In a world where stress and overwork are prevalent, massage therapy promises an appealing alternative to pricey and often unavailable health remedies.
Although millions of people require qualified massage therapists, many industry professionals need help finding legitimate positions that work for them.
If you’re a massage therapist seeking employment, you have likely experienced this issue.
Thankfully, optimizing your resume can help you dramatically improve your job prospects—and there are quick and easy ways.
Use this guide to the best massage therapist resume examples to enhance your resume and land the job of your dreams.
Massage Therapist Resume Examples
You can benefit from examining a few high-leverage models when working on a resume. Using other peoples’ resumes as examples for your own can help you hone your writing skills and identify proper keywords and strategies.
Entry-Level Massage Therapist Resume Example
If you’re entering the massage therapy industry, you might need help highlighting your skills and expertise.
Advertising yourself as a qualified massage therapist without formal experience can be challenging—but it isn’t impossible.
In fact, with the right entry-level massage therapist resume example, you’ll find it easy to enhance your capabilities and appeal to the right employer.
Why We Suggest this Resume
This resume is an ideal example of an entry-level massage therapist because it demonstrates how an applicant can use their skills with little formal experience to execute this role.
- Type of Resume: Entry-Level Massage Therapist Resume Example
- Best For: Those starting their career as massage therapists
Objective
Licensed and accredited massage therapist seeking an entry-level position in which I can provide my knowledge of human anatomy in service of improved client outcomes.
Work Experience 1: Part-Time Massage Therapist
- Job Description: Served as a contracted massage therapist at the Boulder hotel providing 60-90-minute customized massages to clients.
- Results: Maintained a 54% client return rate and a 4.5/5 star review average on the hotel website.
- Additional Capabilities: Assessed client issues, including soft tissue conditions, joint qualities, range of motion, and flexibility to develop customized massage plans.
- Other: Learned deep tissue, Swedish, trigger point massage, and hot stone massage therapy. I used aromatherapy with many clients.
Work Experience 2: Student Massage Therapist
- Job Description: Served as a student massage therapist at the Massage Institute for six months, providing clients with 60-90 minute Swedish and deep tissue massages.
- Results: Massaged over 250 clients and received consistently high satisfaction ratings with an average of 4.76/5 stars. They earned the Student Excellence Award.
- Additional Capabilities: Maintained client treatment records and SOAP notes, learned and executed safety and sanitation protocol for all massages, and mentored new students.
- Other: Served as a student representative at the Massage Institute to help new students acclimate to the program.
Project Experience
- Freelance Massage Therapist: Provided massage therapy to practice clients for free as part of my training. I have operated my own business for six months.
- Volunteer at Shelter: Volunteered at a local homeless shelter to provide massages to clients for free.
- Customized Massage Plans: Created and delivered long-term massage plans for clients with specific medical issues and provided insight and consultations for other massage therapists in my education program.
Skills
- Massage techniques (deep tissue, aromatherapy, hot stone, Swedish)
- Knowledge of Human Anatomy & Endocrinology
- Empathy and Care
- Organization
- Consistency and Reliability
Education
- Advanced Neuromuscular Therapy Certification: I obtained my certification from the Colorado Institute of Massage Therapy in 2022 with a 4.0 GPA.
- Bachelor of Arts in Dance: Obtained a bachelor of arts in dance from Boulder College with a 3.89 GPA.
- Minor in Human Anatomy: Obtained a minor in human anatomy with a 4.0 GPA and wrote a capstone thesis on massage therapy use in dance.
Licenses & Accreditations
- Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT) in New York and Colorado
- Lymphedema Technician Certification
- Health Coach Certification
Why This Resume Works
This resume is an ideal example of an entry-level massage therapist certification because it demonstrates how you can highlight your skills with little formal experience.
To compensate for the lack of formal experience, this writer cites their capabilities as massage therapy students and discusses related projects at length.
If you need more formal experience in your field, you can take on volunteer positions or work as a freelancer until you can add it to your resume.
Consider expanding your repertoire of certifications as this massage therapist has. You can become a health coach or obtain a certificate in other health-related fields like nutrition, fitness, and more.
This massage therapist also highlights both hard and soft skills in their resume. Soft skills are in increasingly high demand across every industry, and you’ll find that many employers are seeking workers with these desirable qualities.
Senior Massage Therapist Resume Example
If you’ve been in this industry awhile, you likely know it can be hard to land the perfect job. Massage therapy is a broad and diverse industry, and you may have difficulty carving down the positions that best meet your needs.
