Quick answer: Massage Therapists are less stress-exposed than most Australian occupations — ranked #313 of 317 by workplace mental health hazard exposure, with a composite stress score of 32.3/100 against a national average of 47.4.
Massage Therapists stress profile vs the national average
Each occupation is scored across six categories of workplace mental health hazard, built from 22 stress factors identified in SafeWork Australia's occupational hazards data. Higher scores mean greater exposure.
- Emotional demandsbelow average23.8 vs 37.9 avg
- Responsibility burdenbelow average37.7 vs 60 avg
- Pace and demandsbelow average37.5 vs 56 avg
- Lack of control89 vs 75.5 avg
- Precision and monotonybelow average53.4 vs 67.7 avg
- Physical environmentbelow average30.8 vs 38.2 avg
Scores range 0–100; higher = more stress-inducing (lack of control is shown on an inverted scale — see methodology). Source: SafeWork Australia Beta Occupational Hazards Dataset.
What drives the score for massage therapists
The occupation scores below the national average for responsibility burden (37.7 vs 60), pace and demands (37.5 vs 56) and precision and monotony (53.4 vs 67.7), which moderates the overall ranking.
See how this compares across all 317 Australian occupations, ranked by stress score.
The biggest stress factors for massage therapists
- 1Pace and demands
Frequency of Decision Making
83/100
All-occupation average: 70.7
- 2Physical environment
Physical Proximity
82.8/100
All-occupation average: 61.1
- 3Responsibility burden
Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results
68.2/100
All-occupation average: 70.4
- 4Pace and demands
Level of Competition
56.8/100
All-occupation average: 52.4
- 5Precision and monotony
Importance of Repeating Same Tasks
55.8/100
All-occupation average: 56.9
All 22 stress factors for massage therapists
The complete scorecard: every stress factor measured for this occupation, grouped into the six categories, with the all-occupation average alongside.
Emotional demands
23.8 vs 37.9 avg- Deal With Physically Aggressive People8.8 vs 14
- Deal With Unpleasant or Angry People29.8 vs 50.4
- Frequency of Conflict Situations32.8 vs 49.3
Responsibility burden
37.7 vs 60 avg- Responsibility for Outcomes and Results16.2 vs 58.5
- Responsible for Others' Health and Safety45.2 vs 57.3
- Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results68.2 vs 70.4
- Consequence of Error40.5 vs 49
- Coordinate or Lead Others18.2 vs 64.9
Pace and demands
37.5 vs 56 avg- Time Pressure32 vs 71.6
- Duration of Typical Work Week13.5 vs 62.1
- Pace Determined by Speed of Equipment2 vs 23.1
- Frequency of Decision Making83 vs 70.7
- Level of Competition56.8 vs 52.4
Lack of control
89 vs 75.5 avg- Lack of Autonomy to Make Decisions88.5 vs 76.4
- Amount of Highly Structured Work89.5 vs 74.7
Precision and monotony
53.4 vs 67.7 avg- Importance of Repeating Same Tasks55.8 vs 56.9
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate51 vs 78.6
Physical environment
30.8 vs 38.2 avg- Sounds and Noise Levels Are Distracting or Uncomfortable14.5 vs 52.3
- Extremely Bright or Inadequate Lighting23 vs 24.9
- Very Hot or Cold Temperatures3 vs 32.4
- Exposed to Disease or Infections30.8 vs 20.2
- Physical Proximity82.8 vs 61.1
Methodology
Clearhead scored 317 occupations in the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) using SafeWork Australia's Beta Occupational Hazards Dataset. We kept only the 22 hazard variables relating to mental health — such as conflict exposure, decision-making pressure, and time pressure — and deliberately excluded physical safety risks like working at height.
The 22 variables are grouped into six categories: emotional demands, responsibility burden, pace and demands, lack of control, precision and monotony, and physical environment. An occupation's composite score is the equally weighted average of its six category scores. All scores run 0–100, where higher means more stress-inducing.
The two control-related variables are derived from SafeWork's “freedom to make decisions” and “structured versus unstructured work”. Control scores are displayed on an inverted scale relative to the other five categories: the composite stress score incorporates 100 minus the displayed control values.
Hazard exposure describes the average conditions of an occupation, not any individual's experience — everyone has a different tolerance for these challenges, and conditions vary between workplaces.
Frequently asked questions
Massage Therapists: how stressful is the job?
Massage Therapists rank #313 out of 317 Australian occupations for workplace mental health hazards, with a composite stress score of 32.3/100 against a national average of 47.4. That makes the occupation more stress-exposed than 1.3% of Australian jobs.
What are the biggest mental health stress factors for massage therapists?
The highest-scoring hazards are frequency of decision making (83/100), physical proximity (82.8/100) and impact of decisions on co-workers or company results (68.2/100).
Which stress factors are lower for massage therapists?
Massage Therapists score below the national average for emotional demands (23.8 vs 37.9 average) and responsibility burden (37.7 vs 60 average) and pace and demands (37.5 vs 56 average) and precision and monotony (53.4 vs 67.7 average) and physical environment (30.8 vs 38.2 average), which partially offsets the higher-scoring hazards.
Where does this data come from?
Scores are derived from SafeWork Australia's Beta Occupational Hazards Dataset. Clearhead filtered the dataset to the 22 mental-health-related hazard variables — excluding physical safety risks — and scored 317 ANZSCO occupations across six categories: emotional demands, responsibility burden, pace and demands, lack of control, precision and monotony, and physical environment.
Beyond the average
This is the average hazard exposure for massage therapists. Your workforce isn't average.
Clearhead's Psychosocial Risk Pulse measures the actual psychosocial risk in your organisation, quarterly — across 18 ISO 45003-aligned work factors.