GraduateSmart
GraduateSmart
No 4-year degree required — and that's a feature, not a fallback
Skilled trades typically start earning $45-75K straight out of high school with little or no debt. Many trades earn more than the median college grad by age 30. Look for paid apprenticeships (IBEW for electricians, UA for plumbers/pipefitters, local trade unions) — you earn while you learn instead of paying tuition.
$45K/yr
Average Salary
0.5 years
Years of Education
+18%
Job Growth
96K+
Total Jobs
Treat clients by using touch to manipulate soft tissues of the body. Perform therapeutic massage of soft tissues and joints, and may assist in assessing range of motion and muscle strength or propose a therapy plan for a client.
$28K
Starting
$45K
Average
$62K
Senior
High School Diploma or GED
Foundation requirement for all pathways
Trade / Vocational Program
6–18 months of hands-on technical training
Apprenticeship or License
State licensing exam required for most trade careers
Start your career
Entry-level positions and internships
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MBLEx (Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination)
Required to practiceFederation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB)
Field
Healthcare & Medicine
Required Degree
Certificate
Time in School
0.5 years
Job Demand
10-Year Job Growth
+18%
Build a personalized Roadmap Plan with CLEP savings and school matches.
Create free account →Federal labor-market data for Massage Therapist
Pay range
$28K–$62K
10th–90th percentile
Job growth
+18%
projected 2024–2034
Number of jobs
96K
in 2024
Much faster than average
Strong demand growth expected. Projected to grow from 96K to 113K jobs by 2034.
Typical duties
Read the full duties, work environment, and education requirements on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook. Open BLS page →
Direct match. ~96,040 jobs. Many self-employed/work for tips; OEWS excludes both.