On the whole what do you make?

[Pompal 09.]

 I have just signed up for school and are wondering on the average what people are making out there as massage therapists. Tell us the situation your in and what you make. Thanks!

 

[Michealla]

My first month I had one paying client and one outcall, made about $150 for the month, rent was $400, insurance was $150, licenses and such ran another $70.I am celebrating my first anniversary in business as a reflexologist and I make between $400-$900 a month. I see about $40-$50 of that for pizza and coffee.  Miraculously I've always made rent except for that first month and the business started paying all of the business bills last November (phone, rent, student loan, supplies, marketing). Though January-March were pretty tight.

 

[Dr. DOLY]

Lets see, I've had different situations so I'll give you a short list...Full time at a large, busy day spa ...about 37,000 a yearFull time at a small, poorly managed spa.....about 17,000(wouldn't have been worth the stress at twice the pay!)Self-employed for 6 months....average profit so far about 900 per month and slowly growing  We eat lots of beans and rice for now, but it's sooo worth it!!Kirstenp.s. I am a single mom with a umm "high maintenance" child. so if I can do it, anyone can!!

 

[the_unluckiest]

Sad to say but as of now I've yet to clear a profit, lol.   BUT with that said, I still adore what I do. I'm lucky in that my income isn't needed for my family. I was a stay at home mom for years before I went back to school. I do hope to continue to build up my business and someday actually make some money. For now, I'm going to keep on keepin' on and enjoying myself.

 

[Sebastian]

On the whole what do you make?

I would be curious to hear how these responses compare to what the school has been telling you.

 

[Allexis]

In the morning, I make breakfast, at noon, I make lunch, at night, I make supper, sometimes dinner.  I make my dog sit before going outside and before crossing the street.  I make my wife laugh as often as possible, and I try to make friends wherever I go.  

 

[JUSMI]

Mick, good one  ;D It made me crack up, the best way to start the day!

 

[leah g.]

On the whole what do you make?

The school didn't tell me anything other than I could make a living wage...and that is what I am worried about. I want to be able to make a living at some point. I want to love what I do but I need to survive

 

[michael b]

I've just celebrated my 6 year anniversary of doing massage for a living.  Last year I made $42K.  I work an average of 20 hours a week.  The previous years ranged from $19K to $30K.  Honestly though, there are SO MANY varying factors that affect it. YOU are in control.  What do you want to make?  Visualize it, then make it happen!  Good luck!

 

[Callisto]

On the whole what do you make?

Hmmm... let's see. You've just signed up for massage school, great! Congratulations on this choice... or does it choose you? You've found this wonderful resource, Bodywork Online, with an absolute wealth of information about the art, science and business of massage. Honestly, my massage would not be where it is today without all I've learned from all of you, and I feel like a real success. Thank you, everyone. I just raised an eyebrow when I discovered that with all this expertise at your fingertips, and the ability to ask any massage question in the world and have it answered, this is your first one. I have a question for you to ponder, not to answer here. Why do you want to become a massage therapist? Please don't take this as a slight. Just something to think about.

 

[Yokiatsu]

On the whole what do you make?

I think it is a valid question. It was one that I felt the need to ask when I was looking at MT school. The answers I got back were a lot like Barefoot's. I understand that it can be looked at as a "calling", and I feel that, understanding that it isn't exactly a way to get rich, it does feel like a positive move for me in other ways. I do wish, however, that there hadn't been that need to avoid the money aspect when I was asking. If money had been important enough for me to choose something else more "lucrative", I would not be here now. Having to chase the answer made it feel like some evil secret.

 

[Christopher M]

On the whole what do you make?

I have to admit that I have been hesitant to answer this question.  Its not because I dont want to let people know that you can make great money in this business.  But it seems like most therapists think since they make the average wage that all make the average wage.Last month my therapist (I have 5 employees) on average made $3,500 working an average of 32 hours a week.  I check with my employees all the time and none of them would give up what they have or the living they are making to do anything else.   Yes, you can make a good living doing this.

