masseur/masseuse
Snapshot
Seeking a career where you can help others relax and improve their well-being? As a masseur/masseuse, you’ll use skilled techniques to relieve stress and promote physical comfort, offering a rewarding path for those passionate about health and wellness.
Masseurs/masseuses work directly with clients, providing a range of massage therapies tailored to their individual needs and preferences. This involves assessing client concerns, selecting appropriate massage techniques, and ensuring a comfortable and relaxing environment. You'll be responsible for maintaining equipment, adhering to hygiene standards, and educating clients on self-care practices to enhance their relaxation and overall well-being.
- • Performing various massage techniques (e.g., Swedish, deep tissue, sports massage) based on client needs.
- • Consulting with clients to understand their medical history and desired outcomes.
- • Maintaining a clean and hygienic treatment space, including equipment and linens.
Where this occupation is in demand
Reported labour shortages and surpluses, by year. Published for occupation groups, not for individual job titles.
Deeper colour: reported the same way in more consecutive years.
Figures cover Personal service workers — 86 jobs including this one.
In shortage: Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Hungary and 2 more.
Longest-running shortage: Italy, 4 years.
Select a place on the map to see its figures.
About this source›
Source: ELA/EURES labour shortages and surpluses. Readings are published at occupation-group level, and cover Europe. Editions differ in annex layout and country coverage, so a change between years does not always mean the labour market changed. Countries in grey were not reported, which is not the same as being in balance.
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Could masseur/masseuse fit you?
Answer three quick questions. This is not a full assessment — it is a teaser to help you decide whether to compare your profile.
Do you enjoy tasks that require Self-Control?
Do you enjoy tasks that require Dependability?
Do you enjoy tasks that require Concern for Others?
Future Outlook for masseur/masseuse
The outlook for masseur/masseuse is exceptionally stable. While AI tools will assist with daily tasks, the core of this role relies on human judgment, resulting in a high resilience score of 83%.
How are these scores calculated?
The Resilience Score (0–100) estimates how structurally protected this occupation is from automation and AI disruption, based on task-level analysis. Higher scores mean more human-judgment-intensive tasks. AI Exposure shows the estimated percentage of task hours that current AI capabilities could affect. These are model-derived structural indicators, not predictions about individual job security.
How could masseur/masseuse change as AI adoption grows?
Human judgement, trust, and context remain strong protectors for this role.
Illustrative scenario based on task automatability — not a forecast. Values are rounded the further ahead you look.
How could masseur/masseuse change as AI adoption grows?
Human judgement, trust, and context remain strong protectors for this role.
Illustrative scenario based on task automatability — not a forecast. Values are rounded the further ahead you look.
How AI may change this role
Deterministic, model-based interpretation of current role signals — not a guarantee of replacement.
What still depends on people
- work ergonomically
- give massages
- develop personalised massage plan
Where AI may become a co-pilot
- identify customer's needs
Tasks most exposed to automation
No single task here is highly automatable yet.
Vital Signs & AI Vectors
AI Exposure Vectors
0-100%Exposure to content generation, creative augmentation, and large language model tools
Exposure to physical automation, robotics, and sensor-driven task displacement
Exposure to AI-assisted analysis, pattern recognition, and predictive modelling tasks
Exposure to workflow automation, decision-support software, and process digitisation
Technical Details
NexFuture v3.0 estimates automation exposure natively from ESCO essential-skill groups, weighted by skill mass and calibrated against expert anchors. Scores are probabilistic estimates, not guarantees. See the NexFuture Methodology White Paper for full details.
Measures automation exposure. It does not measure pay, demand, or how many jobs exist near you.
What people in this role usually do
Hospitality, Events, & Tourism
A typical day as a masseur/masseuse
09 09:00 · Morning develop personalised massage plan
10 10:30 · Mid-morning accept own accountability
12 12:00 · Midday identify customer's needs
14 14:00 · Afternoon apply massage therapy
15 15:30 · Late afternoon communicate with customers
17 17:00 · Wrap-up give massages
Task order is illustrative. Individual days vary.
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contraindications
The condition under which a normally beneficial treatment can be harmful and have a counterproductive effect on a person's health.
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balneotherapy
The use of therapeutic baths to treat a variety of conditions, through relaxation, massage or stimulation techniques. This includes the beneficial properties of mineral waters and mud-wrapping techniques.
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cosmetics
The various types of substances used to enhance the appearance of the human body.
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electrotherapy
The type of medical treatment using electrical stimulation.
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hydrotherapy
The practice used to treat diseases or maintain overall health using water.
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shiatsu
The complementary medicine massage therapy which is based on the theoretical framework of traditional Chinese medicine and it is performed by finger massages on clients to reduce their stress and pain according to the shiatsu principles.
- massage theory
- massage types
- cosmetic manicure
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communicate with customers
Respond to and communicate with customers in the most efficient and appropriate manner to enable them to access the desired products or services, or any other help they may require.
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maintain personal hygiene standards
Preserve impeccable personal hygiene standards and have a tidy appearance.
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work ergonomically
Apply ergonomy principles in the organisation of the workplace while manually handling equipment and materials.
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give massages
Provide clients with head, hand, neck, facial or full body massages.
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develop personalised massage plan
Determine the massage treatment to be applied based on the medical diagnosis, the prescription plan, and according to the condition of the patient.
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identify customer's needs
Use appropriate questions and active listening in order to identify customer expectations, desires and requirements according to product and services.
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maintain privacy of service users
Respect and maintain the dignity and privacy of the client, protecting his or her confidential information and clearly explaining policies about confidentiality to the client and other parties involved.
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maintain customer service
Keep the highest possible customer service and make sure that the customer service is at all times performed in a professional way. Help customers or participants feel at ease and support special requirements.
Skill DNA
Work personality traits and values that define this role
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Where does masseur/masseuse fit?
Similarity scores based on skill overlap from ESCO data.
Frequently asked questions
- What kind of personality traits are important for a masseur/masseuse?
- Empathy, good communication skills, and a patient demeanor are crucial. You'll need to be attentive to client needs, able to explain techniques clearly, and comfortable working closely with people.
- Can I work as a masseur/masseuse and be self-employed?
- While many masseurs/masseuses are employed in spas, clinics, or wellness centers, it’s also common to establish your own self-business. This offers flexibility but requires business management skills alongside your massage expertise.
- What are the key work styles associated with this role?
- This role requires attention to detail (1.C.4.a), following procedures (1.C.5.a), working systematically (1.C.3.b), being precise (1.C.4.b), and a focus on quality (1.C.4.c).
- Masseur/Masseuse — is there a shortage in Europe?
- No. In the 2025 ELA/EURES edition, a surplus was reported in 8 of the 14 European countries that assessed this occupation group: Austria, Germany, Greece, Finland and 4 more. 6 countries reported a shortage. These assessments are published per occupation group rather than per job title.
- Masseur/Masseuse — what does it pay in the United States?
- $57,950 a year at the median, as of 2025-05. State medians run from $29,000 to $134,930. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is a United States figure and not a projection for Europe.