Skills
Massage Therapist Skills & Tools
The technical skills, people skills and tools employers look for in massage therapists, and how to build and show them.
What skills do massage therapists need?
Massage Therapists need technical skills such as massage techniques, anatomy and physiology, and client assessment, plus people skills like empathy and communication. They also use tools such as Massage tables and Oils and lotions.
Technical (hard) skills
- Massage techniques
- Anatomy and physiology
- Client assessment
- Contraindications
- Body mechanics
- Documentation
People (soft) skills
- Empathy
- Communication
- Professional boundaries
- Calm presence
Tools, equipment and technology
- Massage tables
- Oils and lotions
- Linens and bolsters
- Hot stones
- Foam rollers
- Scheduling software
Skills in action: common tasks
These step-by-step guides show how massage therapists put their skills to work:
How to show these skills on a resume
- Lead your skills section with the technical skills from the job posting, for example, “Massage techniques” and “Anatomy and physiology.”
- Prove soft skills with results: instead of listing “empathy,” describe a situation where you used it.
- List credentials such as State massage therapy license near the top, with the issuing organization and date.
- Use the employer’s vocabulary. Our massage therapist glossary covers the terms hiring managers expect.
How to build these skills
Formal training, supervised practice and certification are the most direct routes. Our Massage Therapist training introduces each of these skills with plain-language lessons, procedures and a final knowledge check: a strong foundation before hands-on training or your first day.