Massage Career FAQ's

Massage Career FAQ's ( Frequently Asked Questions) No matter what stage you are in there is help for you.

Massage Licensing and Massage Certification. Licensing is different than certification. You have to be licensed by the state you want to work in. Each state is different so if you want to move you have to contact the state you want to work in. Being Nationally Certified does not mean you can just move to wherever you want. It just means you passed a test that may or may not be required by the state you want to live and work in. Check with each state's licensing board to find out what you need to do. See these important pages!

For high school students who are thinking about going to massage school.

Massage Licensing Find out what is needed to get a professional massage license in your state.

Massage licensing Boards Find the massage licensing board for the state you are interested in working in. Each state has different requirements. All questions about licensing are to be directed to the State Board of Massage in the state that you want to work in.

Massage National Certification

Becoming a massage therapist.

How much can you make as a massage therapist? You can make as little or as much as you want really. Most of the salary statistics online are inaccurate. Most massage therapists work only about 20-25 hours a week because of the physical demands. Most jobs pay only about $15-$30 an hour and that is only when you are doing a massage. You will get paid minimum wage and be required to clean and organize. Most massage therapists start their own massage business because it is much more financially rewarding. You can make a decent living in the massage profession if you are committed, passionate about massage and creative. You can read more in my Ebooks on Massage Careers and Massage Jobs
Where can you work as a massage therapist? Many places are starting to hire massage therapists but the pay is generally low. Spas are probably the largest employer of massage therapists which includes day spas, destination spas, medical spas and resorts. Other places such as chiropractors, hospitals, chair massage businesses and medical clinics as well as small individual massage clinics are also hiring massage therapists. The best way is to really create your own job with a population or group of people that you really want to work with. Most massage therapists actually start their own business at sometime as it is much more lucrative and rewarding.
Why do most massage therapists start their own businesses? While there are more places hiring massage therapists, the pay is still really low for the most part averaging about $15-$40 an hour but you only get paid that when you are actually doing a massage. You get paid minimum wage at other times. Massage therapists usually start out working somewhere and go on to start their own business after learning more about business. It is much more rewarding both financially and emotionally.
What is it like to be a massage therapist? It isn't like all of the nice pictures on the massage school websites - that is for sure. They forget to mention how much work it takes to get and keep clients. They forget to put pictures of overweight people, people with large scars down their back and people who are very stressed out and in pain. Most people think that massage is just about helping others when it really has little to do with that. It is more about learning to take care of yourself and help yourself. It is about becoming more aware of yourself so that you can stay present with people who are stressed out and in pain.
What requirements are there for becoming a massage therapist and going to massage school? Massage school is only a 500 to 1000 hour program so not much is usually required except for having a high school education. That being said the average age of massage therapists in the US is 45 meaning that most massage schools are geared towards teaching adults. For high school students right out of school it is usually better to go to college for business, marketing or just liberal arts and get some life experience first.

FAQ's about Massage Jobs

How much can you make at a massage job? Entry level salaries in massage start at $15-$25 an hour. Most massage employers only pay you that wage when you are actually doing a massage. Your hours are also limited by the number of massages you can physically/emotionally do in one day. Massage jobs are a fairly new concept which means you can create your "Ideal Massage Job" if you are willing to do the work of proving your value to a potential massage employer. You can read more how to do that in my EBook - The Massage Therapy Job Guide
Where can I find work as a massage therapist? The largest employers of massage therapist are spas, day spas and resorts. Massage franchises are also hiring massage therapists. Chiropractors, medical professionals and even hospitals are now hiring massage therapists.
Why do I have to do a massage as a part of the interview process? Massage employers want to know if you know how to massage! They aren't out to get free massages. It actually can be quite taxing getting lots of massages from new massage therapists. The best way to succeed in a massage interview is to just go in and treat them like a real client asking all of the interview questions and doing the best massage that you can do
What if I can't find a job in massage? Jobs are all over the place. If you can't find a job that fits your needs, think about creating your "Ideal Massage Job". You can find out more in my Ebook on "Massage Therapy Job Guide"

Starting a Massage Business

How much does it take to start a massage business
Starting a massage business really doesn't take much in the way of cash. You can start on a shoestring budget which most massage therapist do anyway. All you need is an office space to rent, business cards and a name for your business. You should also have your own website. You can start your business by renting a room for a few hours a week from an already established massage therapist or from another type of health care provider or fitness facility.
How much should I pay for rent for a massage office?
The question is really how much do you want to pay? You need to figure out a spending plan for yourself and determine what you can afford. Many massage therapists who are already established usually have a few hours open or even a day or two open that you can rent.

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