(305) 595-9500
Massage Therapy is one of the few careers where someone can earn a decent wage without needing to spend several years in school. For example, our massage therapy program in Miami can be completed in 8½ months!
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for Massage Therapists was $41, 420 in May 2018. This is greater than the median annual wage in the US of $38, 640, and greater than the median annual wage of other healthcare support occupations, which was $34, 830!
Not bad for a profession that only requires 9-months of schooling. Let’s compare this to similar occupations in health sciences.
| Occupation | Entry-Level Education | Median Wage |
| Massage Therapists | Certificate (8-9 months) | $41, 420 |
| Home Health Aides | Certificate (~2-months) | $25,330 |
| Nursing Assistants | Certificate (~4 months) | $29,580 |
| Athletic Trainers | Bachelor's (4-5 years) | $47,510 |
| Exercise Physiologists | Bachelor's (4-5 years) | $49,270 |
| Physical Therapist Assistants | Associate’s (2 years) | $48,090 |
Keep in mind that median wage refers to the “wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.” In other words, it’s roughly how much 50% or half of the people in the profession earned. Simultaneously, the lowest 10% of massage therapists earned only $21, 340, while the top 10% earned $78, 280.
Your actual income will be dependent on a variety of factors, including geographical location, and place of employment.
For example, in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL metropolitan area, the annual median wage for massage therapist is $44, 510, which is higher than the national average.
In Which Industry to Massage Therapists Earn the Most?
The industry in which a massage therapist works also seems to make a difference in salary. Currently, the industry in which massage therapists earn the most is in the office of Chiropractors. According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook, the top-industries that employ massage therapists and their median annual wage are: office of chiropractors, office of other health practitioners, personal care services, and accommodation industries.
| Industry of Employment | Median Annual Wage (May 2018) |
| Offices of Chiropractors | $51, 690 |
| Offices of all Other Health Practitioners | $44,560 |
| Personal Care Services | $39,740 |
| Accommodation | $28,020 |
How Massage School Can Affect Income
If you’re thinking of enrolling in a massage therapy program, remember that no massage therapy school can guarantee you a job or a specific salary after graduation. However, you can get a better idea of your earning potential by speaking to alumni of a particular school.
Doing so will let you know which industries they're working in, and will give you an insight as to the kinds of companies that recruit at that particular school.
If you have an idea of which industry you'd like to work in, then it would make sense to select a massage school that offers that particular focus.
For example, if you wish to work for a Chiropractor, then finding a massage school with an alternative medicine focus, such as a program at an acupuncture school, maybe a good fit for you.
Study Massage Therapy and Shiatsu in Miami, FL
If you're looking to become a massage therapist and have an interest in working at a Chiropractor's Office, then you should consider enrolling at Acupuncture and Massage College in Miami, Florida. We offer a Shiatsu certification as part of our massage therapy program. For more information, call us at (305)595-9500 or visit us in person at 10506 North Kendall Drive, Miami, FL 33176. Be sure to download our free massage therapy career guide below!
