How Much do Massage Therapists Make

Have you ever thought about how much massage therapists make on average? Almost six years back before starting my top rated massage chairs shop, I was a massage therapist and was making a good amount of money. Over the years thing have changed a lot and so do the per hour rates the therapists charge.

On average, a Massage Therapist makes $19.83 per hour while those with more than 20 years of experience make even a handsome amount than this. Experience has a moderate effect on the per hour wage rate but the skills you learn also counts a lot. For example, Myofascial Release, Pain Management, and Medical Massage therapists earn a lot.

How much can a Massage Therapist Make Per Year?

Going further, as per the 2016-17 Occupational Outlook Handbook from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average salary of a massage therapist is $37,180 per year. When you plan to get a massage therapy training, you have two options. You can go with a minimal training and start your career as quickly as possible, or you can complete a full-fledged training session through hours of training, gain proper experience and then decide to continue in a specific area and make some handsome amount.

However, it must be noted that the earning potential highly depends on your workplace, your attitude towards building a relationship with your clients, your massage skills and your ability to satisfy your customers. What matters the most is a steady stream of clients flowing in on daily basis and making you a fixed amount daily.

One of the BLS reports says that top 10 percent of the therapists working in massage therapy can make over $71, 950 on an annual basis.

Here is a quick comparison of massage therapist salaries on annual basis.

• Physical Therapist Assistants and Aides= $41,640.
• Athletic Trainers=$43,370.
• Cosmetologists=$23,200.
• Skin Care Specialists=$29,050.

This comparison is officially taken from the US, Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2016-17 Edition, Massage Therapists, Physical Therapists, Assistants and Aides, Athletic Trainers, Skin Care Specialists, Barbers, Hairdressers, and Cosmetologists.

Is this a Rewarding Career?

Seeing how the world is progressing regarding technology, it seems that being a massage therapist in the upcoming years may not be that beneficial. Of course, I’m not trying to degrade the profession, because more and more people are diverting towards massage chairs, massage cushions, and similar accessories. However, the demand for a massage therapist would never end. Although massage is now recognized as an excellent and legitimate way of treating injuries and mental health issues which can be a plus point to become a professional therapist.

What is the Future of a Massage Therapist?

As per BLS data, it quite astonishing to know that the employment rate of a massage therapist is expected to grow by a whopping 22 percent by 2024, while for other careers it is only 7 percent. This tells us that being massage therapists can be highly productive in the future.

To further your career as a professional massage therapist, you should learn massage therapy and practice as much as you can. The more you practice, the better you become and the more you make. Also, this profession doesn’t demand any higher degrees to advance more.