If you’re a senior massage therapist applying for a new job, you must draw on your wealth of experience to enhance your appeal to employers.
Use the resume example below to guide your thinking.
Why We Suggest this Resume
This resume is great because it shows the extensive experience of the applicant as a massage therapist. It shows that the applicant has the needed experience to become a senior massage therapist.
- Type of Resume: Senior Massage Therapist Resume Example
- Best For: Those who are applying for the senior massage therapist roles
Objective
Passionate and experienced massage therapist with over a decade of experience seeking a long-term therapeutic and medical masseuse position. I am skilled in hot stone, deep tissue, Swedish, cranial sacral, Shiatsu, and reflexology.
Work Experience 1: Licensed Massage Therapist
- Job Description: Served six years as a full-time therapist at the Four Seasons Hotel in New York City, providing 30-90-minute massages to 5-10 clients daily.
- Results: Increased revenue by nearly 75% from 2016 to 2022, had an average return rate of 65%, and increased sales of aromatherapy and skin care products by 36%.
- Additional Capabilities: Provided comprehensive evaluations and customized massage plans for each client and managed a team of six massage therapists.
- Other: Introduced new skincare and aromatherapy products, implemented a new membership program, and managed outreach and marketing for the spa.
Work Experience 2: Licensed Massage Therapy
- Job Description: Served as a full-time massage therapist for five years at the Day Spa in Albany, New York, working with 5-10 clients daily.
- Results: A return rate of 63% and increased membership sales by 32%. I have earned an average rating of 4.5/5 stars on the company website.
- Additional Capabilities: Launched a testimonial and referral program to boost sales and created a membership program that improved average return rates by 33%.
- Other: Collaborated with other massage therapists on customized treatment plans and mentored junior massage therapists through the mentorship program.
Project Experience
- Aromatherapy Massage Program: Created and launched an aromatherapy massage program and sequence for the Four Seasons hotel.
- Massage Therapy Influencer: Created a social media account with 60k+ followers and partnered with select skincare brands for promotion.
- Massage Education: Offered free massage therapy courses for local university students and seniors through a volunteer program.
Skills
- Physical Therapeutic Techniques
- Massage Techniques
- Geriatric physical therapy & massage
- Business and Marketing Skills
- Customized Massage Treatment Plans
Education
- School of Therapeutic Massage and Reflexology: Completed the 850-hour program at the STMR in New Haven with a GPA of 4.0 and 60 hours of practice experience.
- Certified Nutrition Coach: Completed the yearlong nutrition coach program through the Coaching Institute with 60 hours of practice.
- School of Physical Therapy: Completed the 900-hour program through the University of New Haven with a GPA of 4.3.
Licenses & Accreditations
- Certified Massage Therapist (CAMTC) in Connecticut
- Certified by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork
- Certified Physical Therapist through the American Board of Physical Therapy
Why This Resume Works
Like this writer, you can continuously seek new education opportunities, expanding your repertoire of skills and abilities. You can also seek new volunteer opportunities that might allow you to gain exposure to new types of clients and contexts.
Massage therapy is a much-misunderstood field, and many people need to understand the proper techniques to give massages. You can contribute your years of experience in this area, helping others while adding to your resume.
This massage therapist also implicitly references their knowledge of business-related capabilities like marketing and sales.
Their work as an influencer helps them understand what goes into marketing and selling products and services, which can benefit prospective employers seeking tech and business-savvy employees.
Self-Employed Massage Therapist Resume Example
There was a time when self-employment wasn’t always viewed favorably.
However, since the beginning of this decade, the number of self-employed people has dramatically increased, contributing to changes in many industries.
If you’re a self-employed massage therapist, you must market yourself differently. Consider highlighting your massage therapy skills and your businessperson and client relations manager capabilities.
Why We Suggest this Resume
This resume provides insight into the applicant's degrees, licenses, certifications, skills, and work experience that relate to the massage therapist roles. When applying for this role, identify your niche and highlight your capabilities to make your resume stand out.
- Type of Resume: Self-Employed Massage Therapist Resume Example
- Best For: Self-employed massage therapists applying for new jobs
Objective
Passionate and dedicated massage therapist bringing extensive expertise and training in pain relief techniques seeking a position as a full-time masseuse in a medical environment.
Work Experience 1: Licensed Freelance Massage Therapist
- Job Description: Provided 60-90 minute massages to over 1,000 clients over a decade of independent practice, launched and managed an accredited business.
