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

[Anonymous]

Im a massage therapist at a big company. the place i work pays 18 for each 1 hour plus tips and Most places don't pay the therapist much and tipping is generally half the pay for 1 hr massage. If you want to save some tipping ask your therapist to be a private client. If you were rating your massage as A+ is 25 A=20 B=15 C=10 D=5

I so id say try to stay 15-20 as not be insulting. Cost of living in each area is different too. here in santa barbara its soo pricy

[Anonymous]

Its very rare massage give 50 percent. at resturants i tip 20 percent even if i didnt like the service. 20 dollars tip for a massage is the norm. Some massage therapist make minimum wage if they dont get enough clients. Prepare to leave a cash tip. anything other is rude. If people went expected to tip it would be included. its just the system. Id like my taxes included in the price but thats just not way americans run things

[Anonymous]

I usually tip 5-$10 regardless of the price. Depending on if the massage was above and beyond. I really don't get the whole tipping thing...Why aren't all industries tipping industries? Clearly there is something odd going on here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I don't sit at a desk either, and I also work hard, and our hourly rates are in the same range...but yet, I don't get tipped. So yeah...

You guys are acting like sitting at a desk all day = relaxation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:American service industries incorporate tipping because the owners are incapable to make sure their staff provide the prompt level of service. Neither do they have guts to increase the price outright. Tipping is basically a scam where owners abuse customer's kindness to motivate their own employees. In the restaurant business it's even worse. Owners just cut the employee's pay, and simply take all the tipping into their pockets.

Nobody tips in Asian countries like Japan, China, Taiwan... I don't see their service level going to hell. Actually the service is usually better than these spoiled "service professionals" in the US.

I'm sorry, but as a server/ bartender making minimum wage, we rely on our tips to make ends meat. And if your too cheap, stay home and eat for yourself. We also get taxed on our sales with the assumption that we're getting 15% tips, and all tips must be claimed and we get taxed on that as well. So if we get stiffed, we'te paying taxes on money we didn't get. FYI! If your service sucks, I get it. But don't be a cheap.

Sure. We can do that. I can see how "no customer" is better for you than a "cheap tipping customer." Wait, what?

[Anonymous]

As a Massage Therapist myself, the quality of the massage should determine how well you tip. Most people that come to see me have "problems". If my massage services made you feel better what is that worth to you? Are you able to actually sleep for once? Massage therapist working at the major chains now normally get $15-$20 per hour from the "Spa" BUT that is for actual hours worked on a client. If the spa is slow and no clients come in and lets say you have a 6 hour shift you made $0. Yes $0! So if you had a bad day and there is an appointment available at your local spa and you feel better afterward tip the therapist. Additionally, the therapist has other expenses like continuing education and insurance for malpractice.

What no one else here mentioned that I have seen is how physically hard massage is. Most therapist only last 5 to maybe 10 years in the industry. The basic training at the massage schools does not provide what years of practice do or will. You want a therapist who knows how to help you feel better. Pay them to stick around. It is too hard on the therapist physically and if you are not getting paid good then it is not worth it. So tip good therapist well if you want them to stick around.

Plus who else will put up with your whining and your skin problems and your stinky feet all that body hair and who else is going to touch you? Treat the therapist good and they will take care of you.

So at a minimum if you got a GOOD massage especially if you requested DEEP pressure tip no less than $20 or your next massage might not be as good.
If it was the best massage you have ever had tip better than you ever have.

BTW masseuse is a female term, masseur is a male term. both of which are not acceptable terms for a professional massage therapist.


Texas Licensed Massage Therapist 18+ years

[Anonymous]

I am just newly licensed MT and am working at a local Spa. I get paid $17 per massage which is 60-min. The boss wants us to just massage 53-minute (which is typical because the client needs time to do in-take and un-dress and dress). I, however, almost always give 60-minute REAL hands on massage. I am always running a bit behind due to that reason. I feel I need time to really massage most body parts.

This is a TOUGH job - BOTH mentally and physically. I used to go to Massage Envy and was a member and I used to tip $5-8 thinking that it's 10% of a $49 massage. Boy. I now regret doing that.

At our Spa, we are expected to be tipped. There is NO doubt about it because without the tip, our income is simply LOW. Very low. The Spa needs to make some money too. Our Spa only charges $45 if you join the club. I used to be a business owner and I know that if the company makes no money, the employees are not getting any raise. Our boss is nice enough that he will give us $8 if the client chooses not to tip or tips less than $8.00. I typically receive $10 and some $15 and $20.

