How to hire massage therapists
A job description you can copy, interview questions tied to the real work, and what to pay. Free.
Job description template
Copy it, fill in the brackets, and remove anything that does not fit your job. Keep only must-haves you would really turn someone away for.
[Job title] at [Company name] [City, State] · [Full-time / Part-time] · [Pay range] About the role [Two or three sentences about your team, the work and why it matters.] What you will do • 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. • Develop and propose client treatment plans that specify which types of massage are to be used. • Maintain massage areas by restocking supplies or sanitizing equipment. • Maintain treatment records. • Massage and knead muscles and soft tissues of the body to provide treatment for medical conditions, injuries, or wellness maintenance. • Provide clients with guidance and information about techniques for postural improvement and stretching, strengthening, relaxation, and rehabilitative exercises. • Treat clients in professional settings or travel to clients' offices and homes. What you bring • [Required license, certification or years of experience, if any] • [Education, only if you truly need it. Typical to start in this job: Postsecondary nondegree award] • Strong active listening, speaking, critical thinking and reading comprehension skills • Working knowledge of customer and personal service • [Anything else you would really turn someone away for] Pay and benefits [Pay range]. For reference, the U.S. median for this job is $28.10 an hour ($58,450 a year). [Benefits, schedule and anything else candidates should know.] How to apply [Apply on JAI Bot. Every applicant hears back.]
Interview questions for massage therapists
Ask every candidate the same questions, in the same order, and write down what they say. Questions about past work show what someone has actually done.
- Tell me about a time you had to apply finger and hand pressure to specific points of the body. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to confer with clients about their medical histories and problems with stress or pain to determine how massage will be most helpful. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to develop and propose client treatment plans that specify which types of massage are to be used. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to maintain massage areas by restocking supplies or sanitizing equipment. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to understand a request or problem that was explained poorly. How did you make sure you got it right?
- Explain something technical from your last job as you would to a new coworker.
- Describe a decision at work where the obvious answer was wrong. How did you work out the better choice?
- Why this job, and why now? What would make you stay here for the long term?
Good answers name a real situation, what the person did themselves and what happened. Avoid questions about age, family plans, religion, health, national origin or anything else unrelated to the job.
What massage therapists do
- 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.
- Develop and propose client treatment plans that specify which types of massage are to be used.
- Maintain massage areas by restocking supplies or sanitizing equipment.
- Maintain treatment records.
- Massage and knead muscles and soft tissues of the body to provide treatment for medical conditions, injuries, or wellness maintenance.
- Provide clients with guidance and information about techniques for postural improvement and stretching, strengthening, relaxation, and rehabilitative exercises.
- Treat clients in professional settings or travel to clients' offices and homes.
Skills that matter most
Education, experience and outlook for massage therapists
- Typical education to start: Postsecondary nondegree award (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: 3 to 6 months (O*NET)
- Job outlook: +15.3% over ten years, much faster than average · about 20,400 openings a year (BLS)
What to pay massage therapists
Pay depends a lot on where the job is. Highest and lowest median yearly pay by state:
| State | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $134,930 |
| Washington | $87,360 |
| Oregon | $86,970 |
| Hawaii | $81,280 |
| Michigan | $70,960 |
| California | $45,970 |
| Oklahoma | $36,630 |
| Louisiana | $36,480 |
See massage therapists pay in every state
Related hiring guides
- Physical Therapist Assistants
- Recreational Therapists
- Occupational Therapy Assistants
- Physical Therapist Aides
- Skincare Specialists
- Occupational Therapy Aides
- Respiratory Therapists
- Radiation Therapists
- Registered Nurses
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses
Post this job on JAI Bot. Free to start: JAI Bot reads every applicant against your must-haves, shows the resume evidence behind each one, and helps you reply to everyone. People make every decision.
Post a job freePay by areaJob duties and skills: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. Pay: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, May 2025. Interview questions and the job description template: JAI Bot, based on the duties and skills above.