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Finding and/or Creating Your "Ideal" Job in Massage

Website: http://www.massage-career-guides.com/massage-therapy-jobs.html
Members: 24
Latest Activity: Aug 23

How to Create or Find Higher paying jobs in massage

I am tired of getting emails from people who are frustrated with their jobs. Most massage jobs are low paying, entry level, demanding jobs that seem to lead to burn out or injuries or both.

Finding or creating your Ideal job in massage requires that you know what you want in a job and need in a job and working to find a match for those needs. By taking jobs that are less than your ideal job, you are hurting yourself and the profession. Part of the problem is that you don't really know what you are getting into sometimes and jobs that start out looking good end up the nightmare job and people feel stuck there for whatever reason. You have to sometimes go through some bad jobs so that you can see more clearly what it is that you want/need. When you can start saying no to jobs that don't suit you, you will often find more opportunities because you are focusing on what you want.

Finding and/or creating your ideal job also requires that you have the job interview skills and self confidence in your job search. Thinking more about what you can do for the potential employers to help them build their business rather than on yourself can help you in creating the job you want (although that may sound contradictory right now - it isn't really)

Share your ideas, questions, tips for getting and creating high paying jobs in massage. Say no to low paying unfulfilling jobs today!

Julie Onofrio
For more info see my Massage Job Center

Discussion Forum

need male therapist

I work at a spa in RIchardson TX. sometime i need male therapist. anyone has interesting and can help, email to chineserelax2007@yahoo.com. thanks Jean

Started by J Zhao Apr 16.

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Comment by lee kalpin on July 8, 2010 at 3:54pm: I agree, what is a good rate of pay in one area, is not in another. Also, it depends on what the facility is charging for a massage. If they are charging $110 per hour, I would hope to get more than $30 as my share
I find that some employers are not very clear on the difference between an employee and a private contractor, therefore it is necessary that the therapist understands the difference and negotiates an equitable contract.

Also, quite right that the rate of payment should reflect theservices that the therapist is receiving. If the employer provides a receptionist, linens, does the laundry, provides oils, provides referrals they are absolutely entitled to ask for a larger percentage because they are providing services that have value. If you are only getting a bare room and have to provide all your own amenities, then naturally you would expect to pay less.

Comment by Ruth E. N. Cox on July 8, 2010 at 2:00pm: Seeking experienced Texas Licensed Massage Therapists. I appreciate all of your comments thus far, but agree with many of Julie's statements. Most importantly, understand the therapist's role in the business before you accept the position. Are you an independent contractor, an employee or a renter? Who is paying for or supplying the support personnel, taking the risk on bad debt (unpaid services), credit card charges, advertising, overhead, licensing, insurance, supplies, taxes, etc. Just applying percentages to the gross revenue doesn't work. The money is there for practitioners that are ethical and make their very best effort each day.

Julie - I noted that in your book you mention the rate of $30 per hour as great pay and must comment that measurement should be relative to the cost of living for the geographic area and comparative to other positions in that geographic area. What is great pay in one part of the country won't pay the bills in another.

Comment by lindsay oneal on April 14, 2010 at 8:11pm: I'm a new LMT and i just wanted to share one of my mistakes when starting out my career. Don't work for massage heights, it's a membership based company and they work you more and pay you less. They pay you less than 40% when we should be getting 60%. We do the work so we should get paid. Please don't make the same mistake I did.

Comment by Renee Rainbow on April 14, 2010 at 2:25am: I am looking for a massage therapist for our spa in Baltimore. Would love to talk with anyone interested.

Comment by Gloria Coppola on February 22, 2010 at 6:54pm: Privai Academy seeking experience, qualified and motivational instructors for a New Massage Program launching this spring.
Contact Gloria@privaiacademy.com
Send resume
Interview and presentation will be scheduled for consideration
A&P and Medical Massage. Serious inquiries only please.
Location: Asheville, NC

Comment by Gloria Coppola on February 22, 2010 at 6:52pm: Innovative Spa Management, Asheville, NC is seeking experienced massage/esthetics practitioners for jobs in newly expanded spa.
Contact Tia at tiar@ismspa.com

Comment by lee kalpin on February 16, 2010 at 10:57pm: I think it helps to change the terminology. Instead of talking about "jobs" I talk to students about starting a CAREER. Rather than "applying for a job" I encourage them to think in terms of negotiating a contract - as a professional.
Another term I am uncomfortable with is that of the MASSAGE INDUSTRY. I had never heard this used until a very few years ago. I don't think of being part of any industry, I am a healthcare professional and I am part of the massage profession.
I think of an "industry" as somewhere that people are in an assembly line putting parts in cars. Other professionals don't talk about working in the "nursing industry" or the "physiotherapy industry", Let's think of ourselves as professionals and apply for positions where we will be seen and treated as professionals.

Comment by Gloria Coppola on February 15, 2010 at 6:50pm: Thanks for what you do and contribute. We in the industry know that it takes skills, dedication, continuing education, business savvy and patience to build a practice.

As for low paying jobs, the ones that don't provide any resource for commission etc., should be stopped, I agree. Most MT's don't realize these places even exist when they first enter the field.

I have seen Chiro offices take advantage of this the most. :(

I love what you say about "helping build your employers business ...helps yourself". Our business as MT's is always our business, no matter what the situation. The fact - we must maintain our clientele. They are our business!