Thinking about a career move that’s in demand, pays well, and fits a busy life?
Massage therapy checks every box—especially across Elgin, Joliet, and Orland Park. For anyone looking to enter a fast-growing, flexible, and rewarding healthcare career, massage therapy stands out as an accessible path with wide-reaching opportunities.
Below, we break down the latest data, local hiring trends, salary expectations, and why this path offers serious flexibility for anyone looking to build a resilient, hands-on career.
Too long to read? Then scroll down to the Q&A at the end for the most-asked questions about massage.
Massage Therapy is A Growing Career
U.S. healthcare occupations are projected to grow much faster than average from 2024–2034, driven by the country’s aging population, rising demand for injury recovery services, and a growing emphasis on preventive wellness. This expansion doesn’t just mean more doctors and nurses—it also opens the door for specialized professionals like massage therapists.
Massage therapy fits naturally into many healthcare and wellness environments, making it one of the most versatile career paths in the field
today. Licensed massage therapists are increasingly sought after in:
- Hospitals & Rehabilitation Centers – assisting patients with pain management, mobility improvement, and recovery after surgery or injury.
- Chiropractic & Physical Therapy Clinics – supporting musculoskeletal health, enhancing therapy outcomes, and helping patients return to work or sports more quickly.
- Sports & Fitness Facilities – working with athletes and active clients to improve performance, reduce recovery time, and prevent injury.
- Medical Spas & Wellness Centers – combining relaxation with therapeutic techniques to meet both health and lifestyle goals.
- Corporate & Workplace Wellness Programs – offering stress reduction and ergonomic support to employees, boosting productivity and overall health.
- Private Practices & Mobile Services – giving therapists the freedom to set their own schedules, specialize in targeted techniques, and serve clients directly in-home.
As healthcare continues to evolve, massage therapy has shifted from being seen only as a luxury to being recognized as an essential, evidence-based practice that complements traditional medicine.
Massage Therapy Is On The Rise And Illinois Outlook Is Strong!
Nationally, the median annual wage reached $57,950 (May 2024), reflecting strong market value for licensed professionals. Illinois state projections show massage therapist employment growing 16% (2022–2032) with about 900 openings each year—a healthy pipeline of opportunities.
What Illinois Employers Are Posting Right Now
A quick pulse check on live postings shows steady demand across the suburbs:
- Elgin area: 80+ openings across spa, chiropractic, PT, and fitness settings. Check out massage job openings as of September 2025.
- Joliet area: 50+ openings spanning med-wellness to franchise spas. Check out massage job openings as of September 2025.
- Orland Park area: 45+ listings, including fitness clubs and massage therapists in training. Check out massage job openings as of September 2025.
These numbers fluctuate daily, but they’re a reliable indicator of consistent, multi-sector demand in the communities where you live, train, and plan to work. And it’s not just limited to these three cities—massage therapy career opportunities are growing all across Chicagoland.
For example, postings are strong in Naperville, with its large healthcare networks and wellness centers, as well as Schaumburg and Oak Brook, where corporate wellness programs and spa franchises are expanding. In Evanston and Skokie, massage therapists are being added to integrative healthcare teams, while in Aurora and Rockford, growth is fueled by hospitals and rehabilitation clinics.
What’s the takeaway? The reality is that demand for massage therapy is happening everywhere—from North Shore suburbs to the southwest and beyond. Whether you want to join a medical team, step into sports recovery, or start your own private practice, the options are out there and expanding.
Salary Expectations in Illinois for Massage Therapists
While median pay in the U.S. is $57,950/year (as of May 2024). top earners exceed $97,450, not including tips—common in spa and physical recovery settings.
Pairing massage with sports performance, stretch therapy, and chiropractic/physical therapy support can command higher hourly rates and steady repeat clientele—especially in fitness-dense suburbs (think Elgin’s Fox Valley and Orland Park’s southwest burbs).
Check out the Illinois pay range: CareerOneStop shows up-to-date IL estimates and tools to compare local wages by metro. Use it to benchmark your target area.
