Wages vary with the location, employer, and clientele. Massage therapists typically charge $35-$60 per hour. However massage therapists pay for their office equipment, supplies, rent, and utilities from their earnings. Therapists also must pay for liability insurance, taxes, advertising, and continued training.
Some therapists work as contract employees for massage schools, health practitioners, or fitness clubs and earn 40 to 70 percent of the fee the customer pays. In this situation, therapists earn about $15-$25 per hour. As a trade-off, they use the employer's space and supplies instead of buying their own.
Many massage therapists work part time. These workers must provide their own health insurance and retirement plan.
Massage therapists (SOC 31-9011)
| Location |
Pay Period | |
||
| 25% |
Median |
75% |
||
| Illinois | Hourly | $23.27 | $29.65 | $45.54 |
| Yearly | $48,395 | $61,673 | $94,733 | |
| Champaign Area | Hourly | $22.35 | $28.31 | $31.27 |
| Yearly | $46,506 | $58,891 | $65,045 | |
| Cook County | Hourly | $24.71 | $34.52 | $45.58 |
| Yearly | $51,410 | $71,814 | $94,815 | |
| Decatur Area | Hourly | $18.67 | $27.41 | $30.96 |
| Yearly | $38,842 | $57,001 | $64,398 | |
| Du Page County | Hourly | $24.98 | $28.21 | $45.50 |
| Yearly | $51,943 | $58,672 | $94,647 | |
| Edwardsville Area | Hourly | $23.81 | $23.81 | $31.45 |
| Yearly | $49,528 | $49,529 | $65,420 | |
| Northwest Illinois Area | Hourly | $21.95 | $26.62 | $35.94 |
| Yearly | $45,650 | $55,371 | $74,768 | |
| Peoria-Bloomington Area | Hourly | $17.10 | $23.27 | $30.44 |
| Yearly | $35,565 | $48,395 | $63,310 | |
| Rock Island-Moline Area | Hourly | $20.97 | $27.91 | $40.49 |
| Yearly | $43,619 | $58,059 | $84,219 | |
| Rockford Area | Hourly | $21.70 | $28.08 | $34.21 |
| Yearly | $45,135 | $58,400 | $71,143 | |
| Springfield Area | Hourly | $13.37 | $22.37 | $28.46 |
| Yearly | $27,807 | $46,537 | $59,214 | |
| Will County | Hourly | $23.41 | $29.51 | $34.52 |
| Yearly | $48,690 | $61,384 | $71,814 | |
| United States | Hourly | $20.00 | $26.59 | $36.04 |
| Yearly | $41,600 | $55,310 | $74,970 | |