Massage Therapist Resume: Template for Download, Examples, & Essential Tips
As a Message Therapist, you know how to alleviate any pain or tension that your clients are feeling, but are your resume writing skills causing you stress? Get rid of any unnecessary pressure during the job application process by using our customized resume templates.

Massage Therapist Resume Example MSWord®
Download our Message Therapist Resume template in Word to take the stress out of writing your resume.
Massage therapists help customers and clients feel better by treating muscular discomfort and decreasing tension in the body to help their clients feel more relaxed.
However, are you feeling stressed out wondering if your resume is up to the task?
Being such a niche industry, massage therapists must produce a compelling resume in order to attract the attention of prospective employers or clients.
In such a rapidly evolving and competitive sector, how can you build a resume that will catapult you to the front of the line?
Well, we’ve got you covered. This guide will show you all you need to know about creating an effective massage therapist resume that:
- provides recruiters with an understanding of your professional attitude and approach
- puts your best abilities and experience in the spotlight
- is tailored to each job application and outperforms candidate tracking systems filters
- uses the most effective strategies for structuring and organizing your massage therapist resume
- increases the effectiveness of each section of your resume: header, summary, objective, work experience, education, and skills.
- makes a good first impression with a visually appealing, viewer-friendly resume structure and design
By using this guide along with resume-building tools and templates, you’ll relieve your own work-related stress faster than you do for your clients.
Massage Therapist Resume Sample
Sometimes the best strategy for improving your own resume is to look over someone else’s.
Study our sample massage therapist resume below to understand what a strong massage therapist resume looks like:
[Alex Brown]
[Massage Therapist]
[ NY 10017 | 555-555-5555 | alexbrown@randomemail.com]
Summary
Licensed Massage Therapist with 8+ years of experience providing high quality deep tissue and therapeutic massage services to clientele. Highly proficient in providing high-quality therapeutic massage services to customers, including Swedish, Thai and Aromatherapy Massages, with an emphasis on athletes and sportspersons. Proven track record of boosting membership sales, consumer base expansion, and business promotion.
Experience
Lead Massage Therapist
Springtales Serene Spa | New York, NY
2016 – 2022
- Introduced a new selection of therapeutic massage services to clients in order to satisfy their demands, delivering a smooth and relaxing experience for all members.
- Managed 25+ professionals and massage therapists to develop business models and deliver massage therapy techniques to a large clientele.
- Increased spa income by 24% and overall spa sales by 32% by providing excellent services, new massage techniques, membership discounts and referrals.
Massage Therapist and Spa Assistant
Falls Hotel and Day Spa | New York, NY
2013 – 2016
- Exemplified excellent work ethic by completing 1,550+ service hours and increasing scheduled services by 34 percent for the year.
- Delivered high-quality massage treatments targeted to unique customer needs in order to build a profitable model for the company.
- Maintained a positive attitude and built customer rapport, thereby building strong connections with corporate clients.
Education
First Class, Therapeutic Massage
Soul Hills Massage School
2009 – 2012
- Honors: Graduated First Class with a 3.5 GPA
- Relevant Credit Courses: Swedish Massage Program, Aromatherapy Class
Skills
- Soft skills: Time Management, Positive Attitude, Adaptability, Communication Skills
- Hard skills: Bodywork, Thai Massage, Swedish Massage, Reflexology, Hospitality, Rapport Building
Certifications
- DTM Therapy Program, 2014
- AllBody Massage & Masseuse Event, 2012
Volunteering
- Volunteered for “Save A Sole” campaign by giving free massages to injured local athletes in downtown region of New York, 2011
- Offered free massages at over 12 old age homes in the Manhattan area, 2010
There are plenty of other examples of resumes you can look at as well to give your own writing process a huge boost.
What’s the Best Massage Therapist Resume Format?
Just like a good massage table, the resume format you choose is essential to getting the job done correctly.
There are a few questions that your resume must answer to impress a prospective employer.
