Massage Therapist Salary Range

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average yearly massage therapists salary is about $35,000 to $40,000 annually. Keep in mind that because of the physical nature of the massage therapy career, many massage therapist work part-time, so the annual salary is not based on a 40 hour work week.  There are a lot of variables that determine the salaries of massage therapists. The average salary for a massage therapist can vary greatly depending on what state or city he or she works in, what modalities they can offer a client and in what setting they are performing their jobs, like hospitals vs. spas. Massage therapist jobs are expected to be in high demand as more and more people recognize the health benefits of massage therapy.

Work Environments Determine Massage Therapist Salary

The setting where you work as a massage therapist also determines how much you can make. As a massage therapist, you get paid a certain percentage of the client’s fee. So, depending on what percentage you get, it can be a significant difference.

Example:

Spa A charges $100 for a massage and you get 30% for each massage you give. You would get $30 per massage.

Spa B charges $90 for a massage and you get 50% for each massage you give. You now get $45 per massage.

On top of the percentage you get, how much you can make is also affected by how busy your place of work is. Higher percentage doesn’t mean much when there are no clients or very few clients.

And depending on where your massage therapist job is (spa vs. medical office), you can increase your income with tips from your clients!

Be Your Own Boss to Control Your Massage Therapist Salary

If you decide you want to be self-employed, then you can determine your own salary by deciding what you want to charge your clients and how many hours you want to work.  To run a successful massage business, you will have to learn business and marketing skills.

If being a massage therapist is something you really want to do, the demand for massage therapist is on the rise and the time it takes for you to become a massage therapist is relatively short. The average massage therapist salary is pretty good since you don’t work a full 40 hour workweek and you can make your own hours.

We have divided our massage therapy information into the following sections:

Massage Therapy Career

Is a massage therapy career right for you? What does a massage therapist do? How big is the demand for massage therapists? What is the job outlook for massage therapy? And of course, how much does a massage therapist make?

Before you invest time and money into a new career, you want information to determine if a massage therapy career is something you should be pursuing. You want to get a clearer picture of a massage therapist job description. If you want to help people with their pain and improve their health, then you should consider becoming a massage therapist.

Massage Therapy Jobs

What massage therapy jobs are available? Where can you work as a massage therapist? Tips on getting a massage therapy job after you get your certification and license. How to increase your chances of getting a job as a massage therapist. Information on starting your own massage therapy business.

Becoming a Massage Therapist

and decide that a massage therapy is the right career choice for you, learn what steps you need to take to become a certified massage therapist. How long of a time commitment will it take before you can start your new massage therapy career.

Massage Therapy Schools

Now, it’s time to pick a massage therapy school. How do you choose the right massage therapy school. What kind of massage therapy programs do you need? What form of bodywork is taught?  How much does it cost for massage therapy training? How can you get help to pay for your massage therapy certification?

Massage Therapy Information

This section covers basic massage therapy information such as the different types of massage such as Swedish massage, deep tissue, etc. you can learn, the benefits of massage therapy and other general massage therapy information that doesn’t go under the other categories.

If you are unsure about whether or not a massage therapy career , hopefully this site will provide you with the massage therapy information you need to help you with your decision.

Benefits of Prenatal Massage

A prenatal massage has many benefits for the mother-to-be.  The gentle massage can help ease the soreness and stiffness of tight muscles.  Long gliding strokes help the circulation of the blood and lymph flow to deliver nutrients throughout the body, reducing the cramping of the muscles, which can be terribly painful.  A massage during pregnancy also reduces the stress on the weight-bearing joints such as the ankles, back, and pelvis.  A pregnancy massage is relaxing and soothing, which helps ease an expectant mother’s stress and anxiety, calming her nervous system. Massage therapy can do so much for pregnant women.

When she is more relaxed mentally and physically, she will be able to sleep better at night.  Sleeping is important to the health of both mother and baby.  Also, a massage will improve the elasticity of the skin, thereby reducing the appearance of stretch marks that are so common with pregnancy.  Not only will she feel better, but she’ll look better too! You’ll be a hero in her eyes!

Specializing in Prenatal Massage

Being a prenatal massage therapist is a great way to increase your salary and help someone in need. You can stand out from other massage therapists because you know more than just the basic Swedish massage therapy.

Some massage therapy schools may offer certification in prenatal massage, but most will just have a prenatal massage class as part of their curriculum. You should learn how a woman’s body changes during pregnancy and the different stages of pregnancy. You should also be aware of the contraindications. Massaging a pregnant client is different than a normal massage client, as you will need to massage them in a side-lying position during the massage session.

A mom-to-be may be so thrilled with you providing them relief that they might become a repeating customer throughout their pregnancy. And don’t just stop at massage during pregnancy, you can offer to provide them with pain-reducing massage therapy during labor and a postpartum massage as well! A prenatal massage is a wonderful stress and pain reliever expectant mothers and a modality that you should consider specializing in.