Business; Massage - Employment Possibilities

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Employment Opportunities in Massage Therapy

If you are looking into a career in massage therapy you should start with purchasing "The Massage Therapy Career Guide" from my sister site www.massagetherapycareers.com.

Most massage therapists just getting out of massage school will start their own practice. We are just starting to find places that will hire massage therapists. Since this is really a new field, most employers don't know what it takes to find and keep good employees in the field of massage. Massage therapists can often make more money when they have a business of their own compared to working for someone.

Some places that are starting to hire massage therapists include:

Spa's
Hotels and resorts
Other health care providers : chiropractors, naturopaths, medical doctors, acupuncturists, dentists
Large clinics specializing in massage
Hospitals, hospice facilities, nursing homes

When preparing for an interview for a job in massage, be prepared with ideas for marketing and building your practice. Make a list of what you would like to see in a work environment.

hourly rates, benefits such as vacation time and health insurance
incentives for building a business of repeat customers (client retention)
incentives to stay with the company
is there any support for you in the way of peer groups or supervision (not just someone telling you what to do - see the section on supervision.)

Hourly rates can vary depending on the situation - anywhere from $15 to $50 per hour. What is the company charging the client? How much work do you do? Do you have 15 minutes in between each client? Do you get lunch breaks? Are you doing laundry and answering phones in between clients? Do you get paid whether or not you have a client or only when you actually are doing massage?

Employers often confuse using sub-contractors with hiring employees because they don't want to pay the extra taxes and fees such as labor and industry. Be up front with each employer and don't hesitate to confront them with your concerns.

If you are seeking employment because you are hesitant to start your own practice, beware that you may end up with as many problems working for someone as you would building your own business. Often massage therapists are underpaid , with long hours and no breaks. The success of your practice will depend on your employers who often are just in it for the money themselves. There are some reputable massage clinics run by massage therapists who are setting the stage for more opportunities in being an employee.