Before beginning to create your resume you should ask yourself:
- Is all my contact and personal information up to date?
- What should I highlight the most? My experience or skills?
- How should I structure the opening paragraph?
- What education and accomplishments should I add?
It’s important to answer these questions to correctly draft your resume.
You can choose one of these formats: reverse-chronological, functional, or hybrid format.
Remember to use professional fonts, bold the subheadings, use bullet points to keep information succinct, and make sure the balance of white space to text is pleasing to the eye.
We can help you use the correct font, spacing, and design to create a resume perfect for the opening you are applying to.
How to Write a Massage Therapist Resume Summary or Resume Objective
A resume’s summary or objective is often the first piece of information about you that job recruiters notice. It also functions as a handy guide or refresher for them if they want to refer to your resume at a glance.
- A resume summary outlines your past professional achievements and employment history, which is very valuable for massage therapists who are already employed in the sector and have previous experience.
- A resume objective, on the other hand, focuses on what a job recruiter is looking for in terms of credentials and skills that will benefit them in their current setting.
If you want to write a resume with a strong introduction, you’ll need to figure out how to compress your essential ideas into a few compelling sentences.
💡 top tip
Save the resume summary and objective writing for the very end of your resume writing process. Once you have everything laid out in front of you, it’ll be much easier to come up with a summary or objective that packs a punch.
Massage Therapist Resume Summary Example
A strong resume summary will focus on all your essential credentials and skills, be specific, and write about the most relevant information.
We’ve created two samples here, a weak resume summary and a strong summary, to point out the differences between being concise and specific versus giving out too much detail.
Wrong ❌
Massage therapist with lots of experience for both private clients and at clinics, hotels & sports facilities. Trained in the latest massage therapy advancements and always updated on newest trends.
This is on the right track, but it still needs some ointment to get it cleaned up. It’s important to add data and information that proves you were successful.
Right ✅
Experienced massage therapist of 8+ years with a proven track record of assisting clients in achieving physical and mental well-being through modern, effective massage techniques. Trained in a variety of massage methods and techniques, with a focus on deep tissue massage, and dedicated to staying informed on industry innovations. In previous roles performed 1,500+ Swedish massages, developed a unique massage style, and maintained a 53% repeat business rate.
This is much better! It states how modern techniques were used, and that the candidate has a proven track record with metrics to back up their claims. Specific information that proves clients were kept happy.
Consider if each summary adequately outlines the demands of a massage therapist and demonstrates why that particular candidate would stand out from the crowd.
How to Write an Entry-Level Massage Therapist Resume Objective
The key to writing a strong entry-level massage therapist resume is to emphasize the skills and experiences you have instead of worrying about where you lack and using techniques to strengthen that.
For example, resume objectives are ideal for entry-level prospects since they do not rely on previous work experience or achievements to determine an applicant’s worth.
When writing a massage therapist resume, keep the job advert in mind to see where you stand.
If the job description specifies that the company is looking for someone with specialized experience in deep tissue massages, for example, stressing that you have such talents may help you stand out as a desirable candidate.
💡 top tip
Pay attention to the requirements of the job! If you’re an entry-level applicant, it’s better to look for jobs that cater to your specific skill set. This will increase your chances of landing the job.
Entry-Level Massage Therapist Resume Objectives
Below are some massage therapist resume objective examples, one weak and one strong, that demonstrate the value of specific detail and tailoring your experiences to the job you’re after:
Wrong ❌
Massage therapist with some experience in deep tissue massage. Worked with college athletes for muscle and joint relaxation. Adapted services as necessary.
The problem with this is it doesn’t tell a hiring manager much at all. You want to explain what your skills are in detail.
Right ✅
Massage therapist specializing in deep tissue massage for college athletes, adapting massage techniques according to individual. Proven history with quality service, including signature Swedish massage techniques. Commended for work ethic and time management.
Writing your objective like this gives an employer a much better idea of what you specialize in.
