How much do you tip a massage therapist for a 60 minute massage?

[Anonymous]

Therapists who are getting $10 - $15 a session are getting screwed. But, I guess you're willing to take that because you just want to go to work, show up, and do your job - not deal with all the other factors like booking clients, handling payment, securing space, buying supplies, etc. When you're just the labor, I guess you get paid less. But you can do MUCH better for yourselves going into a co-op business with a few other therapists. The outlay is bigger but the pay per hour is so much better. But you're responsible as a business owner, not just an hourly employee. More responsibility = more income.

[Anonymous]

I'll give reasons why massage therapists should be tipped. As mentioned before, therapists do not earn NEARLY as much as most think. They see $60 an hr and often assume that's what we're keeping, when in fact, most that work for franchises make $15-17 an hr for extremely physical work. If the therapist owns his/her own business, they keep the whole amount, but pay out booth rent or lease (mine is $1200 a month plus utilities, cable, internet, phone, laundry, product, and a large initial overhead. I spend $1500 - $1700 per month just to stay in business. The old saying goes "business owners are last to be paid" and it's true. Additionally, some states require continuing education to keep the certification active plus yearly insurance renewal and license renewal. If a therapist sees 4 people a day at $60 an hr, that's $240 a day or $1200 a week... which equals $4800 a month minus 1500 equals 3300, minus 1200 (at least) for taxes which brings us to 2100 a month. Minus $30 (an average over the course of a year) for education. This brings a grand total of 2070 a month... or $517.50 a week. And that's if everyone keeps their appointment (I can count on at least 2 a week that cancel). Now, next you pay your home bills. For those that wonder why do 4 hrs of hands on... it's because we also have legal requirements to document every session and complete notes regarding the session. Between that, room change over, and checking out each client, you lose about a half hour, plus, any therapist that hopes to have any longevity knows better than to book more than 5 hrs a day. Average therapist lifespan is 4-6 yrs... the same as playing running back in the nfl to put it in perspective. Now, to be fair, you can eliminate costs by working from home or doing outcall massage, but many don't feel comfortable traveling to someone's home or having a stranger in their home... so the number of prospective clients drops significantly. Especially for a male therapist like myself. And finally, if everything is so bad, why become a therapist? Well, most of us absolutely love what we do and we do it to benefit you. We know we're not going to get rich, but we enjoy working to help the body heal and relieve stress. So, with all that said, a tip is completely voluntary, not tipping should not affect your service; but knowing what you know now, why not give a little extra... your therapist will appreciate it more than you know. For those that wonder, for an hour at $60, 10% = $6, 15% = $9, 20% = $12, and 25% = $15. I average $10 per 60 min massage. Thanks for reading.

[Anonymous]

Bottom line: you went to school for 6 months . Yes you get paid $15 to $20/ hour . Be lucky you get to have "therapist " in your title.

[Anonymous]

I tip 20%.

[Anonymous]

A "Professional" does not get tipped. I don't really care what you claim to make.

[Anonymous]

How many of you MT ask your childs teacher, or the guy at the supermarket who slices deli meat for you, or the tech at the computer store who just saved your life long collection of photos, How much do you make? How much does your employer pay you from the money they collect?

And lets talk about that. So Massage Envy pays the people who rub your body (I have a hard time calling some of them MT) $15hr. They collect $59 a massage. They have to pay marketing, rent, taxes, unemployment tax, healthcare (now) water, electric, supplies, Oh and they are the ones taking the risk of being in business giving you pathetic high school drop outs a place to work.

Now for you real MT, and I mean the ones who didn't just show up and collect a certificate. You know who you are. You are a professional and if you any good, you will rise above and stand out. Either entering a medical facility or on your own. You will typically charge a decent fee (what your market will allow) and you deserve it. But you are a Professional. Professionals DO NOT get tipped. It is insulting to tip a professional. As if he or she is some intern, wet behind the ears, just learning the ropes, part time school kid.

