Job Opportunities

Massage Therapists

Massage therapists at the entry level typically earn around $15.00 per hour, while experienced professionals can make up to $35.00 per hour, depending on their skills, clientele, and work setting.

Sector: Healthcare

About the Job:

Massage Therapists treat clients by using touch to manipulate the muscles and other soft tissues of the body. Their work helps relieve pain, rehabilitate injuries, reduce stress, increase relaxation, and aid in overall wellness. They assess clients' soft tissue condition, joint quality and function, and range of motion.

Training & Education Requirements:

Education: Completion of a postsecondary massage therapy program (usually 500–750 clock hours)

Licensure:

Must pass the Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx)
Licensed by the Mississippi State Board of Massage Therapy

Where Are the Jobs in Mississippi:

Massage therapists work in a variety of settings, including:

Chiropractic and physical therapy clinics
Hospitals and wellness centers
Spas and resorts
Private practice
Fitness and rehabilitation centers

Primary employment regions include Jackson, Gulfport, Biloxi, and Oxford.

Physiotherapist helping female patient with rehabilitation, balance exercise with bosu ball, woman and doctor during rehab physiotherapy in gym.

Find Your Training Location

Holmes Community College

Massage Therapy

The Massage Therapy program is designed to prepare students for careers as professional massage therapists. The curriculum prepares students to develop knowledge and skills for practicing massage therapy. Core courses emphasize massage therapy principles, ethics, business application, pathology, anatomy and physiology, technique modalities, and kinesiology.

Graduates of the program can earn a Technical Certificate upon completion of Massage Therapy technical courses. The Associate of Applied Science Degree in Massage Therapy will be awarded upon successful completion of the entire curriculum including academic core classes.

Upon successful completion of the program, graduates will be eligible to sit for the Massage and Bodywork Licensing Exam (MBLEx) or the Mississippi Professional Examination 1 and 2 (MPE-1, MPE-2). MBLEx is administered by the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards as the MPE-1 and MPE-2 are administered by the Mississippi State Board of Massage Therapy (MSBMT). Both are accepted by MSBMT for licensure in the state of Mississippi and at least one of the two accepted exams must be taken and passed to obtain licensure in MS as well as successful completion of the Mississippi State Law Exam (MSLE) also administered by the MSBMT.

Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College

Massage Therapy

The Massage Therapy program is a one-year certificate program designed to prepare students for careers as professional massage therapists. The curriculum prepares students to develop knowledge and skills for practicing massage therapy.

Core courses emphasize:

Upon successful completion of the program, graduates will be eligible to sit for the Massage and Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx), administered by the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB), and accepted by the Mississippi State Board of Massage Therapy (MSBMT). Students must pass a licensing exam in order to be a Licensed Massage Therapist within the state of Mississippi, as well as successful completion of the Mississippi State Law Examination (MSLE), administered by the MSBMT.