It's no secret that more people are looking for new careers. Probably the biggest reason is the current state of the economy. With so many people out of a job, or in a job with shrinking hours and benefits, people are looking for a new skill set that will sustain them and their families for years to come. One popular field many are getting into is massage therapy. But is it all that some think it is? Here's a closer look at what you can expect as a massage therapist.
To begin with, you'll have to be state licensed and certified. Some states will also require that you have a business license and carry insurance! Not only that, but some are requiring 4 years of training and school before you can sit for the certification test! Sure, there are still states that allow a Bachelor degree or trade school degree to be eligible for certification, but more and more are going with longer school requirements. It will pay to check to see what your state requires.
Many people who enter this field so so because they think there's fast and easy money to be made. Such is not the case. Sure, you have a few individuals making over $50,000 per year as a Massage Therapist, but these individuals have been doing this many years and have worked hard building up a loyal client list.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimate that the salary of an experienced therapist is around $16 an hour. So that means that beginners will earn even less. The sad fact is that many beginners will leave this field in a matter of years due to several circumstances, low pay being one of them.
If you're lucky as a massage therapist, you'll find a salon or agency to work for. I think the lure of this business is that you can be your own boss and have low start up cost. But if you dig deeper, you'll see it may not be as economical to start up as your own boss as you think.
You'll have to buy all your equipment. If you'll be working out of your home, you'll need to dedicate one room to nothing other than a massage room. I'd say it was a safe bet to say that most beginners work out of their cars. They meet their clients at their homes or place of business to perform massages. They also work all kinds of strange hours in order to fit in picky clients. This isn't for everyone and is also one reason so many choose to leave the field after getting into it.
Finally, you'll have to put up with a wide range of personalities, not all of them good either. Some folks think that if they're paying your, they call the shots. They can be demanding and heartless. If you're the type of person who wears your heart on your sleeves, then you may want to look at another line of work!
But if you decide to stick it out, then you may find being a massage therapist as a rewarding and enlightening career choice!
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