Show Me the Money!

Good Morning! Tough Mudder Toronto is Today. Hoo-Rah.

Early in my career I was at a networking event and began chatting with a lawyer. After exchanging a few ‘get to know you’ and ‘what do you do’ questions, he asked: “So, do you make any money doing that?” It had a slight, “you call that a real career?” jab to it, but I would later learn this was his true personality and I shouldn’t take it personally. At the time, I did take it quite personally and felt that I had to defend my career and the entire profession of Massage Therapy. However, I think I was too shocked by the direct question, so I probably responded with a flustered response boasting that we don’t just do it for the money, but we love to help people etc. Yeah, I’m sure I showed him.

The short answer is: yes, I do make money doing this. In fact, I do quite well as a Registered Massage Therapist.

From day one in Massage School, our instructors were trying to be straight with us about what a career in Massage Therapy was really like. One instructor drew a graph on the board indicating busy months and slow months. Busy months included September-December. Slow months included January, July, and August. The rest of the year would be steady depending on the economy and the weather. Yes, the weather. On rainy days, same day bookings will fill your schedule. But, if there is a snow storm, you can bet on same day cancellations. This graph was also a good indicator of when it was the best time for a Massage Therapist to take holidays--assuming you could afford them.

The long answer is: Our income will vary month to month because we depend on seeing a client in order to get paid. If we don’t see a client, we don’t get paid.

It may seem that our paydays are rewarding as the average rate for a one-hour massage is $85. Many of us will owe a percentage of that $85 to cover our use of the clinic, but sometimes there is a flat rate we owe the clinic each month. Some of us though, can work from home and therefore keep the entire $85. After you factor in HST (13% put aside) and taxes (20% saved to be safe), we might walk away with approximately $40, which sounds great for an hour of work! Just remember, we have literally been working for that full hour, hands on, hands moving the entire time. Even if the client falls asleep, which is a compliment, we are not taking a facebook break or even leaving the room for a second.

Furthermore, a Massage Therapist cannot work a full eight hour day and manage to maintain good health. Many Massage Therapists may work from multiple clinics in order to accumulate hours and income. Our governing college advises Massage Therapists work an average of 25 hours per week. This helps to prevent burn-outs in the profession.

Our profession has a burn-out rate of 2-5 years! This comes from Massage Therapists working too hard right out of the gate, enjoying the income it will provide, but sacrificing their own health for it. In some cases, the profession just isn’t what they thought it would be, and they are on to the next thing.

Many Massage Therapists do very well in the profession, and some I have talked to need to budget more diligently each month on personal expenses in order to ensure their bills are paid. This is why you will likely not see two Massage Therapists in a relationship because the income is unpredictable. If we truly love our profession and are in it because we love to help others with our bare hands, than you will probably find us in a relationship with someone who has a “real job.”