AI exposure score

Massage Therapists

Massage Therapists score 7 out of 100, which is low exposure to AI. That ranks #792 of 923 US occupations, where #1 is the most exposed. Of the 14 tasks in this job, AI could speed up 1 on its own and 0 more with extra software built on top of it. In April–May 2026, 3 of these tasks showed up in real conversations with Claude, Anthropic's AI assistant.

7/ 100

Low

Rank: #792of 923 jobs
US workers: 98,790BLS, May 2025
Median pay: $58,450a year
In real AI use: 3 of 14tasks, April–May 2026

Task by task

Each task this job involves, as listed by O*NET, rated on whether a large language model like GPT-4 could cut the time it takes by at least half at the same quality. Tasks marked Seen in real AI use appeared in conversations with Claude in April–May 2026 (Anthropic Economic Index).

AI can speed this up on its own: 1 (7%)
AI can speed this up with extra software: 0 (0%)
Little or no AI speed-up: 13 (93%)

Maintain treatment records.AI can speed this up on its own · core task · Seen in real AI use
Confer with clients about their medical histories and problems with stress or pain to determine how massage will be most helpful.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Massage and knead muscles and soft tissues of the body to provide treatment for medical conditions, injuries, or wellness maintenance.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Maintain massage areas by restocking supplies or sanitizing equipment.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Apply finger and hand pressure to specific points of the body.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Develop and propose client treatment plans that specify which types of massage are to be used.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Assess clients' soft tissue condition, joint quality and function, muscle strength, and range of motion.Little or no AI speed-up · core task · Seen in real AI use
Provide clients with guidance and information about techniques for postural improvement and stretching, strengthening, relaxation, and rehabilitative exercises.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Treat clients in professional settings or travel to clients' offices and homes.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Refer clients to other types of therapists when necessary.Little or no AI speed-up · core task · Seen in real AI use
Prepare and blend oils and apply the blends to clients' skin.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Consult with other health care professionals, such as physiotherapists, chiropractors, physicians, and psychologists, to develop treatment plans for clients.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Perform other adjunctive therapies or treatment techniques in addition to massage.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Use complementary aids, such as infrared lamps, wet compresses, ice, and whirlpool baths to promote clients' recovery, relaxation, and well-being.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task

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Questions about massage therapists and AI

Will AI replace massage therapists?

Unlikely. Most of the work is hard for today's AI to speed up. Massage Therapists score 7 out of 100 (low exposure), #792 of 923 US jobs. AI could speed up 1 of the job's 14 tasks, 1 of them on its own, while 13 see little or no speed-up. Exposure means the work is likely to change, not that the job will disappear.

Which massage therapists tasks can AI do?

The most exposed tasks include "Maintain treatment records".

Which massage therapists tasks are hardest for AI?

Tasks with little or no AI speed-up include "Confer with clients about their medical histories and problems with stress or pain to determine how massage will be most helpful"; "Massage and knead muscles and soft tissues of the body to provide treatment for medical conditions, injuries, or wellness maintenance"; "Maintain massage areas by restocking supplies or sanitizing equipment".

Are people already using AI for this work?

Yes. In April–May 2026, 3 of the 14 tasks showed up in real conversations with Claude, according to the Anthropic Economic Index.

How many people work as massage therapists, and what do they earn?

About 98,790 people in the US, with median pay of $58,450 a year (BLS, May 2025).

How to read this score. Exposure measures how much of the work AI could speed up, not whether the job will disappear. A highly exposed job can change shape, with people spending less time on routine tasks and more on the rest. The score counts tasks AI can speed up on its own in full, and tasks that need extra software at half weight.

The ratings come from published research based on GPT-4 (2023). To show what's happening now, each task is also checked against the latest Anthropic Economic Index, which records which tasks people actually use AI for. That data is refreshed automatically when Anthropic publishes a new release. Read the full method.

Massage Therapists

Task by task

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Questions about massage therapists and AI

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