Occupation · SOC 31-9011.00
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.
Also called: Certified Massage Therapist (CMT) · Licensed Massage Practitioner (LMP) · Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT) · Massage Therapist · Bodywork Therapist · Clinical Massage Therapist · Integrated Deep Tissue Massage Therapist · Registered Massage Therapist (RMT) · Soft Tissue Specialist · Therapeutic Massage Technician · Deep Tissue Massage Therapist · Massage Operator
Job family: Healthcare Support Occupations
A source-stamped Markdown brief of this occupation — paste it into an agent, or fetch
/roles/role-31-9011-00/context.md directly.
A fast read on where AI already shows up in this occupation, where it stays a copilot, where humans remain in the loop, and what the labor market is doing. Built from observed Claude.ai conversations mapped to O*NET tasks and from published research — measures of usage and exposure, not advice or predictions that the job is going away.
Task areas where people work with AI — iterating, learning, or checking — staying in the loop rather than handing the task off.
Task areas where a human was still judged necessary in a large share of observed conversations — not a safety ruling, an observed-need signal.
The capabilities O*NET rates most important for this occupation — the human ground the work is built on.
See all skills →Independent published positions, read together — not a forecast.
3rd-percentile task overlap — yet about 24,700 openings a year (+15.4% projected, BLS), and observed AI use leans 6666% copilot, not hand-off (AEI) . What exposure means →
What today's research says about this occupation's exposure to AI, how AI is actually being used in it, and where employment is headed. These are positions within published studies — measures of exposure and usage, not predictions that this job will disappear.
Each study uses its own scale, so the raw scores are not comparable across rows — the percentile (this job's rank among all U.S. occupations with data) is the comparable figure, and sizes the bars.
| Measure | Rank vs all occupations | Percentile | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall AI exposure (Felten et al.) Low | 6th | -1.4 | |
| LLM task exposure, γ (OpenAI / Eloundou) Low | 10th | 0.1 | |
| AI assistant applicability (Microsoft) Low | 2nd | 0.0 |
OpenAI's exposure study scores tasks three ways: with a language model alone (α 0.1), with simple added tooling (β 0.1), and including AI-powered software (γ 0.1). Higher means more of the job's tasks could be done at least twice as fast — not that they will be automated away.
This job mostly cannot be done remotely (Dingel–Neiman) — its hands-on tasks sit outside what software-based AI reaches.
A pre-LLM (2013) estimate of how automatable this job is by computerization and robotics. Shown for historical context only — it is not part of any current AI ranking.
Frey–Osborne probability 0.5 · 48th percentile among occupations · Moderate
Among measured AI assistant conversations mapped to this occupation (Anthropic Economic Index, 2026-01-15), these task types came up most. These are shares of observed AI conversations — not shares of the job, of worker time, or of what could be automated.
| Confer with clients about their medical histories and problems with stress or pain to determine how massage will be most helpful. | 1.0% | |
| Provide clients with guidance and information about techniques for postural improvement and stretching, strengthening, relaxation, and rehabilitative exercises. | 0.9% | |
| Apply finger and hand pressure to specific points of the body. | 0.5% | |
| Perform other adjunctive therapies or treatment techniques in addition to massage. | 0.4% |
Independent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics employment projection for 2024–2034 — a labor-market forecast, not an AI-impact forecast.
| Outlook | Growing fast · +15.4% by 2034 |
| Projected annual openings | 24,700 |
| Employment 2024 → 2034 | 168,000 → 193,900 |
“Annual openings” counts new jobs plus replacements for workers who leave the occupation, so it can be large even when growth is modest.
