Career Profile: Swedish Masseuse

Job Description:

The most popular form of massage used in the United States, Swedish massage was developed by Per Henrik Ling, in the late 18th to early 19th century. After experimenting with many methods of massage, he integrated several of the elements into one practice. Swedish massage is a form of gentle yet deep tissue massage which is practiced using the palms, but also incorporating the fingers, thumbs, and knuckles as needed. Swedish massage is used to relieve muscular spasm and pain, improve blood circulation and reduce swelling due to accumulation of fluid in the tissues, as well as help break up any stiffness in muscles due to scarring. It can also help boost the immune system, reduce stress, and promote a sense of well-being. Sessions usually last from and hour to an hour and a half, and the client receives a full-body massage.

Swedish masseuses work in private practices, spas, clinics, offices, and wellness centers. They may also work as instructors at massage schools, and write about the healing effects of massage. They usually work a regular week, but may offer evening and weekend hours to better meet the needs of their clients, as well as offer to travel to a client’s home or office. Their salary varies according to the area in which they practice as well as the capacity in which they are employed, but they can expect to make an average of $40,000 to $60,000 a year, perhaps more. The growth outlook for this career is good, especially as more people look for alternative methods of healing and medicine as well as relief from stress. It is more likely to grow quicker in urban areas than in rural areas, but is practiced all over the country.

There are several schools which offer Swedish massage as part of their massage program, and several schools that deal strictly with this form of massage. As with shiatsu massage, there is a varying number of hours required in programs from school to school, as well as for certification from state to state. For example, in California, one must only complete 150 hours of training to be able to practice on the public, and the practice of massage therapy is unregulated and uncertified. However, in states such as New Jersey and New York, one must take up to 600 hours or more of training before being eligible for licensing. It is best to check from state to state to see what the training and certification requirements are when pursuing this career.

Find the Swedish Masseuse program that matches your personal preference and jumpstart your career by browsing through our extensive list of Swedish Masseuse schools!

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