 

[CAB?Loserrface]

BigDog, your therapists are making $3500 per month working 32 hours per week?  Or is that 32 hrs per month? WOW if it's 32 hours per month

 

[rayzinside]

I wish I could be that generous, but it is 32 hours a week.  I have noticed that a lot of business/spa owners come here to ask about how much to pay a therapist and then get mad when we tell them to pay them well.  I learned a very valuble leason in the military.  TAKE CARE OF THOSE WHO TAKE CARE OF YOU.  I pay my therapist very well and they take care of me, my business, and our clients.  The first 5 months of this venture I made no money.  I even had to use my savings to pay payroll once or twice.  But now my therapist keep telling me "I want to make you a very rich man, because then you will make me a very rich man/woman."  To those that have employees, TAKE CARE OF THEM.  It will pay off in the long run.  

 

[??? What-a-burger ???]

On the whole what do you make?

I wish I could be that generous, but it is 32 hours a week.  

I have noticed that a lot of business/spa owners come here to ask about how much to pay a therapist and then get mad when we tell them to pay them well.  I learned a very valuble leason in the military.  TAKE CARE OF THOSE WHO TAKE CARE OF YOU.  I pay my therapist very well and they take care of me, my business, and our clients.  The first 5 months of this venture I made no money.  I even had to use my savings to pay payroll once or twice.  But now my therapist keep telling me "I want to make you a very rich man, because then you will make me a very rich man/woman."  

To those that have employees, TAKE CARE OF THEM.  It will pay off in the long run.  

*standing*
*applauding*

 

[Devin]

On the whole what do you make?

Our fulltime therapists make about $40,000 (including tips) per year doing about 12-14 outcalls per week.They also usually see private clients on days off, or before starting their shift with us and also do some chair massage for us on their days off, earning them another $10,000 or so a year.

 

[TwinMomof5kids]

On the whole what do you make?

I wish I could be that generous, but it is 32 hours a week.  

I have noticed that a lot of business/spa owners come here to ask about how much to pay a therapist and then get mad when we tell them to pay them well.  I learned a very valuble leason in the military.  TAKE CARE OF THOSE WHO TAKE CARE OF YOU.  I pay my therapist very well and they take care of me, my business, and our clients.  The first 5 months of this venture I made no money.  I even had to use my savings to pay payroll once or twice.  But now my therapist keep telling me "I want to make you a very rich man, because then you will make me a very rich man/woman."  

To those that have employees, TAKE CARE OF THEM.  It will pay off in the long run.  

Joining TG in applause!! I have seen businesses be very successful (like a multi-million dollar business that someone close to me worked for for 15 years) that treated their employees like gold. In return they got loyal, long-term, happy and productive workers. It is such a shame that Wal-Mart has become the business model of choice these days.

YOU GO BIGDOG!!!

 

[tjv189]

Joining TG in applause!!

*winks* -- Actually that's mush over there applauding... but I am applauding to!  *applause*  -- Go BigDog!  Go! --- Go! Go! Go! *barks and shakes*

 

[Blondie.]

While I appreciate the adolades.  It is my therapist that deserve them.  All I do is get the clients and give my therapist the tools and goals to do their job, and then GET OUT OF THEIR WAY and let them do it.  I believe that when we all have a common goal and we all know where we are in that goal, we work better togather and strive for reaching it.  I tell my therapist just how much money I make every month.  I take the same amount as my average therapist.  That way they know that I am working for them, just as much as they are working for me.  I thought about taking as much as the highest paid therapist but then thought about how that would look.  If one therapist did real well then I did real well.  This way all of us have to do real well for me to do well.  I now steer a team that realizes that if we all work togather we all do well togather.

 

[Gamer]

This might sound stupid but...BigDog are you a MT?  Just wondering if that is why you treat so well, kudos for you!