Massage Therapist
Potential pathway to working as a Massage Therapist in Australia
July 2026 Min Market Salary
$68,088
per year (AUD)
Massage Therapist (ANZSCO 451312) is listed on the Short-term Skilled Occupation List, which opens pathways including subclasses 190 (State Nominated), 491 (Skilled Regional), 482 and 186 (employer sponsored). Skills for this occupation are assessed by VETASSESS, and the minimum market salary is $65,000 AUD per year (indexed to $68,088 from July 2026).
Minimum Market Salary
$65,000 AUD / year
From July 2026: $68,088 AUD
Skills Assessing Authority
VETASSESS
Mandatory before lodging a visa application
Occupation List
Short-term Skilled Occupation List
Eligible for subclasses 190 (State Nominated), 491 (Skilled Regional), 482 and 186 (employer sponsored)
Demand Profile
Medium demand · Tier 2
Opportunities concentrated in major cities and regional areas
Your Step-by-Step Pathway
Step 1: Complete Required Education
Diploma, trade, or Bachelor degree - Short-Term Skilled Occupation List — qualification requirements set by the assessing authority
Step 2: Gain Work Experience
Minimum 2 years, ideally 3+ years in the occupation. STSOL occupations require demonstrated competency and relevant work history
Step 3: Achieve English Proficiency
Minimum: IELTS 6.0 (Competent). Recommended: IELTS 7.0+ (Proficient) for 10 extra points
Step 4: Get Skills Assessment
Submit application to VETASSESS with your qualifications and work evidence. This is mandatory before lodging a visa application.
Step 5: Lodge Visa Application
Choose from eligible visa subclasses based on your points and circumstances
Available Visa Options
Employer Nomination Scheme
Permanent employer-sponsored visa. TRT stream for 482 holders with 3+ years, Direct Entry for highly skilled workers. Min salary: CSIT $79,423. Processing time: 9–12 months.
Skills in Demand (SID) - Core Skills
Employer-sponsored visa across three streams: Core Skills (CSIT $79,423/yr), Specialist Skills (SSIT $146,576/yr), and Essential Skills. Replaced the TSS visa. Processing time: 3–6 months.
Skilled Regional
5-year provisional visa for skilled workers in designated regional areas. +15 points bonus. Must live/work regionally for 3 years before PR (191). Processing time: 12–14 months.
Skilled Nominated
Permanent residence visa for points-tested skilled workers nominated by a state or territory. +5 points bonus. Processing time: 6.5–8 months.
Skills Assessment Authority
VETASSESS
Occupation List
STSOL - Eligible for state/employer sponsored visas
Total Timeline
Typically 5–7 years from skills assessment to permanent residence grant, depending on visa subclass and invitation rounds
Ready to Check Your Eligibility?
Get a customised pathway summary with your points score, potential visa pathways to explore, and a full strategy report for Massage Therapist.
Not migration advice — these are potential visa pathways for educational purposes only. DreamwayAU is not a registered migration agent. Always verify with the Department of Home Affairs or a MARA-registered agent.