How much does a Massage Therapist make?

The average salary for a Massage Therapist is $75,256 per year in United States. Salaries estimates are based on 3416 salaries submitted anonymously to Glassdoor by a Massage Therapist employees in United States.

The highest salary for a Massage Therapist in United States is $103,510 per year.

The lowest salary for a Massage Therapist in United States is $56,442 per year.

If you are thinking of becoming a Massage Therapist or planning the next step in your career, find details about the role, the career path and salary trajectory of a Massage Therapist.

Due to the rise in demand, massage therapists’ salaries have increased a considerable amount within the past decade. Massage therapy has been incorporated into many consumers’ health and wellness plans written by medical providers.  Most massage therapists work part time, although due to the number of providers that are self-employed, their hours and pay vary significantly. The level of strength and endurance necessary to provide a massage service is significant, making it difficult to work a fourty-hour week. Therefore, massage therapists that earn a higher salary in the field are employed by larger offices, such as chiropractors.

Powered by Glassdoor Economic Research

Massage therapists described their job experiences using Glassdoor, and about 64% feel satisfied with their annual salaries. A bachelor's degree and years of on-the-job experience have the most influence on salary, but you can earn an extra $2,757.49 every year through tips and profit sharing.

Tips and location influence your earnings in a massage therapist role. The further you are in the massage therapist career path, the higher your rate of pay can be. Massage therapists usually earn somewhere between $34,942.97 and $107,201.57, with the average massage therapist earning about $60,246.50 every year. Becoming a lead massage therapist is possible after mastering job-related skills and showing your worth.

An associate's or bachelor's degree is required from an accredited massage school for entry-level positions. Improve your massage therapist salary by going above and beyond the education level required for the role; if only an associate's degree is necessary, you'll often earn more with a bachelor's. Most states require licensing to practice, but you can increase your potential by becoming a board-certified masseuse. Membership in the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) also impacts your massage therapist salary, as it reveals a certain standard of professional knowledge, skills, and accountability. Location matters, and setting makes a difference too; pay varies widely between private practices, hospitals, wellness centers, spas, and luxury hotels.

In massage therapist positions, you'll always need a breakdown of where your pay is coming from before considering salary negotiation. In the typical practice, for example, you'll earn a percentage of the massages you give and spend the rest of the day in non-contact time (it's unreasonable to be giving massages all eight hours of your workday). During negotiation, consider the amount charged for massages, the percentage you earn, and what you're paid during non-contact time. Generally, the latter is the most negotiable, and if you're paid a set wage, you can counter the initial offer or request a raise of up to 20% above your employer's number, including benefits.

About 63.88% of Massage Therapist professionals feel satisfied with their salary, according to anonymous Glassdoor ratings. An additional $2,757 in potential pay per year, among other factors, can qualify the annual pay of a Massage Therapist in United States as a good salary.

Massage Therapist professionals in United States have a wide total pay range, between $34,943 and $107,202 depending on experience, with an estimated total pay of $60,246 following the average career path of a Massage Therapist.