Massage Therapist Rate Per Hour

How To Choose A Massage Therapist

Choosing the right professional can be the key to unlocking ultimate relaxation. As you consider which one to choose, keep these tips in mind:

Need more information on how to hire a pro? Check out Thumbtacks extensive guide to hiring safely.

Growing Opportunities For Massage Therapists In Healthcare

Have you ever thought about becoming a healthcare professional? If so, Holst says theres never been a better time to consider massage therapy. As integrative models of healthcare become more and more common, opportunities for massage therapists in the healthcare field will continue to grow.

Both healthcare consumers and providers are looking for less invasive, non-pharmacological approaches to pain such as massage therapy.

The American Massage Therapy Association provides a detailed report of massage therapys advances in healthcare. Here are just a few examples from the report of how massage therapy has become an integral part of major and influential healthcare providers around the country:

• Fifteen years ago, Michigans largest healthcare system, Beaumont Health, began a massage therapy program by hiring one massage therapist in its oncology department. The program has expanded into departments like cardiology, urology and pediatrics, and today Beaumont Health has dozens of massage therapists on staff.
• Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City employs massage therapists throughout its facilities for inpatients and outpatients.
• Mayo Clinic has been a true leader in integrating massage therapy into its inpatient and outpatient services since 2002.

What Type Of Massage Do You Specialize In

Before you tell the therapist what your favorite massage style is, ask them what kinds of massage they specialize in. If they don’t automatically mention the type of massage you want, then you’d be better off booking a different therapist who can cater better to your preferences. There is a tremendous difference between specific modalities such as deep tissue and basic reflexology, for example, so don’t trust that any therapist is excellent at every type of modality because that’s generally not the case.

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What To Look For In A Therapist

The main thing to keep in mind when researching the best fit for your therapy is your goalswhat would you like the end result to be once the series of therapy sessions are over? Do you want to learn and implement behavioral techniques that help conquer stress, overeating, or anger do you want to process your path of grief in a healthy way do you and your spouse need to learn great communication tools that you are then accountable to use?

When seeking mental health care or online therapy, you should consider:

• The level of training a therapist has, as highly experienced therapists will typically charge more per session. The level of training and experience a therapist also often corresponds to their reputation — especially those who have built a successful practice. If a therapist is in high demand, they can charge more for their time.
• The geographical location of your therapist. Large cities are often associated with higher costs of living, and in turn, therapists charge more per session than those who offer their services within small cities and towns. Online therapy may be cheaper since there are no physical boundaries.
• Whether or not therapy services are covered under your insurance plan.
• The level of specification you require. For example, if you would like to address a highly specific condition that requires an expert in that area, you may need to pay more — especially if you’re aiming to treat a rather unusual condition that is challenging to treat effectively.

How To Save Money

Getting a massage can be expensive, but there are some crafty ways you can save a few dollars. For example, ask about first-time client discounts. If youre a new client, you might be able to score a discounted fee or even a free mini-massage. It doesnt hurt to ask.

Or, if youd like to have regular massages, ask if they have packages. Oftentimes, massage packages will save you money over the long run because the price per massage is cheaper.

Lastly, ask if there are memberships available. They might offer discounted rates if you buy a monthly membership, which could be a worthwhile investment for you.

In any case, dont hesitate to talk about your budget with the pros youre considering to see if they can come up with a price that works for everyone.

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Massage Therapist Company Jobs And Hourly Pay

The average salary of Massage Therapist jobs will vary according to location, department, and job description. The table shows below the name of the job title below you may be interested in including salary range and total compensation. The salary paid can be different for the same position in Massage Therapist based on experience, skills, and education.

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Does Health Insurance Cover Massage Therapy

Massage therapy is sometimes covered by health insurance. This may depend on the state you live in. Generally, you need a doctor’s order , to get health insurance benefits.

Some licensed healthcare professionals, such as doctors, physical therapists, occupational therapists, osteopaths, or chiropractors may have a massage therapist working as an employee of the business. If that is the case, insurance benefits for massage may be allowed under the licensed professional’s supervision. You can ask your health plan administrator about this.

Your massage therapist may be able to bill your health insurance company directly. In other cases, you may need to pay the therapist directly, and then mail in your own claim with an invoice for services rendered, to be reimbursed later. If your insurance does not cover massage therapy, you will have to pay at the time of service.

