Industries with the Highest Wages
A massage therapy professional can earn a high wage as evidenced by the average wage of $39,780 as of May 2008. Massage therapists can work in a number of varied industries too as the graph shows. Some therapists are self-employed, some are instructors at junior colleges and vocational schools, while others work in hospitals and nursing homes. Massage therapists are even being hired by businesses to provide stress relieving services to employees as a benefit. The high pay will probably surprise some people, but the fact is that once a massage therapist builds up a steady clientele or gains experience, it is possible to earn a very good annual wage.
In the top 5 paying industries, massage therapists earn over $21 an hour. The highest paying industry is ‘other schools’ which includes specialty private organizations and presents unique opportunities. A more typical pay is found in the other 4 industries that include several types of medical facilities and junior colleges. Junior colleges are paying an average of $25.08 per hour compared to dental offices paying $21.76 per hour. This represents a 15.2% difference for an annual amount of $6,890.
Job opportunities are expected to grow in the nursing care facility industry as baby boomers age. The average hourly rate paid in nursing care facilities is $22.79 per hour as of May 2008 or $47,410 annually. Hospitals also hire massage therapists and paid a $21.93 average hourly rate for the same time period. Though it can take some time to network and develop a steady clientele, a licensed experience massage therapist will find there is plenty of excellent employment opportunity.
Industries with the Highest Employment Levels
As the chart categories indicate, massage therapists are employed in a variety of industries. Besides physician and health offices, this occupation can be found in hotels, spas, fitness centers and many other places. There is a growing acceptance of massage therapy among the aging baby boomer population which is creating bright employment prospects for therapists. In fact the Department of Labor predicts that the number of jobs for massage therapists will grow by 19% between 2008 and 2018. The older population is becoming more accepting and the younger population embraces these services without hesitation.
In addition, health facilities from hospitals to physical therapy facilities are hiring massage therapists for stress relieving and muscle soothing services. Among the top 5 industries with the highest employment levels, health offices paid the highest average annual wage at $44,830 as of May 2008. This is 22.7% higher than the average annual wages paid by the traveler accommodation industry.
The travel industry includes cruise ships, hotels and casinos to name a few businesses. It paid an average of $36,520 as of May 2008 for a difference of $8,310 a year compared to the health offices industry. Many massage therapists will work for a business to gain practical experience and then seek self employment. The actual compensation earned will depend on the years of experience, training, and variety of skills and techniques mastered. Among the top five industries for massage therapists, 3 pay in the low to mid $40,000 range which is good pay by many standards.
