Expert: Torski Dobson-Arnold - 5/18/2009

Question
I'm planning on being a masseuse and it just occurred to me i should be worried about my salary. so what education level, work company/private/spa, or/and type of pay(hourly, per massage, etc.) should i shoot for and where would i get the most solid and most accusable information from?

Answer
Rachel,

It would be my assumption that those who are training you in the field of massage therapy would be the ideal person to answer your inquiries.  But after some research, I will take a stab at potentially answering these inquiries for you.

According to Alliedhealthschools.com, a massage therapist working 15 hours per week in 2008 earned an average of $31,500. In comparison, full-time health care support workers and medical assistants earned an average of $28,170 and $27,190, respectively, in 2006. A massage therapy salary will allow you to work around family obligations or explore your interests in another job field. In fact, many massage therapists—about 58 percent—earn part of their income from a second profession.

There are many factors that influence your massage therapy salary. The number of hours you work is one piece of the puzzle. Other factors include geographic location, type of employer, and your level of education and experience—just to name a few. Although the amount you'll earn depends on your specific situation, AMTA reports that the 2008 average hourly wage for massage therapists was $41.50 (including tip).


http://www.allalliedhealthschools.com/faqs/massage-salary

I would also check websites like www.salary.com and www.payscale.com to get more specific information in regards to geographic regions.

I hope this helps.