Realistic Massage Therapy Earnings Expectations

Have you just finished massage therapy school? Are you due to graduate this year? New to the field? You get the point. Anyways, as with most careers it’s sound to have realistic expectations heading into your first year on the job.

Most school’s include very high wages in their marketing materials. $75 an hour, etc. Seeing this most students jump the gun and go “wow, that means I could work an eight hour day and make ($75 x 8) $600 a day. Unfortunately this is rarely the case. 

Beginning massage therapists have to take the time to build up a strong, reliable client base. In the beginning you may also need to charge lower rates due to an overall lack of experience and contacts. And let’s not forget one practical fact. While a massage therapist may work forty hours per week, at least ten of these will be spent in administration, preparation, etc.   

So please don’t take this as a negative leaning article. Just be aware that fresh out of school massage therapists will have to adjust to their new positions like everyone else. Expect lower rates, fewer hours and a slightly hard time in building up a client base. But hey, on the bright side, while you probably won’t meet the somewhat unrealistic quoted income in your first year, you will still be earning a strong income.

Tags: massage therapy, ontario, canada, expectations, school, earnings, income