Even if you have only a little experience, writing an objective like this will say you have learned enough to be useful as a massage therapist.
How to Describe Your Massage Therapist Experience
Arguably the most significant section of your resume is the experience section.
It allows you to highlight a few important aspects of what you bring as a candidate, such as:
- Accomplishments from previous positions
- Responsibilities and duties
- Skills you learned along the way
To write a killer experience section, be sure you understand the responsibilities and main career objectives of massage therapists. In particular, the job opening(s) you are applying for.
One of the best ways to accomplish this goal and ensure that your experiences shine through is to tailor your language to each job posting you’re interested in.
Look for keywords and industry terminology throughout the job description in question and find ways to incorporate these keywords into your experience section.
💡 top tip
Even if you work for yourself as a massage therapist, you shouldn’t compromise on your resume. Prospective clients will want to be informed about your qualifications and skills. You may find it useful to list all the major achievements and experiences you’ve had and narrow them down to those that are most pertinent to the job you’re applying for.
Massage Therapist Resume Examples: Experience
Here are two examples of massage therapist experience sections.
It would be unfair to label one as wrong and the other as right in this case, because neither is truly incorrect. One simply does its job better by providing a job recruiter with the relevant information in a precise manner.
Wrong ❌
Lead Deep Tissue Massage Therapist
Sweet Springs Spa
2016 – 2022
- Checked clients’ medical histories before massage.
- Communicated well with clients for the best customer experience.
- Maintained hygiene, cleanliness, and a serene environment at all times.
- Remained informed about the latest deep tissue massage techniques.
This is not a bad example, except the candidate could go into further detail about what duties were given priorities and more about what the procedures were.
Right ✅
Lead Deep Tissue Massage Therapist
Sweet Springs Spa
2016 – 2022
- Assessed client requirements and medical histories before giving massage therapy.
- Prioritized communication and care to provide the best customer experience possible.Boosted sales 40% in 6 months thanks to top customer service.
- Maintained cleanliness and hygiene at all times for both workspace and clients.
- Altered massage techniques according to client feedback.
- Educated others with information about the latest advancements in deep tissue massage therapy.
- Developed a unique combination of aroma- and physiotherapeutic elements that resulted in over 50% repeat business rate.
When writing your experience section, you should be much more specific, especially when you’re not an entry-level massage therapist. This is a perfect example of how this section should be written.
Entry-Level Massage Therapist Resume: Experience Section
When it comes to making an entry-level massage therapist resume, you don’t need a lot of work experience to draft a good resume. Simply emphasize your skills and your strengths.
To get you started, here are two examples:
Wrong ❌
Massage Therapist
Diamond Deep Tissue Clinic
2020 – 2022
- Introduced two new forms of massage therapy, increasing revenue by 20%.
- Cultivated large clientele network through chair massages at events.
- Kept spa ambience and temperature in control.
This example works in some ways, however, you should look to give a more detailed explanation.
Right ✅
Massage Therapist
Diamond Deep Tissue Clinic
2020 – 2022
- Introduced new service offerings like Nordic therapy and aromatherapy massages), increasing clinic revenue by 20% annually.
- Created a broad network and customer relationships by attending events and offering chair massage therapy, converting to clientele for the clinic.
- Monitored spa ambience and temperature regulation to optimum levels based on research.
For an entry-level experience section, this leaves no doubt about how a positive impact was achieved even in such a short time.
Don’t Forget Your Education Section!
The academic requirements for massage therapists are different depending on which state you’re from. Massage therapy programs are accessible at both private and public institutions, with completion requirements ranging from 500 to 1,000 hours of study.
A diploma from any high school is usually required for admission to a massage therapy program. These programs combine classroom instruction with hands-on experience.
So how can you list these types of educational accomplishments on your resume?
Your massage therapist resume should also include any further training, programs, or certifications you may have obtained outside high school or college.
Concentrate on how to connect your academic achievements and abilities to the role you want to seek or the setting where you want to work.
