Frequently Asked Questions
About careers in Massage and Bodywork

Q. How much money can I make doing massage?
A. This question has as many different answers as there are people to ask it. I know of a practitioner who made around $180,000 per year for several years doing massage. I also know of many practitioners who scrape by month after month. In-between there is a broad range of folks from part-timers to full-timers to entrepreneurs with multiple employees. Your level of success in massage depends on your skills, your ambition, your personality, where you live, the kind of bodywork you practice, your ability to network and your ability to sell yourself.

Q. How long does it take to learn to do massage?
A. Again, this varies quite a bit. First you have to ask yourself whether you want a bare minimum of education or enough to master a discipline. Next, you need to consider the educational requirements, if any, of the state and city or cities you intend to practice in. About half of the states in the U.S. have licensing laws, and many localities also have licensing laws that apply within the city (see laws). If you live in one of these areas, then the legal requirement sets your educational minimum. These legal minimums range from 330 contact hours to 1,000 contact hours, and programs giving you these amounts of education can take a few weeks to two years, depending on how the program is structured. If your location has no governmental regulation, you can actually practice with whatever training you choose to get -- even none! However, you are not likely to succeed without proper training, so you should get an education comparable to what you would need elsewhere in the country.

Q. How long will it take for me to gain a thriving practice?
A. This can take anywhere from a few months to a few years. Most successful practitioners reach a good practice level within two years, though some take longer. The answer will depend on your ambition and energy level, your local reputation, if any, the effectiveness of your marketing and networking efforts, the quality of your work, your personality, and the receptivity of the community you are practicing in.

Q. Is it possible I would fail to get a practice started?
A. Yes, it is. In fact, massage is like other small businesses in this regard. Many succeed but many fail. If you are going into the field, you should know it's not easy, and you need to be committed to it to make it work.

Q. Is massage a good career to work at part-time?
A. It's excellent as a part-time career. The pay is good, the work is enjoyable, and your conscience is clear. One difficulty with a full-time massage practice is that clients tend to want massage services evenings and weekends, when they are off work. If you can pursue a part-time practice during these times of the week, you have a near-perfect option for part-time work.

Q. Are there jobs available to massage school graduates?
A. Yes, there are. Of course, there are more graduates than jobs, just like in any field. In addition, most employers will take anywhere from 30% to 80% of the fee paid by the client. So you will not make as much per hour being employed as you will being self-employed. However, if you have a job, you are relieved of the need to find and keep clients, which can take a great deal of time and energy.

Q. What are some of the places hiring massage school graduates?
A. Here is a partial list: chiropractors, health clubs, day spas, resorts, hair salons, cruise ships, hospitals, massage entrepreneurs, on-site providers, store-front massage businesses.

Q. Where can I get further information about massage as a career?
A. Some of the links available on this site have information, and you can learn things by getting one or more trade magazines: Massage Magazine (800-533-4263), AMTA's Massage Therapy Journal (847-864-0123), ABMP's Massage&Bodywork Magazine (303-674-8478). The single most complete source of career information is Massage: A Career At Your Fingertips, 5th Edition available from Enterprise Publishing.