Salary for Massage Therapist Jobs

Massage Therapist Salary Data

Massage therapy is practiced in many different kinds of facilities, allowing a massage therapist to choose the work environment that is best for him or her. However, salaries for massage therapy will vary in different employment settings. Researching a Massage Therapist's Salary by Industry, we can see that salaries for massage therapy are currently highest for those working in health care settings. In the health care field, massage therapy is more likely to be used to treat specific injuries or conditions and may require special expertise, which usually corresponds to a higher massage therapist salary. Massage therapy is a field that lends itself well to independent workers who are interested in helping others. For Self-Employed Massage Therapists, salary is somewhat flexible; starting salaries for massage therapy may be largely based on industry standards, but those who are self-employed have some control over setting (and gradually increasing) their own salaries. Working at multiple locations, another employment option in this field, could also impact a massage therapist's salary range.

Cost of Living for Massage Therapists

While specific requirements vary from state to state, most places require some sort of licensing or certification to work as a massage therapist and many also require continuing education. For massage therapists with advanced training in different types of massage therapy, salary may be higher. Measure Massage Therapists' Salary by City, and you'll find that Los Angeles is one of the top cities for high massage therapist salaries. Comparing Massage Therapist Salary Data by State reveals similar results; California currently offers higher salaries for massage therapy than some other states. Even for experienced massage therapists, salary variations may be significant from one place to the next. This kind of variation is just one reason why it's important to be thorough when conducting massage therapist salary research. The PayScale Cost of Living Calculator can also provide important cost of living data for different locations. For example, if you're researching a massage therapists salary in North Carolina, you can use the calculator to find both the Cost of Living and Massage Therapist Salary Range in various North Carolina cities.

Starting Salaries for Massage Therapy

As awareness of the health benefits of regular massage increases, demand for massage therapy jobs is also expected to increase. It's a good time to enter the field, but beginning classes to become a licensed massage therapist can be daunting. Before they enroll, many therapists-to-be want to know: what are starting salaries for massage therapy? And what effect does experience have on a massage therapist's salary range? PayScale's massage therapist salary data looks promising, especially when it comes to the the median starting salaries for massage therapy. The Massage Therapist Salary by Years Experience chart shows that median Starting Salaries for Massage Therapy range from around $30,000 to almost $50,000, which is higher than many similar fields' starting salaries. For massage therapists, salary can also increase significantly after just a few years.

Massage Therapist's Salary Story

The starting salaries for massage therapy, along with an independent lifestyle and flexible employment options, make massage therapy an attractive career path. But salary research can only show you so much about a career. For an insider's take on a massage therapists salary and what it's like to be a massage therapist, read "Massage Therapist Salary," the all-true story of self-employed massage therapist Gilda Hart, in the Salary Stories blog.