Massage therapists
May 2005 employment and annual earnings distribution, wage and salary workers
Massage Therapists: Massage customers for hygienic or remedial purposes.
Massage therapists held about 97,000 jobs in 2004. About two-thirds were self-employed. Of those self-employed, most owned their own business, and the rest worked as independent contractors. Others found employment in salons and spas; the offices of physicians and chiropractors; fitness and recreational sports centers; and hotels. About three-quarters of all massage therapists worked part-time or had variable schedules, although as mentioned earlier many massage therapists who work 15 to 30 hours per week consider themselves to be full-time workers.
Median hourly earnings of massage therapists, including gratuities earned, were $15.36 in May 2004. The middle 50 percent earned between $9.78 and $23.82. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $7.16, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $32.21. Generally, massage therapists earn 15 to 20 percent of their income as gratuities. For those who work in a hospital or other clinical setting, however, tipping is not common.
(from the Occupational Outlook Handbook: Massage Therapists)
See more recent statistics for employed workers below.
May 2005 employment and annual earnings distribution, wage and salary workers
National Occupational Employment and Earnings by Industry (NAICS sector and 3-digit industry group)
| Massage therapists | |||||
| Percentile earnings distribution | |||||
| 10th | 25th | 50th | 75th | 90th | |
| Wholesale Trade employment: 70 mean earnings: n.a. (EC) (def) (IG) | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. |
| Retail Trade employment: 340 mean earnings: $27,360 (EC) (def) (IG) | $12,740 | $16,110 | $27,340 | $38,490 | $43,140 |
| Health and Personal Care Stores employment: 170 mean earnings: $34,160 | $22,810 | $28,970 | $36,790 | $41,230 | $43,900 |
| General Merchandise Stores employment: 140 mean earnings: $18,530 | $11,740 | $13,100 | $15,670 | $19,140 | $29,090 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing employment: 90 mean earnings: $30,360 (EC) (def) (IG) | $12,390 | $14,250 | $19,110 | $51,010 | $67,070 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises employment: 50 mean earnings: $39,320 (EC) (def) (IG) | $11,650 | $13,000 | $41,530 | $62,580 | $68,360 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises employment: 50 mean earnings: $39,320 | $11,650 | $13,000 | $41,530 | $62,580 | $68,360 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services employment: 130 mean earnings: $32,960 (EC) (def) (IG) | $15,590 | $25,420 | $34,410 | $40,840 | $44,490 |
| Administrative and Support Services employment: 130 mean earnings: $32,960 | $15,590 | $25,420 | $34,410 | $40,840 | $44,490 |
| Educational Services employment: 540 mean earnings: $45,440 (EC) (def) (IG) | $19,400 | $32,610 | $43,720 | $56,250 | $77,680 |
| Educational Services employment: 540 mean earnings: $45,440 | $19,400 | $32,610 | $43,720 | $56,250 | $77,680 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance employment: 10,800 mean earnings: $42,690 (EC) (def) (IG) | $21,670 | $27,530 | $38,980 | $55,170 | $72,260 |
| Ambulatory Health Care Services employment: 10,090 mean earnings: $42,670 | $21,650 | $27,410 | $38,950 | $55,310 | $72,430 |
| Hospitals employment: 640 mean earnings: $42,280 | $22,030 | $29,870 | $39,140 | $52,700 | $69,480 |
| Nursing and Residential Care Facilities employment: 50 mean earnings: $50,580 | $24,710 | $32,050 | $45,120 | $55,980 | $101,300 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation employment: 4,450 mean earnings: $42,540 (EC) (def) (IG) | $15,610 | $23,840 | $38,400 | $57,490 | $71,590 |
| Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries employment: 40 mean earnings: $41,880 | $15,150 | $22,000 | $40,310 | $54,920 | $67,850 |
| Amusement, Gambling, and Recreation Industries employment: 4,420 mean earnings: $42,550 | $15,620 | $23,850 | $38,400 | $57,530 | $71,620 |
| Accomodation and Food Service employment: 4,760 mean earnings: $28,650 (EC) (def) (IG) | $13,640 | $16,250 | $22,710 | $38,470 | $53,100 |
| Accommodation employment: 4,720 mean earnings: $28,740 | $13,680 | $16,280 | $22,770 | $38,680 | $53,200 |
| Food Services and Drinking Places employment: n.a. mean earnings: $19,350 | $11,930 | $13,220 | $20,050 | $24,490 | $27,590 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) employment: 16,260 mean earnings: $41,560 (EC) (def) (IG) | $14,050 | $19,400 | $29,900 | $51,470 | $74,300 |
| Personal and Laundry Services employment: 15,980 mean earnings: $41,510 | $14,030 | $19,340 | $29,730 | $51,070 | $74,480 |
| Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations employment: 280 mean earnings: $44,450 | $15,850 | $26,440 | $43,940 | $64,310 | $71,370 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) employment: 150 mean earnings: $40,180 (def) (IG) | $15,230 | $17,160 | $33,180 | $62,320 | $79,080 |
source: Occupational Employment Statistics Program; about these estimates
The (EC) links lead to data from the Economic Census from the Census Bureau.
The (def) links lead to 2002 NAICS industry definitions from the Census Bureau.
The (IG) links lead to Industry at a Glance industry profiles from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.