Working as a massage therapist can be quite satisfying as it allows one to work at their own pace and connect with clients on a personal level. However, the question remains – how much do massage therapists make?
This blog focuses on various aspects such as hourly rate, tip income, geographic and work location, and even specialization that are important in understanding massage therapist earnings in more detail.
1. Average Salary of a Massage Therapist
The average salary of a massage therapist can vary widely depending on several factors. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average annual estimated salary for massage therapists as of 2022 is around $49,000, or about $23.56 per hour. However, this is not uniform as salaries can vary greatly depending on therapy knowledge, level of supervision, and even the location where they work.
In a spa setting, massage therapists may be paid on an hourly basis with tips, or through a salary or wage instead.
2. Factors that Affect Massage Therapist Earnings
Although the average income across the country is an important consideration, it is still possible to earn more or less through certain factors, such as:
a. Geographic Location
The location where a massage therapist practices has an impact on that person's earnings, for example; these professionals who practice in metropolitan or high cost-of-living areas tend to earn more than those working in rural areas.
States with Relatively High Salaries: Therapists find states like California, New York or Massachusetts very attractive due to salaries and cost-of-living. There are many therapists in these areas who earn over $60,000 a year.
Low-paying states: Alabama or Mississippi or states where the lowest cost of living wage is around $30,000 per year which is the average in these places.
b. Type of Work Setting
How much a person earns also depends on the type of workplace they work at. Some of these settings include:
Day spas and resorts: Here, the hourly pay may be low, but tips are very high, which significantly improves the overall income.
Medical setting: Working in a physical therapy clinic, or hospital, or chiropractic office is helpful because they earn a higher salary, but also receive fewer tips.
Self-employment: Primarily, many massage therapists prefer to be their own boss, which involves renting or owning a given premises or offering their services in a specific area. While this has its benefits, such as more control over pricing, it also comes with responsibilities related to marketing, booking, and paying for other expenses. In most cases, self-employed therapists charge more than others to cover those costs.
C. Level of Experience
Like many professions, experience plays a role in determining how much a massage therapist earns. It is quite common for a new female or male therapist to receive an hourly wage, but then increase their number of hours worked and eventually increase their hourly pay when they have a lot of clients. Also, experienced massage therapists are more likely to have massage specialties such as sports massage or deep tissue massage, which often cost more.
3. Specializations and Certifications
Massage therapists with one or more additional specializations or certification skills earn more than those who do not. Below is a list of some specialties that are in demand and increase income.
Sports massage: Specialized forms of massage, which are mostly for sportsmen as well as medicine, use knowledge of sports muscle mechanics and trauma prevention, so such therapists can afford to practice at higher prices.
Medical massage: Treatments focused on massage therapy that focuses on clinical and post-trauma recovery of clients earn massage therapists higher salaries due to specialized skills.
Prenatal and postpartum massage: These therapists help pregnant and recently delivered women relieve pain and recover successfully with targeted massage therapy.
Lymphatic drainage and cupping therapy: Practitioners of cupping therapy or lymphatic drainage offer these specialized techniques to clients who want specific health benefits and can thus afford the higher rates charged for such services.
4. How Does Tip Affect the Earning Rate?
For most massage therapists, tips are a major part of their earnings, especially those working in spas and salons. The usual tip range is between 20% and 15% and sometimes even higher if the service is exceptional.
Massage shoppers: If the shopper prefers a one-hour massage session that costs $100, the 15% and 20% will include an additional $15 to $20 for the initial cost of the service and the $100 the therapist earns.
Luxury spas: In typically upscale environments, tips can sometimes go up to $30, which has the potential to amount to a large sum.
Therapists need to assess the risks of relying on tips because they are never guaranteed an hourly wage or salary.
5. Hourly vs. Salary vs. Commission-based Pay
Massage therapists have different pay structures and this makes their pay vary considerably:
Hourly pay:
Most therapists working in resorts and spas or clinics have hourly pay jobs. Now this job can be $15 per hour or more and it mainly depends on the location and establishment. Hourly jobs are good enough for tips.
Salary:
In rare cases, some massage therapists find themselves on the payroll, but these are mainly those working in medical practices or wellness centers. Getting a salary brings benefits like health care coverage, but it also means fewer opportunities to earn more through tips and a steady income is guaranteed.
Commission-based Pay:
In commission-based roles, therapists earn a percentage of the fee charged for each service provided. Generally, a commissioned employee is entitled to 40-60% of the service fee on average.
For example, if the cost of a massage session is $100 and the therapist receives a 50% commission, he or she will earn $50 for each session. This can be supplemented through tips, although therapists are often expected to provide several therapies a day to earn a substantial income.
Income Potential for Self-Employed Massage Therapists
They can still earn some extra cash, although their workload will increase, especially if they are self-employed or have their own business. Depending on location, position and range of services provided, they can charge between $70 and $150 per hour as their income is determined solely by them. However, non-salaried therapists must pay ongoing expenses such as rent, furniture, stock of other merchandise and advertising.
For example:
Mobile therapist: Visits are made to clients' homes, which also involves additional expenses such as transportation, so mobile therapists are able to charge rent while promising convenience to clients.
Leasing the facility: It is standard practice for therapists working in a spa or wellness center to pay a fixed fee for the space while earning commission from their clients. Working as a freelancer helps the therapist earn more, but there are certain requirements, such as business skills and having a reasonable list of clients.
Career Advancement and Future Benefits
The prospects for an effective worldwide career in the massage therapy field are auspicious. As the therapist's skills develop and they are able to satisfy more clients along with the requisite expertise in the field, their income increases significantly. For some therapists, who specialize, for example in touch and high focus, experience with more clients in high demand can mean over $70000 in annual salary.
In addition, some therapists teach at massage schools or seek other forms of employment through developing comprehensive wellness programs or operating their own massage spas or clinics to supplement their income.
Final Words
Massage therapy is a lucrative profession internationally that offers a considerable range of income and has flexible working hours. There are many paths open to professional massage therapists, starting with novice level jobs, then becoming self-employed in their own practice and eventually after further specialization. One can earn more money by charging an hourly wage, or tip or simply setting your own rate and it is well known that this field offers great potential for growth when one has the right combination of experience and expertise along with good business sense.
If you are planning to pursue massage therapy as a career, it would be better for you to have a clear understanding of what will affect income, such as work location, employment setting and chosen area of specialization, in order to avoid disappointment about your economic outlook.
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