- Results: Had a 70% return rate, increased revenue by an average of 10% year-to-year, and obtained a 5/5 rating on two independent websites.
- Additional Capabilities: Managed the daily responsibilities of running a business, including marketing, sales, and client relations.
- Other: Hired and trained two additional employees, scaled, and sold the business for a significant profit.
Work Experience 2: Massage Therapist
- Job Description: Worked as a contracted massage therapist at the Clearwater Hotel, providing massages to clients with medical issues such as arthritis and carpal tunnel syndrome.
- Results: Boosted revenue by 24% and had a client retention rate of 66%. Consistently earned high ratings and favorable reviews from clients and staff.
- Additional Capabilities: Assessed client issues, drafted customized massage plans for each client, and leveraged my knowledge of medicine to provide healing massages.
- Other: Launched a medical massage program through the hotel and offered a membership program that increased sales.
Project Experience
- Health Coaching: Provided freelance health coaching to over 100 clients over ten years, helping clients heal from connective tissue injuries and ailments.
- Volunteer Masseuse: Volunteered at a local hospital to provide massages for nurses and doctors.
- Stretch Sessions: Created, launched, and managed a stretching program throughout my former positions.
Skills
- Medical Massage Techniques
- Human Anatomy
- Creating Long-Term Treatment Programs
- Business and Marketing Skills
- Continuous Learning
Education
- Bachelor of Science in Pre-Medicine: Obtained a bachelor’s degree in pre-medicine with a focus on Biology and a GPA of 3.98.
- Associate of Applied Science: Obtained a degree in Somatic BodyWork with a GPA of 4.0 and consistently high reviews from practice clients (average of 4.7/5).
- High School Diploma: Earned a high school diploma from Clearwater High School with a GPA of 4.0 and was class valedictorian.
Licenses & Accreditations
- Licensed Massage Therapist in Florida
- Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant
- Health Coach Certification
Why This Resume Works
This resume provides insight into how you can distinguish yourself as a freelance massage therapist.
Self-employed massage therapists typically have more freedom to expand into new areas of expertise and explore new techniques. For example, this writer chose to specialize in medical massages, a frequently underserved massage therapy area.
Identify your niche and develop your capabilities to make your resume stand out.
You have the opportunity to present yourself as an expert in business and massage therapy. You have had to manage your marketing, sales, and business operations. Consider the skills you’ve had to navigate the complex field of self-employment.
Lastly, consider pursuing degrees, licenses, and certifications to expand your repertoire of skills. Since the barriers to entry in massage therapy are relatively low, you should portray yourself as a passionate practitioner, consistently seeking new avenues for improvement.
Student Massage Therapist Resume Example
Student massage therapists typically work towards accruing the necessary hours to become fully certified professionals.
If you’re a student massage therapist, you are likely seeking new clients to practice your unique skills and develop your own practice.
Why We Suggest this Resume
This resume portrays the applicant as a committed, passionate massage therapist. It demonstrates a particular interest in being a massage therapist by highlighting different applicant initiatives.
- Type of Resume: Student Massage Therapist Resume Example
- Best For: Students applying for massage therapist jobs
Objective
I am a driven and dedicated student massage therapist interested in holistic medicine and seeking to develop my skills working with clients from diverse backgrounds with unique needs.
Work Experience 1: Student Massage Therapist
- Job Description: Worked as a student massage therapist with 1-2 clients per day, assessed client needs and goals, and delivered personalized messages.
- Results: Improved client outcomes by 12% (self-reported), had a client retention rate of 43%, and received 4.5/5 stars on a third-party rating app.
- Additional Capabilities: Documented client progress, maintained communication with clients, learned new massage techniques (Shiatsu)
- Other: Worked with other student massage therapists to implement and deliver a new draping protocol with client needs in mind.
Work Experience 2: Receptionist at Massage Parlor
- Job Description: Worked as a receptionist at a massage parlor, managed client relations, documentation, scheduling, and more.
- Results: Increased membership sign-up rates by 12% and boosted revenue by 20%.
- Additional Capabilities: Learned the basics of massage therapy, developed an interest in the field, and pursued an education in massage therapy while working full-time.
- Other: Collaborated with massage therapists to implement a new client relations protocol to maximize client comfort.
Project Experience
- Draping Protocol Creator: Created and launched a new draping protocol to help educate other massage therapists about client safety and comfort.