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Should You Make Conversation During The Massage

The only things you need to tell your bodyworker are:

• If their technique is hurting you.
• If you have any medical conditions or old injuries that give you chronic pain.
• If you need them to spend more time on any extra sore muscles.

Any conversation beyond that is entirely optional and up to you. Do whatever helps you relax and feel comfortable.

How Does It Work

1: Simply Book a massage for your home, work or hotel by calling, chatting or filling out one of our forms.

2: Choose the type of massage youd like, the gender preference and the day / time youd like to receive a massage. We will do all of the work in coordinating your in-home massage.

3: Sit back, relax and let the Body Well massage therapists give you a relaxing experience. We will show up on time, bring all of the necessary equipment and make sure to give you extra attention.

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How Much Do Massage Therapists Make

There are two main ways massage therapists can do their work: in a private practice or working for someone else.

There are pros and cons to each, and different personality types and work styles will be a better fit for either option.

But one thing that massage therapists may be taking into consideration is how much money theyll make on their own vs. working for an employer.

In this article, well cover the factors that go into how much a massage therapist makes, and how that changes if they work for a massage company or if theyre self-employed.

Massage Therapist Salary By Province

Depending on which city and province youre practicing massage therapy in, your salary can change significantly. This has to do with job demand, the number of registered massage therapists and the cost of living in that area.

Weve rounded up the average hourly rate of massage therapists across Canada .

• Vancouver, British Columbia$63.01 per hour
• Calgary, Alberta$39.75 per hour
• Saskatoon, Saskatchewan$24.88 per hour
• Winnipeg, Manitoba$28.19 per hour
• Toronto, Ontario$50.65 per hour
• Montreal, Quebec$33.29 per hour
• Charlottetown, PEI$30.55 per hour
• Sydney, Nova Scotia$32.86 per hour
• Moncton, New Brunswick$14.22 per hour

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Oriental & Thai Massage Prices

An average Thai Massage costs $30 for 30 minutes and up to $150 for 2 hours in Los Angeles. By comparison, a Thai massage in Boston can average around $60 per hour or up to $230 for a 2-hour Thai massage package, including a foot scrub or another additional treatment.

The term “Oriental massage” is a broad definition that can apply to any modality that came from a country in Asia, including:

• Thai massage
• Acupressure based on Traditional Chinese Medicine
• Qigong meridian treatments

What About Taxes For Massage Therapists

What about taxes? If you have employee status with a company, your employer pays 6.2% of your federal taxes on each of your paychecks.

That means when its time to pay your taxes, your employer will have already covered a portion of your taxes for you.

If you are a contractor with a company or you run a private practice, youll be responsible for 100% of your taxes, though you may be able to write off some of your business expenses which would reduce your taxable income.

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Job Description For Massage Therapist

Massage Therapist performs massage therapy in a healthcare setting to control pain and promote wellness. Consults with a client, records their basic medical history, assesses their conditions, and suggests appropriate massage techniques based on their current health. Being a Massage Therapist utilizes soft or deep tissue massage or other therapeutic massage methods to provide pain relief and promote healing. May require a high school diploma or its equivalent. Additionally, Massage Therapist typically reports to a manager. Requires certification as a Massage Therapist. Massage Therapist‘s years of experience requirement may be unspecified. Certification and/or licensing in the position’s specialty is the main requirement. … View full job description

Where Are Massage Therapists Most In Demand

The states with the highest concentration of jobs include:Colorado | Alaska | Hawaii | Washington | Nevada

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 2021 median salary projected job growth through 2030. Actual salaries vary depending on location, level of education, years of experience, work environment, and other factors. Salaries may differ even more for those who are self-employed or work part time.

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Working Independently Vs Working In A Clinic

There are pros and cons to both working independently and working in a clinic. Working in a clinic is great if youre a new massage therapist starting out in your career, as youll have plenty of support from other coworkers, a solid roster of already-existing clients and a chance to learn how to run the business side of massage therapy. The downside is that youll sometimes have to pay rent or a room rental fee and comply with clinic hours.

When working independently, youll have the freedom to make your own hours and charge what you want hourly. You also may not have to factor in rent or a room rental fee if you work from home or decide to make your work mobile but you may have higher overhead costs initially.