Male Massage Therapist Highlights: Flexibility Men Appreciate
- Multiple Work Settings: Sports clubs, boutique studios, med-spas, chiropractor/PT clinics, mobile/on-site corporate wellness.
- Schedule Control: Full-time, part-time, or side-gig; evening/weekend heavy demand fits day jobs or family schedules.
- Scalable Income: Base pay + tips + add-ons (sports recovery, assisted stretching, lymphatic work) = strong earning potential.
Licensing & Timeline in Illinois (Straightforward Path)
- Education: Complete an IL-approved program (minimum 600 hours).
- Exam: Pass the MBLEx (national entry-level licensing exam).
- Apply for license via the Illinois Department of Financial & Professional Regulation (IDFPR).
- Keep your Massage License current: IL requires continuing education each renewal cycle; check IDFPR for current hour totals and any updates.
At the New Age Spa Institute (NASI) in Des Plaines, you can move from training to licensure efficiently—our next Massage Therapy class begins in October—with small cohorts, hands-on training, and career support geared to real-world hiring.
Why Choose NASI if You’re in Chicagoland
- Commute-friendly location near major expressways [I-90 (Kennedy Expressway), I-294 (Tri-State Tollway), and the Elgin-O’Hare Expressway (IL-390)] and Metra.
- Small class sizes
- Clinical-minded training to thrive in PT/chiropractic and sports-recovery settings. Lots of guided, hands-on practice!
- Exam prep baked in for the MBLEx. Our students value the structure and support.
Ready to talk details and tour the campus? Call 847-759-0900 or visit New Age Spa Institute to get started.
Q&A: Most Asked Questions About Massage
Q: How fast can I start working?
A: Many students complete the required hours and pass the MBLEx within a year, then onboard quickly at spas, clinics, or fitness facilities. (Licensing pathway à IDFPR + MBLEx.)
Q: What’s the real pay like—hourly vs. total?
A: The median for massage therapists sits at $57,950 nationally, with the highest earners reaching $97,450. Tips, upgrades (sports recovery, stretching), and evening/weekend surges can raise your effective hourly rate. Use CareerOneStop to view local IL medians by specific metropolitan area.
Q: I live in Elgin/Joliet/Orland Park. Are jobs actually nearby?
A: Yes—live postings routinely show dozens of openings in each area across franchises, clinics, and fitness clubs. (Counts vary day-to-day but stay consistently healthy.)
Q: Do I have to work nights and weekends?
A: You choose. Peak demand often includes evenings/weekends (great for maximizing tips), but many clinics and corporate settings offer daytime schedules.
Q: Is the MBLEx hard?
A: With structured prep it’s very passable. NASI integrates exam prep, practice testing, and coaching to boost confidence. (About the exam: FSMTB.)
Q: What about CE requirements in Illinois?
A: CE is required each renewal cycle. In Illinois, massage therapy licenses must be renewed every 2 years. NASI offers CE courses year-round. New Age Spa Institute offers a variety of CE courses to help you meet these requirements like Manual Lymphatic Drainage and advanced facial massage techniques. Whether you’re looking to refresh your skills or learn something new, our internationally accredited instructors provide world-class education.
Education Requirements for Massage Therapists in IL: 24 CEUs *12 hours must be supervised classroom or hands-on instruction, and the remaining 12 hours can be completed online
Take the Next Step (Class Starts This Month)
Call 847-759-0900 or visit New Age Spa Institute. We’ll help you train, license, and launch—fast.
The New Age Spa Institute is an ABMP school and an NCBTMB school.
Check out the accredited Massage Therapist program at NASI. Discover what you need to know about becoming a massage therapist.
As a globally accredited school, New Age Spa Institute provides access to resources and tools to support our current students and recent graduates.
- Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals (ABMP)
- National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (NCBTMB)
TL;DR: If you want in-demand skills, schedule control, and income you can scale, massage therapy is a smart move—especially in Chicagoland’s high-growth communities like Elgin, Joliet, and Orland Park.
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