- Hospitality Research: Conducted research on hospitality protocol and client preferences to empower the industry to make client-first decisions.
- Life Coach: Obtained a life coaching certification and worked as a freelance life coach for two years.
Skills
- Passionate and dedicated
- Skilled in therapeutic techniques (Swedish, deep tissue, and lymphatic)
- Empathy, listening, client comfort
- Hospitality Skills
- Strong work ethic
Education
- School of Therapeutic Massage and Reflexology (Ongoing): Almost completed the 900-hour program at the STMR in San Francisco with a GPA of 3.56 and 80 hours of practice experience.
- Certified Life Coach: Completed a six-month life coaching program with over 80 hours of education.
- High School Diploma: Graduated from Marin County High School with a GPA of 4.0 as captain of the track and field team.
Licenses & Accreditations
- Working towards a Certification in Massage Therapy
- Certified Health and Life Coach
Why This Resume Works
This resume portrays the applicant as a committed, passionate massage therapist. The writer demonstrates a particular interest in the client experience, and their many initiatives speak to this interest.
You will likely have an advantage over others if you can distinguish yourself from other applicants by focusing on one technique or aspect of the massage therapy industry. Consider what you hope to contribute to your new team or employer and develop your capabilities.
Like this writer, consider adding your academic accomplishments—if you recently graduated from high school, you can put that on your resume. Add your GPA, extracurricular titles, and other relevant information to enhance your application.
Lastly, consider adding a balance of hard and soft skills. Most people are looking for employees who can easily leverage technical skills and customer relations.
Sports Massage Therapist Resume Example
If you’re a specialized massage therapist, you might have a more challenging time finding a job.
Using the right keywords and phrases on your application can help significantly. Consider the resume example below for more guidance on leveraging industry-specific skills and terms.
Why We Suggest this Resume
This resume emphasizes the applicant's skills and passion for practicing massage therapy. Being clear about your interests is a sure way to obtain a job that meets your needs.
- Type of Resume: Sports Massage Therapist Resume Example
- Best For: Those interested in becoming sports massage therapists
Objective
Skilled, certified sports massage therapist seeking a full-time position working with athletes in which I can offer my expertise in connective tissue and musculoskeletal injury prevention.
Work Experience 1: Sports and Clinical Massage Therapist
- Job Description: Worked as a full-time sports massage therapist providing 30-90 minute massages to semi-pro, professional, and Olympic athletes.
- Results: Worked with 20+ clients a week with a retention rate of 65%, improved product sales by 45% with promotional partnerships.
- Additional Capabilities: Created and delivered long-term massage therapy plains to aid in injury recovery.
- Other: Developed promotional partnerships with supplement brands and boosted revenue.
Work Experience 2: Sports Massage Therapist
- Job Description: Served as a sports massage therapist for athletes at triathlons, performances, and games for 3+ years.
- Results: Reduced injury rate by 32%, and clients consistently reported high satisfaction after working with me.
- Additional Capabilities: Launched my independent practice per client demand and worked with a different 5-10 clients a week.
- Other: Collaborated with staff and physical therapists to provide the best treatment to athletes.
Project Experience
- Self-Employed Sports Massage Therapy: Launched and managed a private practice for sports massage therapy with 5-10 clients per week.
- Customized Sports Massage Therapy Plans: Created, delivered, and shared tailored sports massage therapy plans to over 50 clients and other industry professionals.
- Volunteer Work: Served as a volunteer injury prevention specialist at select student games and performances.
Skills
- First Aid and Injury Prevention
- Developing and delivering customized massage plans
- Collaboration with doctors and physical therapists
- Sports injury education
- Flexibility
Education
- Bachelor of Science in Pre-Medicine: Obtained a bachelor’s degree in pre-medicine with a focus on Chemistry and a GPA of 3.46
- School of Physical Therapy: Completed a 600-hour program in physical therapy with 60 hours of practical experience and a focus on sports medicine.
- Advanced Neuromuscular Therapy Certification: I obtained my certification from the Atlanta Institute of Massage Therapy in 2020 with a 3.87 GPA.
Licenses & Accreditations
- Licensed Massage Therapist
- Certified Reiki Practitioner
- Board-Certified Sports Specialist in Physical Therapy
Why This Resume Works
This resume reads like a story; the writer has created a narrative through their experience that centers around the common theme of an interest in sports therapy.
You can describe a specific skill or passion you want to emphasize to emulate this writer. Being clear about your interests is a sure way to obtain a job that meets and stimulates your needs.
