by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 4 U.S. colleges awarded 42 degrees and certificates in Somatic Bodywork. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 79% of graduates. Graduates earn a median $20,842 one year after completing, rising to $29,564 after four years.
A degree in Somatic Bodywork covers Somatic Bodywork. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Promote Physical And Emotional Balance And Well-Being Through The Application Of Skilled Touch Principles And Techniques. Includes Instruction In Therapeutic Massage And Other Hands-On Touch Methods, Anatomy And Physiology, Structural/functional Integration And Various Holistic Health Systems (Rolfing/structural Integration, Colon Hydrotherapy, Breema, Hellerwork, Lymphatic Drainage, Rosen Method, Hydrotherapy, And Others), Client Counseling, Practice Management, And Applicable Regulations And Professional Standards.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., somatic bodywork is a popular field of study, with 42 degrees awarded annually. 4 colleges award somatic bodywork degrees, an average of 10 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 28.
By level, the 42 awards include 9 certificates and 33 master’s degrees.
Women earned 67% of somatic bodywork degrees and certificates in the latest year (28 of 42). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (31) and Hispanic or Latino (4), and international students earned 2.
The most common somatic bodywork credential is the master’s degree: 33 of the 42 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to somatic bodywork call most for Speaking, Active Listening and Reading Comprehension, and for knowledge of English Language, Biology and Customer and Personal Service, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Oral Comprehension and Written Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a somatic bodywork degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 9 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 33 |
Postsecondary certificate is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to somatic bodywork, at 31.5%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Postsecondary certificate | 31.5% |
| Master’s degree | 21.3% |
| Doctoral degree | 14.7% |
| Post-doctoral training | 11.3% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 9.0% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 7.5% |
| Some college courses | 3.1% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 1.6% |
Source: O*NET Online.
2 occupations are related to Somatic Bodywork, with an average median salary of $45,747; the strongest outlook belongs to Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary, at 10.7% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Inhalation Therapy Teacher, Veterinary Science Teacher, Hospital Aides and Assistants Teacher and Manual Arts Therapy Teacher.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to somatic bodywork, at 1,335,407.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,335,407 | 10.7% |
| Massage Therapists | 893,791 | 7.4% |
Somatic Bodywork graduates earn a median $20,842 one year after completing their program, $29,564 after four years and $24,742 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $20,842 |
| 4 years | $29,564 |
| 5 years | $24,742 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to somatic bodywork, with a median salary of $46,663.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,663 |
| Massage Therapists | $44,831 |
Somatic Bodywork has 3 similar majors in the Health Professions field, which together award 10,789 degrees a year; the largest are Massage Therapy/Therapeutic Massage (10,676), Asian Bodywork Therapy (108) and Somatic Bodywork and Related Therapeutic Services, Other (5). Browse all Health Professions majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Massage Therapy/Therapeutic Massage | 10,676 |
| Asian Bodywork Therapy | 108 |
| Somatic Bodywork and Related Therapeutic Services, Other | 5 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.