If you’d like to see yourself practicing massage therapy in paradise, Hawaii is a great place to consider. The state offers an excellent quality of life with gorgeous beaches and beautiful weather year round. In Hawaii, you’ll find 1.2 million permanent residents as well as plenty of tourists, many of whom are in need of physical manipulation.

With its paradise living and excellent tourism industry, Hawaii is a very attractive place for massage therapists, acupuncturists, and personal trainers. The state offers a competitive industry, so you’ll need to be at the top of your game to land the best jobs. That means that you will need to complete a certificate or degree program in massage therapy. These programs are generally offered at community colleges, massage therapy schools, career colleges, and four year university. The curriculum focuses on massage techniques, ethics, business practices, massage theory, anatomy, kinesiology and more.

Massage therapy school makes an excellent investment in your future, but that doesn’t mean it’s affordable for everyone. Programs range from $1,000 to $9,000 and higher. If you think that you’ll need assistance paying for school, don’t worry. There are many options for Hawaiian students who need financial aid. You can find lots of information about Hawaiian financial aid from Hawaii Senator Daniel Kahikina’s website. There you’ll get information about the resources available to students in Hawaii, as well as helpful information about making college more affordable.

In Hawaii, perhaps the most lucrative setting for massage therapists is in the tourism industry. Hawaiian tourists offer a steady stream of work in resorts, airports, and other hospitality settings. If tourism isn’t for you, consider working in a spa, salon, fitness center or boutique. There are also plenty of opportunities in the medical industry, including work in nursing homes, hospitals, and private clinics.

Most people know that Hawaii is a very expensive place to live. It has one of the highest costs of living in the nation, and Honolulu ranks as one of the five most expensive cities to live in within the United States. You’ll find, however, that with a high cost of living comes a high salary. As a massage therapist in Honolulu, your salary will generally fall between $30,000 and $68,000.

Top Massage Therapy Programs

	Boca Beauty Academy of Massage - If you're interested in becoming a massage therapist, Boca Beauty Academy of Massage offers a fantastic program for students interested in this growing industry.
Cincinnati Cleveland	Center for Massage & Natural Health - The Center for Massage & Natural Health assists students in reaching their goal of becoming a massage therapist affordably and conveniently.
Boston Tampa Scottsdale	Cortiva Institute for Massage - Cortiva Institute for Massage prepares aspiring massage therapists with a rigorous program in the field of massage therapy. With locations available across the country, students can get prepared quickly.
	U.S. Career Institute - At the U.S. Career Institute, students will be taught alternative health treatments to assist people in feeling better. With a number of organizations hiring in various positions, don't pass up this opportunity to go back to school and start a great career.