The ILO's 2025 global study scores generative-AI exposure on the international ISCO-08 occupation system, not US SOC. Bridged through the published (and approximate, many-to-many) IBS O*NET-SOC ↔ ISCO-08 crosswalk, this US occupation corresponds to the international occupation below. Exposure here means how much of the work's tasks today's AI can attempt — task overlap, not automation, adoption, or jobs lost.
| International occupation (ISCO-08) | Task exposure (2025) | Most tasks fall in |
|---|---|---|
| Physiotherapy Technicians and Assistants · 3255 | 17% | Not exposed |
Read the whole six-band gradient on the GenAI exposure gradient page. The crosswalk is approximate: a US occupation can map to several international ones, and the ILO scores describe the international occupation, not this exact US role.
How people actually apply AI to this occupation's tasks, from Claude.ai (Free and Pro) conversations in the Anthropic Economic Index, 2026-01-15. This is one AI assistant's consumer sample — not all AI, not the whole workforce. Autonomy and the collaboration mix are model-rated estimates; figures below the sample floor are hidden.
| Augmentation vs. automation | 66.7% working with AI · 11.3% handed to AI |
| Most common way people use AI here | Learning · you ask AI to explain or teach |
| Typical AI autonomy | 4.0 / 5 · higher = AI acts more independently |
The role's most common tasks in AI conversations, each tagged with how people work with the AI on it. “Usage” is the share of observed conversations, not of the job.
| Task | How | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Provide clients with guidance and information about techniques for postural improvement and stretching, strengthening, relaxation, and rehabilitative exercises. | Learning | 1.1% |
| Confer with clients about their medical histories and problems with stress or pain to determine how massage will be most helpful. | Learning | 0.6% |
Tasks where the model most often judged that a person remained necessary — a useful read on the current boundary, not a guarantee.
| Confer with clients about their medical histories and problems with stress or pain to determine how massage will be most helpful. | 96.8% | |
| Provide clients with guidance and information about techniques for postural improvement and stretching, strengthening, relaxation, and rehabilitative exercises. | 94.7% |
Example prompts phrased from the tasks people most often delegate to AI in this occupation (Anthropic Economic Index). Each shows the underlying measured task and its share of observed AI use. They are suggested phrasings of real tasks — starting points, not endorsed instructions.
Help me provide clients with guidance and information about techniques for postural improvement and stretching, strengthening, relaxation, and rehabilitative exercises. From: Provide clients with guidance and information about techniques for postural improvement and stretching, strengthening, relaxation, and rehabilitative exercises. · 1.1% of measured AI use · learning
Help me confer with clients about their medical histories and problems with stress or pain to determine how massage will be most helpful. From: Confer with clients about their medical histories and problems with stress or pain to determine how massage will be most helpful. · 0.6% of measured AI use · learning
All 14 tasks O*NET lists for this occupation, ordered by importance. Each links to its own page with AI-exposure and observed-use detail.
O*NET importance rating, from 1 (not important) to 5 (extremely important).
| Customer and Personal Service | 4.6 | |
| Biology | 3.3 | |
| English Language | 3.3 | |
| Psychology | 3.3 | |
| Medicine and Dentistry | 3.1 | |
| Sales and Marketing | 3.0 | |
| Public Safety and Security | 3.0 |
| Dynamic Strength | 3.8 | |
| Trunk Strength | 3.8 | |
| Oral Comprehension | 3.6 | |
| Oral Expression | 3.6 | |
| Manual Dexterity | 3.5 | |
| Problem Sensitivity | 3.4 | |
| Multilimb Coordination | 3.4 | |
| Extent Flexibility | 3.3 | |
| Written Comprehension | 3.1 | |
| Written Expression | 3.1 | |
| Deductive Reasoning | 3.1 | |
| Selective Attention | 3.1 | |
| Arm-Hand Steadiness | 3.1 | |
| Finger Dexterity | 3.1 | |
| Stamina | 3.1 | |
| Speech Clarity | 3.1 | |
| Inductive Reasoning | 3.0 | |
| Static Strength | 3.0 | |
| Near Vision | 3.0 | |
| Speech Recognition | 3.0 | |
| Information Ordering | 2.9 |
| Active Listening | 3.6 | |
| Speaking | 3.6 | |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.0 | |
| Writing | 3.0 | |
| Critical Thinking | 3.0 | |
| Active Learning | 3.0 | |
| Monitoring | 3.0 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.3 | |
| Service Orientation | 3.3 | |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.1 | |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.0 | |
| Time Management | 2.9 |
Skills employers ask for in job postings for this occupation (Lightcast), with whether each is a common or specialized skill.