And for all you dumb idiots who say "if you cant afford to tip, don't get a massage" I say, yep, keep thinking that way. See how many people you have coming for massages and see how long you keep your job. Idiots.
You are the first ones to loose out when the economy takes a dive. If you want to keep steady work, you have to adjust to the market.

One last point. If one place charges $100hr for a massage and another charges $59, why am I expected to pay more to the MT doing the $100 massage? Using the logic of most MT on this forum (such well versed in the ways of accounting you all are) the $100 massage is coming from a MT that is working in a nice spa as apposed to the $59 strip mall massage place. There for, the $100 MT is getting around $25-$40. While $59 MT is getting $15. Yet I'm expected to give $20 to the one and $12 to the other. Makes no sense.
Oh and by the way, if a majority of the people are paying $59 or less for a 1 hour massage, THE REAL PRICE OF THE MASSAGE IS $59. I'M TALKING TO YOU MASSAGE ENVY AND ALL OTHER STRIP MALL PLACES WITH SIGNAGE SAYING TO TIP ON THE "NON-DISCOUNT" PRICE!!!.

[Anonymous]

[b]

[vimeo]

Anonymous wrote:I've Googled it but the ranges are all over the place. Is it a percentage of the cost of the massage or just a flat amount? The massage is in a ritzy hotel and was a gift from DH.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You do realize that most massage therapist only work 25-30 hours due to the more intense job we have. I for one ALWAYS tip $20 for an hour. We as therapist touch your body, even glutes, sometimes after a client has worked out without bathing, or sun tanned without bathing, you sweat during massage, etc. You think that's necessary to complain about tipping when a therapist who works at Massage Envy is only making $16 an hour, again, only working 25 hours a week. I use my tip money to feed my family and put gas in my car because my entire paycheck goes to my bills. Or for therapists who rent their own room, they have linens to clean, lotions to buy, again, etc...the money you pay for the actual massage goes to the rent, insurance and continuing education classes we have to take to stay licensed. You people need to come down off your high horse 'oh I don't get tipped for my job' and realize the real situation. I'm sorry I don't sit at a desk for 40 hours, I bust my ass for my money.

That's how I see it. Well described.
In the office I don't touch my boss's or clients ass. And I still get tipped but in a different form. Benefits, insurance, occasional lunches and drinks, bonuses, better office equipment, etc.

[Anonymous]

I give $20. One of the therapists said $10 every 30 minutes is a good way to look at it.

I pay only $59 for the massages with my plan at Massage Envy- but tip $20 for 60 min. $30 for 90.

[Anonymous]

Massage is service like a hair or nail salon. You people are idiots comparing it to your white collar desk jobs.

[Anonymous]

20%

[Anonymous]

I am a Registered Nurse. I went to school for 5 years and earn $32 an hour for grinding, stressful, unrelenting hard work. A massage therapist is a valuable member of the workforce and society, and they do go to school to learn massage. But they earn plenty of money. Whenever I feel that a spa or masseuse is acting nastily over a 15-20% tip, I simply stop going there. 20% is plenty in my opinion. You want to make $90/hr, go to medical or law school.

[Anonymous]

And have any of you tipped your jeweler. They perform a service. In all of the 18 years I've never been tip so why would I tip other services.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And have any of you tipped your jeweler. They perform a service. In all of the 18 years I've never been tip so why would I tip other services.

Wtf? Who has a jeweler? Hhi $750k. I til well for services, like massages, pedicures, hair styling, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The majority of you have obviously never ever work in any service industry. You should ALWAYS tip 20%. If the service was bad tip at your own discretion. It doesn't matter whether you get tipped at your job or not. These people don't make regular wages/salaries. They usually depend on you the consumer for their money so even though your massage may cost 100 dollars, the person who is fighting the carpel tunnel to relax you is probably not even receiving half of that despite what some above think.... The server, masseuse, any type of service is NOT recieving half of anything.

This is true for waitstaff, not for all service industries. These are professionals getting paid to do their jobs. Tipping is out of control.