Massage Therapy School in Newark, New Jersey
Massage therapists in the Newark, New Jersey metropolitan area are doing many different things with their training. This area of New Jersey can be considered pioneering with regard to oncology massage. The Newark area is also a place where massage therapists can get a foundation in techniques used for sports massage and injury management. They can get specialized training and then go out and use those skills: The city is also home to a lot of small wellness centers and innovative massage businesses.
Popular Massage Schools in Newark, NJ and Surrounding Areas
The Institute for Therapeutic Massage in Bloomfield is COMTA-accredited. The Institute offers a 720-hour massage and bodywork program; it includes a class in modified techniques for cancer patients. The school has several New Jersey campuses. Also available are specialty programs, including a 750-hour oncology massage certification program that meets standards for New Jersey licensure. Professionals who are already credentialed in massage can transfer credits in and take a shorter program. The website includes some information about both New York and New Jersey licensure.
The Therapeutic Massage and Therapy Training Center in Westfield offers a 512-hour program. Deep tissue massage is a core area of study. The program includes instruction in a number of different modalities.
The American Institute-Clifton is a school member of the American Massage Therapy Institute. AMTA lists the school’s program hours as 720.
Massage Therapist Work Settings
Spas and private practices are among the options. Many massage therapists find work in small healthcare offices. Massage Therapists often practice with other healthcare professionals such as chiropractors, acupuncturists, and/ or physical therapists. The Medical Art Center of New Jersey, for example, provides a range of services, including massage, chiropractic care, acupuncture, counseling, and dietetics.
Some settings are described as wellness centers or fitness centers. There may be some personal trainers in the mix. Organizations may have their own focus, based on a philosophy of wellness as well as a menu of services.
Massage for Special Populations
Some massage therapists in the Newark area provide services for major healthcare systems. RWJ Barnabas Health, for example, utilizes integrative and complementary therapies such as massage to help cancer patients (https://www.rwjbh.org/treatment-care/cancer/meet-our-cancer-experts/).
At University Hospital, some cancer patients are the beneficiaries of free massage services provided by a local massage school; among the patients are people with limited resources who are receiving charity care.
Massage is commonly used for injury management and pain. Some LMTs specialize in working with the elderly. Some senior living facilities offer massage to long-term care and/ or rehabilitative care residents. Cedar Crest in Pompton Plains, for example, provides massage at its Outpatient Rehabilitation and Wellness Center. Burke Rehabilitation Hospital in White Plains, New York offers massage at its adult fitness center.
Specialized training can be an asset. Some New Jersey students receive specialized training as part of their initial program. Massage therapists around the nation use continuing education to develop their skills in specialty areas. A massage therapist can select just about any specialty and find training, if not in Newark itself in the greater New York-New Jersey metropolitan area.
The Hiring Market in Newark, NJ
Many of the major and minor franchises were seeking massage therapists in 2019; the list included Massage Envy, Elements Massage, Hand and Stone, and the Woodhouse Day Spa. In some cases, there were multiple locations of the same franchise company in the market. Elements advertised that they were a therapeutic massage practice, not a spa, and that LMTs who worked there had an opportunity to put their training to good advantage.
There appeared to be some competition for talent. Some franchises were even advertising signing bonuses. In other cases, the focus was on the lifestyle perks and/or the benefits that could be accrued over time.
There were also some healthcare organizations advertising. Among them was a perinatal diagnostic center looking for an LMT who could perform perinatal massage and also provide services such as stretching. The organization was looking for prenatal experience – and advertising a high pay rate.
Mobile Massage Opportunity
A notable employer in the 2019 hiring market: Namaste Care, which enjoyed a 4.9 rating on Indeed.com; this was based on 16 ratings.
Namaste Care specializes in home wellness, which includes massage and bodywork as well as other services like nutrition, personal training and personal yoga and Pilates instruction. The organization provides services for people at different stages of life, including women seeking pre- or postnatal care. It also provides corporate wellness services.
There are multiple other organizations in the area providing mobile massage. They provide health services as well as convenience. Mountainside On-Site Massage Therapy noted geriatric massage and oncology massage among the modalities that were “a plus”. In 2019, they were looking for someone who was ready to go – with a massage table as well a vehicle – but were advertising quite a high rate for an hour of massage.
Some mobile massage companies emphasize corporate wellness. The service may be provided under the banner of a major health system. Atlantic Corporate Health is part of Atlantic Health, which is also a very well-rated employer.
Massage Therapist Wages in Newark, NJ
Many of the businesses in the area advertised a fairly narrow salary range (usually given as an hourly rate) In some cases, the range was wide, dependent on factors like commission.
Massage therapists in the greater New York/ Newark metropolitan area averaged $24.57 in 2018. The median was $21.88. Those at the 90th percentile were paid well over three times what those at the 10th percentile were paid; 90th percentile wages topped $41. Job concentration was somewhat above the average.