| Example | Category | |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Excel | Spreadsheet software | Hot technology |
| Microsoft Word | Word processing software | Hot technology |
| AppointmentQuest Online Appointment Manager | Calendar and scheduling software | |
| ICS Software SammyUSA | Medical software | |
| Land Software Customer Pro-File | Medical software | |
| Massage Suite | Medical software | |
| Scheduling software | Calendar and scheduling software | |
| WinCity Custom Software WinCity Massage SOAP Notes | Medical software |
How characteristic each condition is of the job, on O*NET's 1–5 context scale (higher = more present in day-to-day work). Each condition links to how it varies across all occupations.
What to study: Health Professions and Related Programs . Fields of study crosswalked to this occupation (NCES CIP–SOC), not a requirement.
Share of people in this occupation at each level of education.
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 73.1% | |
| Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 11.5% | |
| Some College Courses | 7.7% | |
| High School Diploma | 3.9% | |
| Bachelor's Degree | 3.9% |
The interests and personal qualities O*NET associates with people who do this work.
| Social | 5.8 | |
| Realistic | 4.8 | |
| Investigative | 3.8 | |
| Conventional | 2.7 |
| Health Care Service | 5.5 | |
| Personal Service | 5.4 | |
| Social Service | 4.1 | |
| Physical/Manual Labor | 3.4 | |
| Medical Science | 3.0 | |
| Teaching/Education | 2.8 | |
| Athletics | 2.4 | |
| Life Science | 2.3 | |
| Professional Advising | 2.3 |
| Dependability | 4.0 | |
| Cooperation | 3.0 | |
| Empathy | 2.5 |
U.S. · annual wages (BLS OEWS)
| 10th percentile | $33,280 |
| 25th percentile | $44,870 |
| Median (50th) | $57,950 |
| 75th percentile | $77,170 |
| 90th percentile | $97,450 |
| People employed | 96,040 |
Where these workers are employed, by number of jobs (national, BLS OEWS). Pay shown is the occupation's national median, not industry-specific.
| Industry | Workers | National median pay |
|---|---|---|
| Other Services (except Public Administration) · Sector | 50,170 | $55,640 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance · Sector | 31,590 | $62,990 |
| Offices of Chiropractors · National industry | 10,990 | $66,710 |
| Accommodation and Food Services · Sector | 9,470 | $44,870 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation · Sector | 3,400 | $58,560 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers · National industry | 2,660 | $73,900 |
| Offices of Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapists, and Audiologists · National industry | 1,400 | $63,890 |
| Casino Hotels · National industry | 960 | $31,150 |
| Educational Services · Sector | 520 | $61,850 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services · Sector | 180 | — |
| Offices of Mental Health Practitioners (except Physicians) · National industry | 40 | $78,000 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing · Sector | — | $33,140 |
Industries where this occupation is far more common than in the economy as a whole. The location quotient is how many times more concentrated it is here (a value of 5 means five times its economy-wide share).
| Industry | Concentration | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Offices of Chiropractors · National industry | 120.96× | 10,990 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) · Sector | 18.2× | 50,170 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers · National industry | 6.77× | 2,660 |
| Offices of Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapists, and Audiologists · National industry | 4.72× | 1,400 |
| Casino Hotels · National industry | 4.57× | 960 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance · Sector | 2.2× | 31,590 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation · Sector | 2.07× | 3,400 |
| Accommodation and Food Services · Sector | 1.07× | 9,470 |
Part of the Healthcare & Human Services career cluster.
