Enjoy some Southern comfort in the great state of Mississippi. Mississippi has a lot of appeal for massage therapists, as it has more than 2.8 million people, a steady job market, and a low cost of living. All of this adds up to an excellent quality of life in a dynamic state.

You’ll find that Mississippi is full of opportunities for massage therapists, acupuncturists, and personal trainers. There’s no shortage of jobs, so you should have an easy time finding a position within the state. However, if you’d like to be competitive enough to land the kind of job you’d like to launch your career with, it’s essential that you complete some higher education in the form of a certificate or degree program. You can complete one of these programs through a career college, four year university, or an institute that specializes in massage therapy. While studying to become a massage therapist, your curriculum will include massage theory, anatomy, kinesiology, patient assessment, massage techniques, principles, and more.

It’s incredibly important that you take the time and effort to go to massage therapy school, as it’s the absolute best way to successfully start your career in the industry. However, if can get expensive, ranging from $1,000 to $9,000 and higher per program. If you find that the cost of massage therapy school is too much for you to pay out of pocket, look to the Mississippi Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning. Through the Board, you can find out about options that are available to you as a Mississippi student. Specifically, their website offers information about the GEARUP Mississippi Scholarship, Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership, Higher Education Legislative Plan, and more. There are plenty of resources for more internships, scholarships, grants, and loans as well.

Mississippi has a very active tourism industry, so you should consider working as a massage therapist in one of the state’s upscale resorts. Other smart places to work are the state’s spas, salons, and fitness centers. Many massage therapists also find that there are excellent opportunities in the medical field, and find great work in occupational clinics, nursing homes, and hospitals.

One of the great things about Mississippi is its low cost of living. The state is 8% below the national average, but still manages to offer a reasonable salary to massage therapists. For massage therapists in Jackson, your salary will generally fall between $26,000 and $59,000.

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.