How much money can a Massage Therapist make?

This is a tough question to answer, but one that get’s asked most often by Massage Schools students. I happen to know that Oprah’s LMT makes $250,000 a year just to work with her. The average MT is barely making less than $20,000 according to Wiki Answers (but part timers are included in that estimate). 

The answer is: as much as your willing to work for it and believe it. 

As I go out into the world trying to teach MTs how to make $100,000 per year in less than twenty hours per week, I believe this really is not that hard of a task to undertake with determination, vision and action. But it does require an open mind and asking questions of every successful person in your life, who will answer. Over the years my clients, who are some of the most business savvy people in the world) pushed me into new ideas and ways of being that might never have been possible had they not shared their knowledge with me. I began with a very limited mindset, and a lack of business savvy. As I began to look around and see that the very people who wanted to to help the world and the people in it, were often underpaid, exhausted, and their message wasn’t reaching very far… I decided them and there to not be one of them any longer. That day I began to uncover MANY ways to make good money, and I freely and generously mentored every MT around me, as I believe there is enough for everyone in this world.

I’m not going to lie, having exceptional hands on ability, or being seasoned at this, or having additional training can certainly help you bring in that goal income of $100 per hour or more. But the reality is, none of this is necessary.

I know of an MT who graduated with my class at Seattle Massage School in 1995. No one in the class wanted to get a massage from him. He was frankly, unbearable to get a massage from. He just didn’t have “it”. We all felt terrible about not wanting him to touch us, because he was such a great guy. Very kind and positive and friendly. But he hurt us, and simply wouldn’t listen. I remember watching in horror as he swung a students arm rapidly in circles during a test on myofascial unwinding. Halfway through he fainted from anxiety. (Clearly on some level he knew he wasn’t that good… but it meant A LOT to him). The thing about him that everyone use to say was “He may kill someone, but he is so determined to make $60,000 a year when he gets out of here, I bet he’ll be the first to do it”. You know what? He was. Within six months of graduating from massage school the graduate with the worst hands on ability was earning $60,000 per year. No kidding. 

I’ve seen these examples everywhere. I know of a woman who gives the same uninspiring massage over and over. She really doesn’t love being an MT. But because she is focused on making money, she grosses over $125,000 per year, with little repeat clientele. I know of a new graduate who has a nice swedish massage, but really that’s it. With a little business savvy and making the right connections she was averaging $125 per hour plus tips right out of massage school.

When I began this profession, my focus was anti-money. In fact I despised the idea of it, because my lack of it brought me so much pain and stress. I believe that is why I didn’t have enough. 

It took hard work and dedication for me to earn a good living and lots of trial and error, but these days I have it all pretty streamlined. Typical business practices don’t work in this profession because your profit margin and tax write offs need to be high, while expenses need to be low, so people saying that what I am teaching is not possible because they have a business degree… watch out! I spell it all out for you in the Magic Touch. If one “true healer” can make a decent living at this because I shared this information, I’m satisfied. I truly did get bored of seeing MTs without the “gift” being the ones that made a good living at this.

Let’s move this conversation forward to: “Yes we can!” already! ~ Meagan

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