Side-by-side comparisons place two occupations’ pay, preparation, skills, and AI exposure on the same page — same data, same scale, no forecast.
Options the data surfaces for Massage Therapists — not advice or a forecast. Each is a real cross-link you can follow into the evidence.
Capabilities this work builds that are used across many other occupations.
Occupations O*NET rates as related — the nearby moves on the map.
How people typically prepare for this work.
On the global GenAI exposure gradient this work sits around the 22nd percentile of 427 international occupations.
Massage Therapists show 3rd-percentile AI task overlap — and about 24,700 annual U.S. openings
Massage Therapists show 3rd-percentile AI task overlap — and about 24,700 annual U.S. openings • Massage Therapists rank in the 3rd percentile (Low band) for AI task overlap across U.S. occupations — a measure of how much of the work today's AI can attempt, not how much is automated. (Eloundou et al. (GPTs are GPTs) + Felten AIOE) • The occupation is projected to see about 24,700 U.S. job openings per year (2024–34), counting growth and replacement — a labor-demand projection made independently of AI. (BLS Employment Projections 2024–34) • BLS projects employment to be growing fast (+15.4%) from 2024 to 2034. (BLS Employment Projections 2024–34) • Median annual pay is $57,950, across about 96,040 U.S. workers. (BLS OEWS (May 2024)) • Of the AI use actually observed for this work, 67% looks like augmentation (drafting, iterating, checking) rather than hands-off automation — from a Claude.ai usage sample, not a census. (2026-01-15-v4-plus-2025-03-27-v2) Source: Singulariki — "Massage Therapists". https://singulariki.com/roles/role-31-9011-00 Note: AI task overlap measures what today's AI can attempt, not automation, job loss, or a forecast.
AssetsShare imageMethodology & sourcesPress & newsroomThe newsroom
Every line is built only from figures this page already shows and cites. AI task overlap means what today's AI can attempt — not automation, job loss, or a forecast.
Every figure above traces to a named public dataset and the exact release below — not hand-written opinion. See the full methodology for what each measure does and does not mean.
Data compiled June 2, 2026. Figures are estimates, not advice.
Singulariki. "Massage Therapists." Singulariki: a source-backed encyclopedia of work. Built from O*NET 30.3; BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024; BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034; Anthropic Economic Index v4 (2026-01-15) + v2 (2025-03-27); Microsoft “Working with AI” working-with-ai; “GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.) arXiv 2303.10130; AI Occupational Exposure (AIOE) Felten, Raj & Seamans; ILO / Gmyrek et al. GenAI exposure gradient 2025; IBS O*NET-SOC ↔ ISCO-08 occupation crosswalk 2022; Frey & Osborne (2013) frey-osborne-automation; Dingel & Neiman (2020) dingel-neiman-workathome. Accessed June 7, 2026. https://singulariki.com/roles/role-31-9011-00
Singulariki. (2026). Massage Therapists. Singulariki: a source-backed encyclopedia of work. Retrieved June 7, 2026, from https://singulariki.com/roles/role-31-9011-00
@misc{singulariki-role-31-9011-00,
title = {Massage Therapists},
author = {{Singulariki}},
year = {2026},
note = {O*NET 30.3; BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024; BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034; Anthropic Economic Index v4 (2026-01-15) + v2 (2025-03-27); Microsoft “Working with AI” working-with-ai; “GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.) arXiv 2303.10130; AI Occupational Exposure (AIOE) Felten, Raj & Seamans; ILO / Gmyrek et al. GenAI exposure gradient 2025; IBS O*NET-SOC ↔ ISCO-08 occupation crosswalk 2022; Frey & Osborne (2013) frey-osborne-automation; Dingel & Neiman (2020) dingel-neiman-workathome. Accessed June 7, 2026},
url = {https://singulariki.com/roles/role-31-9011-00}
} Citations name the underlying public dataset releases — they reflect what this page is built from, not just the URL.