Massage Therapist income

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The first seven years of my massage therapy career left me broke and burned out. I often fell short on rent for my tiny studio apartment and suffered terribly from constant fevers and exhaustion. But through perseverance, dedication, and some creative entrepreneurship, I was able to turn my career around, become a successful business owner, and work with some of the most discriminating clients in the world, all while getting back my health and vitality, and more importantly, learning to love being a healer again. Here are 10 tips that helped me along my path.

1. Compensation for Healers

You can earn $100, 000 next year as a massage therapist, while working fewer hours. It’s true, and it’s the premise for my book, The Magic Touch: How to Make $100, 000 Per Year as a Massage Therapist.

There are several ways you can work fewer hours per week as a massage therapist and still bring in $100, 000 per year (with a year being 11 months in these estimates, and a one-month vacation). You can increase your work by focusing on insurance-reimbursed clients, high-end clients, or outcall clients (see Make More, Work Less, at right).

Adding a product line, such as offering organic spa products to your clients, could add an additional $1 to $1 million per year. The earning potential is based on your passion and willingness to succeed. Seated massage is another great way to expand your company and contract with other MTs. Many companies, hospitals, athletic events, and assisted-living facilities are eager to have one or more therapists massage their clients on a regular basis.

Everywhere you look, there are opportunities for building yourself a successful practice. You need only be eager, confident, and motivated to teach people about the amazing benefits of massage. And, if you become specialized at treating certain conditions, be sure to advertise to the groups of clients who get these conditions most. Golfers, basketball players, runners, and computer technicians—they each have specific symptoms derived from working repetitively at their trades or hobbies. You could be the one MT in your area known for working successfully with these folks. In turn, you will greatly increase your marketability and potential to charge a specialty rate for your high level of professionalism and proven skills. There are many ways to layer income coming in to increase your hourly wage, while not increasing your workload. All it takes is a desire to think creatively and take action.

2. Dress For Success

The pioneers of our profession were able to wear whatever they wanted. For those practitioners working in spas and hotels, the polo and khaki uniform may be expected. Today’s MTs have many more options. Looking your best will set you apart and improve your self-confidence. I recommend dressing for the clientele you want to attract. Wealthy people are used to expensive stuff: luxury cars and designer clothes. Be a natural extension of the luxury life they live and you’ll be a natural choice for their massage needs. Dress on the level of your client, trim your nails, avoid wearing unnatural or strong fragrance—your clients will notice. This is part of the secret of generating referrals. They might not tell you, but trust me, clients will tell their friends if your appearance or hygiene don’t meet high standards, thereby killing your potential for future business. It is not enough to be like everyone else in any business. If you want to be a success, you have to look the part.

I know of one LMT who went from making $80, 000 a year to $20, 000 a year, in part, because he refused to change his style. He kept wearing the same tired khaki and white shoe uniform and ignored frequent complaints about offensive body odor. Can you imagine losing $60, 000 in income for refusing to wear deodorant? How you dress can directly impact your income. The truth is, it doesn’t matter how great your touch is if you aren’t bringing clients through the door.

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