💡 top tip
Try to emphasize how your skill set distinguishes you from other applicants. For example, if you completed deep tissue massage classes, you would have a valuable skill for clinics or spas that are looking for deep tissue massage therapy professionals.
Massage Therapist Resume Education Section
Here are two examples of how to draft a compelling education section for your massage therapist resume:
Wrong ❌
High School Diploma
Soul Hills Massage School, NY
2015 – 2018
- Credits for Swedish Massage and Aromatherapy Classes
While this example has the right idea, it doesn’t state much, showing a hiring manager that you have a strong work ethic in therapeutic studies is always going to help.
Right ✅
First Class, Therapeutic Massage
Soul Hills Massage School
2015 – 2018
- Honors: Graduated Honors with a 3.7 GPA
- Relevant Credit Courses: Swedish Massage Program, Aromatherapy Class
This states how credits were achieved in relevant courses and a high GPA. If you happened to have a low grade point average or non-exceptional grades in related coursework you can leave that information out.
The Best Massage Therapist Skills for a Resume
The importance of massage therapy skills for resume building can not be understated; your skills section shows what you can offer to a new workplace and who you are as a potential employee. It should include hard and soft skills.
Hard skills are specific to your profession and are often acquired on the job, whereas soft skills are usually general abilities that may be used in a wide range of jobs.
Below are some examples of massage therapist resume skills that you may have or want to showcase:
Soft Skills
- Organizational skills
- Time management
- Adaptability
- Communication skills
- Collaboration
- Problem solving
- Positive attitude
Hard Skills
- Aromatherapy massage
- Thai massage
- Swedish massage
- Deep tissue massage
- Hospitality
- Rapport building
- Reflexology
- Bodywork
How to Add Other Sections for an Excellent Massage Therapist Resume
While a strong massage therapist resume will include the points we’ve mentioned above, the standout resume will usually be the one that exceeds expectations.
This is not a “bonus” or “miscellaneous” section. It’s just as important as the rest of your resume, and it‘s often reviewed more thoroughly than you might think; once recruiters realize that you went the extra mile to add to your massage therapist resume, they’ll likely admire your work ethic and devotion.
Including an “Other” section can go a long way on your massage therapist resume and could be the ace up your sleeve.
🌟 Featured Content: There are over 80 different styles of massage, each with its unique set of advantages. Each workplace will have somewhat varied employment needs and will provide distinct work experiences. So, depending on what they’re asking for, you can see what skills you have and cater your resume accordingly!
Massage Therapist Resume Sample “Other” Sections
Take a look at the following examples:
Wrong ❌
Activities
- Volunteered for “Save A Sole” campaign
- Offered free massages at old age homes
While these are good ideas, you want to avoid leaving anything up to interpretation.
Right ✅
Activities
- Volunteered for “Save A Sole” campaign by giving free massages to injured local athletes in downtown region of New York
- Offered free massages at over 12 old age homes in the Manhattan area
This is a much better example as it thoroughly explains what extra activities were done, in greater detail.
Many budding massage therapists often ask what kind of things they could add to their “Other” section. Here are a few ideas that could add to the overall appeal of your massage therapist resume.
Volunteering
Volunteering is an excellent way to exhibit your concern for society and willingness to assist those in need.
This does not have to be a recurring event. Even one or two volunteering activities are sufficient and can go a long way toward providing value to your resume.
Additional Activities
Make a list of any extracurricular activities you took part in that you feel could be applicable to your new job, such as joining a school club, taking massage classes, writing for a relevant publication, or attending events.
Key Takeaway
It’s essential to remember that a good massage therapist resume includes a summary or objective depending on your work experience, resume skills, and “Other” sections.
You’ll also want to mention your education a bit and be very detailed, while focusing on your relevant skills and experience.
You’ll also want to tailor the rest of your resume to your work experience, or lack thereof, and skills.
Whether you are very experienced or just starting, these tips and certain tools like a resume builder can ease the tension when it comes to drafting your resume.