Americans (22 percent) had a massage at least once.4

Massage Therapy as a Career

Massage therapy can be a rewarding and flexible career

• In 2009, the average annual income for a massage therapist (including tips) who provides approximately 16 hours of massage per week was $37,123, compared to incomes in 2006 of $28,170 for full-time healthcare support workers; $27,190 for full-time medical assistants and $23,290 for occupational therapist aides.⁶
• While massage therapists work in a variety of work environments, sole practitioners or independent contractors account for the largest percentage of practicing therapists (96 percent).  Thirty-eight percent work at least part of their time at a client’s home/business/corporate setting, twenty five percent  in a healthcare setting and twenty three percent in a spa setting.⁵

• According According to the 2009 AMTA consumer survey, an average of 22 percent of adult Americans received at least one massage between July 2008 and July 2009, and an average of 34 percent of adult Americans received a massage in the previous five years.⁶
• In July 2008 and July 2009, 40 percent of women and 29 percent of men reported having a massage in the past five years.⁴
• Spas are where most people continue to receive massage, with 24 percent of those surveyed in July 2009 saying they had their last massage at a spa.⁴
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While the use of massage is growing, the reasons people are turning to massage therapy are also expanding.  More and more people recognize it as an important element in their overall health and wellness.⁴

• Thirty-two percent of adult Americans had a massage between July 2008 and July 2009 received it for medical or health reasons.
• Nineteen (19) percent of adult Americans say they've used massage therapy at least one time for pain relief.
• Of the people who had at least one massage in the last five years, 31 percent report they did so for health conditions such as pain management, injury rehabilitation, migraine control, or overall wellness.
• Eight-six (86) percent agree that massage can be effective in reducing pain.
• Eighty-five (85) percent agree that massage can be beneficial to health and wellness.

Consumers are increasingly seeking massage for stress reduction and relaxation.

• In July 2009, 32 percent of adult Americans said they had at least one massage in the last five years to reduce stress or relax—up from 22 percent reported in 2007.
• Forty-nine percent of consumers said they have considered a massage to manage stress in the last year, as compared to 38 percent in 2008.

Massage And Healthcare

Healthcare providers are increasingly promoting the benefits of massage to their patients.

• In July 2009, thirty-nine million American adults (18 percent) have discussed massage therapy with their doctors or healthcare providers, compared to 13 percent in 2008.⁴
• Of those 18 percent, 35 percent of their health care providers strongly recommended massage therapy, compared to 27 percent in 2008. While physicians led the way in recommending massage (55 percent vs. 50 percent in 2008), chiropractors (48 percent vs. 47 percent in 2008) and physical therapists (42 percent vs. 40 percent in 2008) also recommended massage therapy when their patients discussed it with them.⁴
• More than two-thirds of massage therapists (76 percent) indicate they receive referrals from health care professionals, averaging 1.5 referrals per month. This represents a significant increase from 2008, when 69 percent of massage therapists reported receiving health care referrals.⁵

Massage therapy usage in hospitals is common.

• The number of hospitals offering complementary and alternative medicine grew from 7.7 percent in 1998 to 37.3 percent in 2007. Of those hospitals that offer CAM therapies, massage therapy was offered by 70.7 percent.¹⁰
• Stress-related issues are major reasons why hospitals offer massage. 71.2 percent of hospitals that offer massage provide it for stress reduction for patients, and 69.1 percent of hospitals that offer massage provide it to staff to reduce stress.¹⁰
• Among hospitals that offer massage, some other prevalent populations served and/or reasons for massage include:¹⁰

  1) Pain management (66 percent)
  2) Massage for cancer patients (57 percent)
  3) Pregnancy massage (55 percent)
  4) Part of physical therapy (53 percent)
  5) For mobility/movement training (45 percent)
  6) Palliative care (41 percent)

Massage therapists and consumers are in favor of integration of massage into healthcare.

• More than half of adult Americans (59 percent) would like to see their insurance cover massage therapy.⁴
• A great majority of adult Americans (92 percent in 2006 and 96 percent in 2009) agree that massage therapy should be considered part of the health care field.⁵

²  Data compiled by American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) 2009.

³   U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook

⁴   2009 and 2008 AMTA Consumer Surveys

⁵   2009 AMTA Industry Survey

⁶   AMTA Consumer Surveys 2003-2009