Massage Therapy vs. Dental Assisting: Which Career Path Should You Choose?
Choosing a career path is a significant decision that can shape your future. Two popular choices in the healthcare field are massage therapy and dental assisting. Both offer rewarding opportunities to help others, but they differ in many ways. This article will compare these two professions to help you make an informed decision.
What Does a Massage Therapist Do?
A massage therapist uses touch to manipulate the soft-tissue muscles of the body. They help relieve pain, heal injuries, improve circulation, relieve stress, increase relaxation, and aid in the general wellness of clients. Massage therapists can specialize in several types of massage, such as Swedish massage, deep-tissue massage, and sports massage.
What Does a Dental Assistant Do?
Dental assistants perform many tasks, ranging from providing patient care and taking x rays to recordkeeping and scheduling appointments. Their duties vary by state and by the dentists’ offices where they work. They work under the supervision of dentists and are often the first point of contact for patients.
Education and Training
Both careers require specific training and education. For massage therapy, most states regulate massage therapy and require massage therapists to have a license or certification. A high school diploma or equivalent is usually required for admission to a massage therapy program. These programs generally require 500 hours of study and experience, although some require 1,000 hours.
On the other hand, dental assistants typically learn their skills on the job, although some receive training from dental-assisting programs offered by community and junior colleges, trade schools, and technical institutes. These programs usually take about 1 year to complete and lead to a certificate or diploma. Some states require dental assistants to be licensed, registered, or certified.
Job Outlook and Salary
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for massage therapists is projected to grow 21 percent from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations. The median annual wage for massage therapists was ,820 in May 2019.
For dental assistants, employment is projected to grow 7 percent from 2019 to 2029, faster than the average for all occupations. The median annual wage for dental assistants was ,080 in May 2019.
Conclusion
Both massage therapy and dental assisting offer rewarding career paths in the healthcare field. Your decision should be based on your interests, skills, and long-term career goals. Consider factors such as the nature of the work, education and training requirements, job outlook, and salary. It’s also a good idea to shadow professionals in both fields to get a firsthand look at what each job entails.
