Starting Salaries for Massage Therapists

One of the first things people want to know when researching a career in massage is how much are the starting salaries for massage therapists and how much can you make as a massage therapist?

The answer is as much or as little as you want!

One of the biggest problems in the massage profession is really lack of adequate professional massage statistics. The reason for this is that most massage therapists have their own business or work part time which is usually not included in job statistics.

Book Excerpt (from A Career in Massage - Is it for you? :

How much can you really make as a massage therapist? The problem with salary statistics from various massage associations and the Bureau of Labor and Statistics is that they vary greatly. Many therapists only work part time and most are self-employed. Job statistics, unfortunately, will not include this vital information.

The latest report from the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) says:“In 2010, the average annual income for a massage therapist (including tips) who provides approximately 15 hours of massage per week was estimated to be $31,980, compared to $37,123 for 2009. The reduction in income reflects both a decrease in the number of average hours worked and lower numbers for consumer use of massage in 2010.”

The Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals (ABMP) reports: “Average massage-related income for massage therapists in 2007 was $17,750, with a median income of $15,500 (2007 ABMP Member Survey).”

Those figures are up from 2005 where they reported that the average massage-related income for massage therapists in 2005 was $18,950, with a median income of $14,500 (2005 ABMP Member Survey).

Also from the ABMP website www.massagetherapy.com:"Total earnings by massage therapists, including their earnings from other employment, averaged $34,141 (2007 ABMP Member Survey)."

"First-year practice average income was $10,503, reflecting the challenges of establishing a professional-service practice (2007 ABMP Member Survey)."

The Bureau of Labor Statistics ("Occupational Employment Statistics") says: “Median hourly wages of massage therapists, including gratuities, were $16.78 in May 2008. The middle 50 percent earned between $11.36 and $25.14. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $8.01, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $33.47. Because many therapists work part time, yearly earnings can vary considerably, depending on the therapist’s schedule. Generally, massage therapists earn some portion of their income as gratuities.”

Massage schools often say that you can make $60 an hour or more working as a massage therapist. They also say that you will have the freedom to work the hours that you would like and come and go as you please.

The Truth is that starting salaries for massage therapists are really dismal and there is much more to a career in massage than one might think.

So how much can you make as a massage therapist? It really depends more on you and your ability to find or create a job for yourself or your ability to start and run a business. There is much more to a career in massage than just helping others or having good hands. You can learn more about careers in massage and starting salaries for massage therapists as well as insight into how you can overcome the dismal statistics and create a successful career in massage....

The Truth is revealed in my Book - A Career in Massage - Is it for you? (Purchase through Amazon.com)

Resources:ABMP -(Associated Massage and Bodywork Professionals) Professional Metrics Section -Starting Salaries for Massage Therapists