Average
Salary & Job Outlook
Massage
Median wages (May 2004)
$15.36 hourly
U.S. Minimum wage (2005)
$5.15 hourly
Median hourly earnings of massage therapists, including gratuities earned,
were $15.36 in May 2004. The middle 50 percent earned between $9.78 and
$23.82. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $7.16, and the highest 10
percent earned more than $32.21.
Generally, massage therapists earn 15
to 20 percent of their income as gratuities. For those who
work in a hospital or other clinical setting, however, tipping is not
common. Employment
(2004)
97,000 jobs
About 3/4 of all massage
therapists worked part-time
Growth and employment numbers:
Massage therapists held about 97,000 jobs in 2004. About
two-thirds were self-employed. Of those self-employed,
most owned their own business, and the rest worked as independent
contractors. Others found employment in salons and spas;
the offices of physicians and chiropractors; fitness and
recreational sports centers; and hotels.
About three-quarters
of all massage therapists worked part-time or had variable
schedules, although as mentioned earlier many massage therapists
who work 15 to 30 hours per week consider themselves to
be full-time workers.
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What
is Massage Therapy?
Massage
therapy is used as a means of treating painful ailments, reducing
stress, rehabilitating sports injuries, and promoting general
health. A trained massage therapist accomplishes this by manipulating
a client’s soft tissues in order to improve the body’s
circulation, loosen muscles and remove waste products from the
muscles.
Massage therapists work in an array of settings both private
and public, such as;
- Private offices
- Studios
- Hospitals
- Nursing homes
- Cruise Ships
Some massage therapists travel to clients’ homes or offices
to provide a massage. It is not uncommon for full-time massage
therapist to divide their daily work hours among several different
settings, depending on their clients’ needs.
Employment for massage therapists is expected to increase
faster than average over the period from 2006 to 2014 as
more people experience the benefits of massage therapy. Many
states regulate massage therapy and those individuals who complete
formal training programs and pass the national certification
exam are likely to have very good job opportunities for many
years to come. |
