Massage Therapy Industry Fact Sheet

Read about the current state of the massage therapy profession. 

As we look at key market data from 2022, the state of the massage therapy profession looks bright based on these latest findings from AMTA’s recent surveys.

Better understand your clients and the massage profession. Grow your practice with this quick glance guide, based on AMTA's 2023 Massage Profession Research Report.

Download the Fact Sheet

Who is Getting Massage?

Gender, age and income affect the likelihood of massage use.

Last year 28% of women and 26% of men got a massage.

Consumers with children under the age of 18 at home are more likely to get a massage than those without children at home.

Income has an impact on how likely consumers are to get a massage. While 43% of those making $100,000 or more got a massage last year, only 18% of those making $50,000 or less got a massage.

Where Are Consumers Getting Massage? 

  • In 2022, 44% of female consumers and 38% of male consumers got a massage in a spa
  • 37% of consumers got a massage at a massage therapist’s office
  • 24% of consumers visited a massage franchise or chain in 2022 – and 14% of consumers got their last massage at a name-brand chain in 2022.
*Some consumers may not know the difference between a spa, franchise, and often a massage therapist's office. 

Where Are Consumers Getting Massage? 

  • In 2022, 44% of female consumers and 38% of male consumers got a massage in a spa
  • 37% of consumers got a massage at a massage therapist’s office
  • 24% of consumers visited a massage franchise or chain in 2022 – and 14% of consumers got their last massage at a name-brand chain in 2022.
*Some consumers may not know the difference between a spa, franchise, and often a massage therapist's office. 

Why Do Consumers Get a Massage?

Forty-eight percent of all massage consumers got their last massage for health and wellness reasons.

Just 18% of consumers list pampering as their primary reason for their last massage, and 34% of consumers received a massage for pampering in the last year.

Forty-seven percent of consumers got a massage last year for relaxation or stress reduction.

Men are more likely than women to discuss massage therapy with their doctor or health care provider. 

In 2022, 49% of consumers who got a massage for health and wellness reasons stated it was part of a treatment plan from a doctor or medical provider.

Research data comes from the 2022 AMTA Consumer Survey.

What are the health and wellness reasons for massage?

Where do clients find massage therapists?

While most massage therapists don’t actively promote client-to-client referrals, at just 48 percent, that is the most common way clients find a massage therapist, at 89 percent.

The next most common way to find massage therapists is online and through professional networking.  

Where do clients find massage therapists?

While most massage therapists don’t actively promote client-to-client referrals, at just 48 percent, that is the most common way clients find a massage therapist, at 89 percent.

The next most common way to find massage therapists is online and through professional networking.  

Where do massage therapists find clients?

The average massage therapist uses more than five outlets of communication to promote their practice.

Social media and the internet are the most common digital tools massage therapists use to promote their practice.

61% of massage therapists had websites for their practice – and those working as employees reported 46% of their employers had a website.

Roughly half of massage therapists received referrals from physicians at least once every 6 months.

Eighty percent of massage therapists referred clients to another massage therapist at least once every 6 months.

Who Is Practicing Massage Therapy?

The number of massage therapists has increased by 8% over the last decade. The profession is predominately female at 88%. Nearly half of massage therapists (42%) have a bachelor's degree or higher. Massage therapy was rarely the first career choice for most massage therapists, regardless of the practice setting.

Where are massage therapists practicing?

  • 78% of massage therapists describe themselves as sole practitioners
  • On average, massage therapists work in about 2 different settings
  • 46% of massage therapists provide massage in their offices
  • 28% provide massage in their homes

Download the 2023 Fact Sheet

Better understand your clients and the massage profession. Grow your practice with this quick glance guide, based on AMTA's 2023 Massage Profession Research Report.

Download the Fact Sheet