This writer has a well-rounded resume. They have the required licenses and certifications to practice massage and pursue alternative modalities like Reiki.
Expanding your repertoire of skills can help your resume and make it stand out from the rest. You can explore related fields like Physical Therapy and First Aid.
Lastly, remember to provide concrete examples of your achievements since using quantifiable measures and numbers helps your employer understand your successes.
Common Skills and Action Verbs To Include On a Massage Therapist Resume
Many employers use resume-scanning services.
Almost 99% of Fortune 500 companies use automated scanners. For this reason, using the right skill-related keywords and action verbs on your resume is essential.
The following list includes the essential skills and action verbs to have on a massage therapist’s resume. Remember to use them sparingly but effectively.
Common Skills for Massage Therapist Resumes
- Dependability
- Customer service
- Bodywork
- Communication
- Listening
- Attentiveness
- Organization
- Punctuality
- Techniques (aromatherapy, hot stone, deep tissue, Shiatsu, Swedish)
- Stress management
- Dexterity
- Knowledge of human anatomy
- Light touch
- Good bed manner
- Holistic approach
- Interpersonal skills
Common Action Verbs for Massage Therapist Resumes
- To prepare
- To refer
- To create
- To lead
- To promote
- To partner/collaborate
- To assist
- To support
- To provide
- To educate
- To accommodate
- To customize
- To direct
- To treat
- To heal
Tips for Writing a Better Massage Therapist Resume
Writing an excellent resume takes time and practice.
You no longer need years of experience to write the best resume possible if you follow best practices, like properly listing certifications. The following list of time-tested, industry-leading tips will help you write a better massage therapist resume—quickly and efficiently.
Gather Massage Therapy Certifications
Like many applicants, you can enhance your resume by gathering as many massage therapy certifications as possible. Many certification programs within the industry focus on unique topics like geriatric massage, aromatherapy, and more.
However, you can also expand your repertoire to include non-industry-specific skills. Consider obtaining certifications to highlight other capabilities like client relations or business skills.
Quantify Your Massage Therapy Experience
Nowadays, every claim on a job application is taken with a grain of salt.
After all, you can claim anything about yourself, and your resume reader won’t know if you’re telling the truth. That’s why it’s essential to quantify your results as best as possible. Consider expressing your achievements in terms of numbers, figures, or statistics to enhance your credibility.
Concrete evidence allows your employer to visualize your achievements and increases your chances of getting the job you want.
Make Connections
If you’re just starting as a massage therapist, you might have worked many different jobs before.
You can leverage your previous positions by highlighting the skills you learned in those positions and making connections to massage therapy. Get creative and create connections between different sections of your resume to create a story.
Leverage Client Relations
If you’ve worked as a massage therapist before, you probably have a long list of clients who have appreciated your services.
Consider asking your most loyal clients to provide a testimonial for your job application (or website). Your clients are the best authority on your quality as a massage therapist—and your potential employers will think so too.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you need additional support with your massage therapist resume, consider the answers to our most frequently asked questions below.
What are the 3 main massage techniques?
The three main massage techniques are effleurage, petrissage, and friction.
Effleurage is a stroking movement, while petrissage is a more profound kneading gesture. Friction is rubbing against the skin.
What is a good example of a massage therapist’s resume objective?
An excellent example of a massage therapist’s resume objective is a qualified and fully certified massage therapist seeking a full-time position where I can offer my decade of expertise to customers recovering from injuries.
Remember to keep your objective short, concise, and straightforward.
Similar Resume Types to Reference
If you enjoyed this article, consider exploring similar resume types below.
- Physical Therapist Resume: Physical therapists help people recover from injuries and improve their mobility and flexibility. Their work is similar to massage therapists, so this resume type should be easy to replicate.
- Esthetician Resume: Esthetician jobs are advantageous and relatively lucrative. Use this guide to explore your options.
- Hair Stylist Resume: If you (or anyone you know) want to become a hair stylist, you can use this guide to finetune your resume and snag the best job available.
Wrapping Up
Consider using the above massage therapist resume examples to inspire your job application.
Access to high-quality resume samples can help you enhance your skills and qualifications, increasing the likelihood of your landing the job you want.
Remember to provide concrete examples of your capabilities and solicit recommendations if you can.
Let us know what you think of this article in the comments. If you enjoyed this piece, consider sharing it with your friends. We can all help one another find better job prospects in 2023!
