Spa: A Comprehensive Introduction

The modern spa era saw spas shift from their ancient medical and spiritual emphasis to today’s corporate model that primarily focuses on beauty, fitness, and wellness. While wellness and relaxation have always been the cornerstones of a spa’s holistic experience, the historical European model had come to emphasize taking the waters and retreating to pastoral and natural setting for weeks and even months at a time. Food was luxurious and abundant, and doctors routinely recommended spas as a way to cleanse and heal the body away from the rigors of everyday urban life.

Spa: A Comprehensive Introduction | Chapter 8 | Spa Careers, Vocations and Professions

The world of spa is one of the fastest growing service professions. As more and more people embrace the concepts of wellness and healthy lifestyles, the need for spas continues to increase, and with that, the need for well-qualified personnel and a skilled work force at every level is becoming more apparent.

Spa: A Comprehensive Introduction | Chapter 8.1 | The Spa Industry’s Human Resource Challenge

The International SPA Association discovered a number of human resource challenges when conducting research on the spa industry. Many regions across the United States and Canada are experiencing a significant shortage of qualified people with a high level of skills. This is particularly true of directors and management staff.

Spa: A Comprehensive Introduction | Chapter 8.10 | There’s a Spa Career for You

The spa industry is waiting for soulful, caring individuals who love people and who want to make a difference in the world, one life at a time. Technical skills, business savvy, and an ability to read people are traits that will take people far in the world of spa.

Spa: A Comprehensive Introduction | Chapter 8.2 | Advantages of a Spa Career

Spas focus on health and wellness, not only for clients, but for those who work within the spa environment. A professional looking for a career where health and wellness are valued and where there are opportunities to practice healthy living will find a home within the spa industry, where all of these are embraced.

Spa: A Comprehensive Introduction | Chapter 8.3 | Challenges or Disadvantages of a Spa Career

Spas focus on health and wellness, not only for clients, but for those who work within the spa environment. A professional looking for a career where health and wellness are valued and where there are opportunities to practice healthy living will find a home within the spa industry, where all of these are embraced.

Spa: A Comprehensive Introduction | Chapter 8.4 | Skills and Aptitudes of Spa Professionals

The breadth and depth of the spa industry’s vocations and professions means that there can be an ideal, if not perfect, job for just about everyone. Taking inventory of one’s own professional and personal needs and goals can help one decide on a career.

Spa: A Comprehensive Introduction | Chapter 8.5 | Career Opportunities

Spas offer a wide range of career opportunities from entry-level positions through upper-level management. The number of employees at any given spa varies based on the type of facility and extent of services offered.

Spa: A Comprehensive Introduction | Chapter 8.6 | Spa Careers for the Future

As spas continue to grow and certain types of spas become more popular, spa careers and job options will increase and expand. New opportunities will arise in existing jobs and in other areas such as those listed in this section.

Spa: A Comprehensive Introduction | Chapter 8.7 | Training, Education, and Licensing

The spa industry is a wonderful place for people who enjoy learning. Training and education are high priorities among spa professionals. For some positions, such as massage therapists and estheticians, this training and education must take place before obtaining a job, but learning does not stop once work begins.

Spa: A Comprehensive Introduction | Chapter 8.8 | Compensation and Benefits

Spa employees are commonly compensated in one of two ways: a traditional employer-employee arrangement or the less traditional, but still common, contracting spa–independent contractor relationship.

Scroll to Top