Massage therapists

NOC
3236

Perform massage therapy to relieve pain and symptoms caused by injury or dysfunction, or to develop, maintain, or increase physical function.

Quick facts

3-Year Outlook

Good
Good

3-Year Job Openings

51
 

Median Hourly Wage

$30.00
$12.05
Low
$50.00
High

Median Salary

$26,436
 

Typically Required

College or apprenticeship

Employed

596
 

% Working Full Time

65%
 

% Working Full Year

63%
 
Job details

Full NOC Description

Massage therapists assess soft tissues and joints of the body for treatment and prevention of dysfunction, injury, pain and physical disorders. Massage therapists work in private practice, including group or team practices, hospitals, clinics, extended care facilities, rehabilitation centres and educational institutions.

Main Duties

Massage therapists perform some or all of the following duties:

  • Assess clients by conducting range of motion and muscle tests and propose treatment plans
  • Explain procedures, risks and benefits to clients
  • Administer massage techniques, treating soft tissues and joints of the body through soft tissue manipulation, relaxation techniques, hydrotherapy, trigger point therapy, joint pain and lower grade mobilizations, remedial exercise programs and client self-help programs
  • Suggest home care instructions and provide information about techniques for further postural improvement and stretching, strengthening, relaxation and rehabilitative exercises
  • Maintain records of treatments given
  • May consult with other health care professionals such as physiotherapists, chiropractors, physicians and psychologists when developing treatment plans for clients.

Massage therapists may be trained in various specialized massage techniques.

Also Known As

  • massage therapist (MT)
  • registered massage practitioner
  • registered massage therapist (RMT)
Requirements

Employment Requirements

  • Massage therapists usually require completion of an 18- to 24-month or 18- to 36-month program in massage therapy from an accredited school and a period of supervised practical training.
  • Registration with a regulatory body is required in Newfoundland and Labrador, Ontario and British Columbia.

Provincial Regulation

  • Provincially Regulated: Yes
  • Compulsory: Yes
  • Red Seal: No
  • Certified Interprovincial Mobility: Yes
Employment by Sex

The following graph shows the percentage of men and women working in this occupation in New Brunswick.

Data legend

87.8%
Female
12.2%
Male
Employment by age

The following graph shows the breakdown of all persons working in this occupation in New Brunswick by age group.

Data legend

7.8%
15-24
38.8%
25-34
27.6%
35-44
12.1%
45-54
9.5%
55-64
4.3%
65+
Employment by highest level of education

The following graph shows the breakdown of all persons working in this occupation in New Brunswick by highest level of education achieved.

Data legend

0.0%
No Certificate, Diploma or Degree
1.7%
High School, Diploma or Equivalent
10.3%
Apprenticeship or Trades Certificate or Diploma
74.4%
College or University Below Bachelor Level
13.7%
University - Bachelor Level or Above
Employment by Industry

The following graph shows the industry groups in which the largest shares of persons working in this occupation in New Brunswick are employed. Small percentages for all top three industry groups may suggest employment for this occupation is widely distributed amongst many industry groups.

Data legend

90.2%
Health care and social assistance
6.3%
Other services (except public administration)
3.6%
Educational services
0.0%
All Other Industries
Employment by Economic Regions

The following graph shows the breakdown of all persons employed in this occupation in New Brunswick by which economic region they reside in.

Data legend

18.60%
Northeast
30.10%
Southeast
21.20%
Southwest
21.20%
Central
8.80%
Northwest
Province of New Brunswick Economic Regions

Economic Regions

The following map displays New Brunswick’s five economic regions. An economic region (ER) is a grouping of counties, created as a standard unit for analysis of regional economic activity across Canada.

Annual Median Salary by Economic Regions

The following graph shows the median salary of all persons employed in this occupation in each of New Brunswick’s five economic regions.

Data legend

$17,461
Northeast
$27,768
Southeast
$28,474
Southwest
$29,826
Central
$25,616
Northwest
Province of New Brunswick Economic Regions

Economic Regions

The following map displays New Brunswick’s five economic regions. An economic region (ER) is a grouping of counties, created as a standard unit for analysis of regional economic activity across Canada.

Hourly Median Wages by Economic Regions

The following represents the median hourly wage of all persons employed in this occupation in each of New Brunswick’s five economic regions.

No Data Available
No Data Available

Southwest

$30.00
$12.05
Low
$50.00
High
No Data Available
No Data Available
Salary

This following represents the median salary of all persons employed in this occupation compared to the median salary of workers employed in this occupation that work full-time year-round.

All Workers Employed in this Occupation

$26,436

Workers Employed Full-time, Full-year

$33,009

This following represents the median salary of persons employed in this occupation across each of the Atlantic Provinces and nationally.

New Brunswick

$26,436

Newfoundland

$32,596

Prince Edward Island

$12,077

Nova Scotia

$24,392

Canada

$20,095
Employment Outlook

The following represents the number of job openings that are expected to occur in this occupation over the next three and ten years respectively, broken down by openings expected to result from growth (“new jobs”) and openings expected to result from attrition (death and retirements).

Three Year Outlook

Total Openings: 3-Year

51
 

New Jobs: 3-Year

13
 

Retirements/Deaths: 3-Year

38
 

Ten Year Outlook

Total Openings: 10-Year

150
 

New Jobs: 10-Year

23
 

Retirements/Deaths: 10-Year

128