Headline risk
1%
Very Low RiskMassage therapists
United States AI Work Index tracks this occupation on the shared structural baseline and then layers on local demand resilience, wages, and confidence.
Why This Score
Share of job tasks that overlap with current AI capabilities
Median annual wage
Projected employment change over 10 years
Typical preparation needed for this occupation
Occupation profile
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.
Task evidence
100% weighted task match · 0% effective coverage
Scores combine AI task overlap, human advantages, and local demand. How it works
United States Now
Median Wage
USD 57,950
Employment 2024
168.0K
Projected Change (2024–34)
15.4%
Openings (2024–34)
24.7K
Wage distribution
Demand outlook
Employment of massage therapists is projected to grow 15 percent from 2024 to 2034, much faster than the average for all occupations.
Role Profile
Tasks
- 1. Confer with clients about their medical histories and problems with stress or pain to determine how massage will be most helpful. AI use: 0%
- 2. Massage and knead muscles and soft tissues of the body to provide treatment for medical conditions, injuries, or wellness maintenance. AI use: 0%
- 3. Maintain massage areas by restocking supplies or sanitizing equipment. AI use: 0%
- 4. Apply finger and hand pressure to specific points of the body. AI use: 0%
- 5. Develop and propose client treatment plans that specify which types of massage are to be used. AI use: 0%
- 6. Assess clients' soft tissue condition, joint quality and function, muscle strength, and range of motion. AI use: 0%
Technologies
Requirements
Work context
Worker profile
Median age 45.6 · 183K employed
Under 25: 2% · 25–54: 73% · 55+: 25%
Related
No direct US role match is available yet for this occupation.
Source coverage
11/11 source families · O*NET 30.2 / OEWS 2024 / ORS 2025 / OOH 2025-08-28 / Projections 2024-34 / CPS 2025 / Anthropic task penetration
Mapping quality
crosswalk_exact · employment series present
Narrative & sources
Massage therapists treat clients by applying pressure to manipulate the body's soft tissues and joints.
Massage therapists work in an array of settings, such as spas and offices of other health practitioners. Some also travel to local events, clients’ homes, or other sites. Part-time work is common, and work schedules may vary. Many massage therapists are self-employed.
Massage therapists typically complete a postsecondary education that combines study and experience, although standards and requirements vary by state. Most states regulate massage therapy and require massage therapists to have a license or certification.
The median annual wage for massage therapists was $57,950 in May 2024.
Employment of massage therapists is projected to grow 15 percent from 2024 to 2034, much faster than the average for all occupations.
Published limitations
This page shows the local country layer, not realised individual job outcomes. The global structural baseline is shared across countries; only the local demand and wage layer changes here.
Built from O*NET occupation descriptions, task statements, technology skills, work context, Job Zones, Anthropic task penetration, BLS OEWS wages, BLS projection tables, BLS ORS requirements, BLS OOH narrative content, BLS skills data, and BLS CPS occupation age tables.