NOC 32201: Massage therapists
What massage therapists do
Massage therapists assess soft tissues and joints of the body for treatment and prevention of dysfunction, injury, pain and physical disorders. They work in private practice, including group or team practices, hospitals, clinics, extended care facilities, rehabilitation centres and educational institutions.
Main duties
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
- Assess clients by conducting range of motion and muscle tests and propose treatment plans
- Explain procedures, risks and benefits to clients
- Administer massage techniques, treating soft tissues and joints of the body through soft tissue manipulation, relaxation techniques, hydrotherapy, trigger point therapy, joint pain and lower grade mobilizations, remedial exercise programs and client self-help programs
- Suggest home care instructions and provide information about techniques for further postural improvement and stretching, strengthening, relaxation and rehabilitative exercises
- Maintain records of treatments given
- May consult with other health care professionals such as physiotherapists, chiropractors, physicians and psychologists when developing treatment plans for clients.
- Massage therapists may be trained in various specialized massage techniques.
Job titles under NOC 32201
8 job titles are classified here, including massage therapist (MT), registered massage practitioner, registered massage therapist (RMT).
- massage therapist (MT)
- masso kinesitherapist
- massotherapist
- myotherapist
- orthotherapist
- registered massage practitioner
- registered massage therapist (RMT)
- Thai massage therapist
Employment requirements
- Massage therapists usually require completion of an 18- to 24-month or 18- to 36-month program in massage therapy from an accredited school and a period of supervised practical training.
- Registration with a regulatory body is required in Newfoundland and Labrador, Ontario and British Columbia.
Massage therapists wages in Canada
Low, median and high annual salaries from Job Bank’s 2025 wage data.
| Where | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
Canada | $32,867/yr | $32,867/yr | $62,400/yr |
Toronto ON | $37,561/yr | $37,561/yr | $59,600/yr |
Montréal QC | — | $33,109/yr | — |
Vancouver Lower Mainland region, BC | $37,929/yr | $46,400/yr | $85,000/yr |
Calgary AB | $32,867/yr | $33,200/yr | $63,600/yr |
Edmonton AB | $32,867/yr | $32,867/yr | $64,500/yr |
Ottawa ON | $37,561/yr | $37,561/yr | $47,600/yr |
Winnipeg MB | $34,810/yr | $34,810/yr | $48,800/yr |
Québec City Quebec region, QC | $33,109/yr | $33,109/yr | $49,200/yr |
Hamilton Hamilton–Niagara Peninsula region, ON | — | $37,561/yr | — |
Kitchener-Waterloo Kitchener–Waterloo–Barrie region, ON | $37,561/yr | $37,561/yr | $48,000/yr |
London ON | — | $38,400/yr | — |
Halifax NS | — | $35,128/yr | — |
Victoria Vancouver Island and Coast region, BC | — | $37,929/yr | — |
Saskatoon Saskatoon–Biggar region, SK | — | $34,747/yr | — |
Regina Regina–Moose Mountain region, SK | — | $37,600/yr | — |
| Where | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
Newfoundland and Labrador | — | $36,400/yr | — |
Nova Scotia | $35,128/yr | $35,128/yr | $56,000/yr |
New Brunswick | $33,481/yr | $33,481/yr | $56,000/yr |
Quebec | $33,109/yr | $33,109/yr | $49,200/yr |
Ontario | $37,561/yr | $37,561/yr | $57,200/yr |
Manitoba | $34,810/yr | $34,810/yr | $50,400/yr |
Saskatchewan | $34,747/yr | $40,800/yr | $67,500/yr |
Alberta | $32,867/yr | $32,867/yr | $63,600/yr |
British Columbia | $37,929/yr | $43,600/yr | $81,000/yr |
Using NOC 32201 for your resume or Express Entry profile
- IRCC asks you to make sure the main duties listed for your NOC match what you actually did at your job. If they don’t, look for another unit group whose duties do.
- Describe your own work in your own words. Recruiters and ATS software look for concrete tools, results and scope, not text copied from the NOC.
- Applying from outside Canada? Run your resume through the Canadian resume format checker to catch things Canadian employers don’t expect, like a photo or date of birth.
- Use the job title the employer’s posting uses. The 8 titles above are how the same work is named across employers.
Not in this group
Similar jobs classified under a different NOC code:
- Medical technologists and technicians (See 3212 Medical technologists and technicians)
- Other practitioners of natural healing (NOC 32209)
- Physiotherapy assistant (NOC 32109)
- Technical occupations in therapy and assessment (See 3210 Technical occupations in therapy and assessment)
- Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists (NOC 32200)
Frequently asked questions
What is the NOC code for massage therapists?
Massage therapists are NOC 2021 unit group 32201. Example job titles in this group include massage therapist (MT), registered massage practitioner, registered massage therapist (RMT).
What TEER is NOC 32201?
NOC 32201 is TEER 2 (College diploma or apprenticeship (2+ years)). Usually requires a 2–3 year college program or a 2–5 year apprenticeship, or the occupation carries supervisory or significant safety responsibilities. TEER 0, 1, 2 and 3 work counts as skilled work experience for Express Entry’s Federal Skilled Worker and Canadian Experience Class programs.
How much do massage therapists earn in Canada?
Job Bank's 2025 wage data puts the median at $32,867 a year, with a range of $32,867/yr to $62,400/yr.
Related occupations
Sources: Statistics Canada, National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 Version 1.0; Employment and Social Development Canada, Job Bank wages (2025). Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. OfferJetAI is not affiliated with the Government of Canada. Check IRCC’s NOC guidance before you apply.