If working as an independent massage therapist interests you, youre in luckin todays digital age of Facebook ads and Instagram business profiles, its easier than ever to reach audiences and garner new clients through digital marketing. This makes it much more feasible for massage therapists to work independently as opposed to relying solely on clinic clients.

A quick Google search of wellness Instagram accounts brings up hundreds of lists of wellness accounts to follow. As a healthcare professional, you should take advantage of this incredibly valuable platform to educate and inform your audience of the benefits of massage therapy, which will hopefully translate into new clients and in turn, more income.

How Much Do You Tip A Massage Therapist

In the United States and parts of Canada, most people leave a tip of up to 20 percent. However, you wouldn’t tip if your massage is at an all-inclusive spa where they automatically include a tip for their services on the total bill.

If you’re in doubt about the tipping practices at your location, then you can always call ahead and ask the receptionist if they include a tip automatically in the bill, or if it’s not expected.

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States Where Massage Therapists Earn The Least Money

Massage therapist salaries are not so great in many states of the South and Midwest. In the worst-paying state for massage therapists, Louisiana, the average salary was less than $30,000. While cost of living is certainly cheaper in Louisiana when compared to the national average, its average massage therapy income of $28,790 is still very low. However, salaries for massage therapists werent always so low in Louisiana. Five years ago, the mean annual wage for a massage therapist in the state was $37,550 before falling by 23.3% by 2019. Here’s a look at the bottom-10 states for massage therapist salaries:

Louisianas decline in wages is the worst out of all states analyzed. Rhode Island was a distant second, experiencing a 10.4% decline in massage therapy salaries from 2014 to 2019, followed by Alaska, Maryland and Iowa. By contrast, the average massage therapy salary in Nebraska soared by 66.5%, from only $31,420 in 2014, up to $52,320 in 2019.

Massage Therapist Pay: Private Practice Vs Employee

According to reports from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average massage therapist hourly wage is $20.59 per hour. However, its unclear if this rate is based on self-employed massage therapists or employees of massage companies. Or if its an average of both types of worker.

The main financial difference between a self-employed massage therapist and a massage therapist who works for someone else is likely going to be the total amount of take-home pay the MT will make.

The BLS further states:

In addition to giving massages, therapists, especially those who are self-employed, may spend time recording clients notes, marketing, booking clients, washing linens, and conducting other general business tasks. Occupational Outlook Handbook: Massage Therapists

Lets dig into this a little more.

While a therapist in a private practice will set their own rates, there are additional tasks theyll do and expenses theyll have to cover that an employee-based massage therapist wont have.

One of our massage therapists at Nivati was curious about this, so she took out a calculator and did the math. Heres what she had to say:

When I operated my own massage business I collected $60/hr for massage. The expenses below outline what that $60/hr paid for before my take-home amount, she said.

I laid out all of my monthly and annual expenses. When I averaged everything out, I was taking home $34/hr, which is not much different from what I make as employee, but with extra work.

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Salary Range And Outlook

Hourly fees for massage therapy vary widely, depending upon geographic location and work setting. For instance, a massage therapist at a high-end urban salon might charge $75 to $90/hour, whereas a sole proprietor working out of his or her home in a small town may charge no more than $40 or $50. The average nationwide rate is $65/hour, although the rate is generally higher in large metropolitan areas.

Beyond The Dollars: The Many Benefits Of Being A Massage Therapist

As you get a better sense of the earning potential for massage therapists, you should also consider a number of other important factors and attractive features that are part of the profession.

Lets return to Joanie Holst, MS, BCTMB, CNMT, CMLDT, CKTP, from Northwestern Health Sciences University to better understand some of them.

In addition to being an associate professor in massage therapy, she has been a practicing massage therapist for nearly 30 years.

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Massage Therapist Salary Per Hour

PayScale lists the average massage therapist salary per hour as $20.54, as of July 2020. The site lists a range of reported salaries from $14.37 to $59.06. Since many massage therapists work part-time rather than full-time, hourly wage figures give a more accurate representation of income than annual salaries.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics , which tracks data for nearly all civilian professions, reported that massage therapists earned a median hourly salary of $20.59 as of 2019. Median salary means that half in the profession earned more while half earned less. The BLS reported the median annual pay for massage therapists was $42,820 per year in 2019.