Massage Envy is a bit different because most massage sessions end really at 50-minute mark. My session is always at least 60-minute. If I use my own studio, I am fine with $60 and repeat business but if I work for a Spa/hotel, I do expect at least $10.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So you pay $90 for a 60 minute massage, you're paying for the massage to be a good one, not half assed and if it is good, which is what you're paying to get, you tip anyway. Tipping is out of control. TIP stands for "To Ensure Prompt Service", not to get quality work/services or the alrady high price you're paying for the service, regardless if the person is the owner or not. I'll tip if they go over the hour, if they provide something more than the basic service I'm paying for. How many of you get a tip from you work for going exactly what you're suppopse to do and yeah, wee're all working to make the other guy rich and we're not seeing "tips".

That's fine for jobs that pay a person adequately for their work, but some jobs depend on tips from clients for a living wage - such as waiting tables and massage. I don't mind not getting tips when I give massages for my own business, because I am charging what I would like to make for my skills, time, and overhead. But when I work for a spa, I make less than half of what I get for my own clients. I depend on tips to make it work financially. Unfortunately tipping is built into the system of those jobs. Often therapists get a quarter or less of what you paid for the massage at spas. But to be sure, if you don't enjoy your massage, it doesn't feel good to tip - so I understand that. The best thing is to not go to really expensive spas where massages are overpriced - where you are paying for a plush atmosphere. I'd rather give the money to the therapist who spends an hour with me, especially if it is wonderful hour.

[Anonymous]

Tip should be depending on the massage. Was it good, or did they hurt you / was it ineffectual?

I would tip $10-20 but maybe only $5 if it was appalling.

[Anonymous]

For a 60 minute massage, I will tip $10 if the massage is nothing special, but if I especially like the massage and/or masseuse, I will let $20 go with my blessings.

[Anonymous]

I am a member of Massage Envy (A.K.A Massage Rip-off). I tip a minimum of 15% for all massages I get at this chain. This never bothered me until my location began to post, in picture frames no less, guidelines for tipping their massage therapists EVERYWHERE THROUGH OUT THEIR SPACE. They recommend tipping on the NON-MEMBER cost of a massage, not the member price. This really bothered me as I find this rude and unprofessional of Massage Envy. Clearly they are posting this because they do no pay their staff enough. I would never pay their NON-MEMBER prices for their massages, why would I tip on the inflated price of their NON-MEMBER massages? I joined their club to not pay those outrageous/overpriced fees. I need to use up all fo my banked massages so I can quit this scam of a business. I will continue to tip 15% on the prices I PAID FOR THE MASSAGE.

[Anonymous]

I found a nice, Asian massage place in a mall. I realized how much massages benefit me, and have begun tipping, to show appreciation. I was having an irritating morning, and felt much better and calmer after my massage. Also, massages seem to make it easier to fall asleep, rather than tossing and turning, if you get them regularly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I've worked over 300 hours a month for 4 months straight as a satellite tech, carrying ladders, equipment, walking on houses, crawling under them.. in extreme pacific northwest winter rain/wind for less than $16 an hour. I did get tipped maybe once or twice a week, out of 30 or more homes I'd do. I never looked for it, and I had the best customer survey scores out of our office so it wasn't due to a poor job.


I detail all this, because this was work i 'chose' to do. I do not imagine anyone forced you to be a massage therapist? I think it is you who are on some sort of 'high horse.'







This is exactly what I was thinking. Many people in this "industry" expect to get tipped when as most people have agreed it should be based on the service provided. While I do tip, it is only if I believe the individual deserves it. I have paid for a service and you are expected to do your best, if you don't why I should I compensate you any further? Because you have bills, family, etc? If it weren't for these customers (tippers or not), you would not have a job. Bottom line, if you are good at your job you don't have to worry about being tipped because you will be!

Anyone who is or isn't in the industry could speculate on the things you would have to do. Dirty bodies, sweat, etc. is a given. Why should you be paid more because you have to 'handle' that? I can crawl under homes with hobo spiders and dead animals, among other things..in a 18" crawl space in the dark...some guys cant. I don't insist I get paid extra.. and neither do the guys who cant.

Realize you are your own limit, and if you aren't happy with the industry average for pay, find a new industry.

[Anonymous]

This is exactly what I was thinking. Many people in this "industry" expect to get tipped when as most people have agreed it should be based on the service provided. While I do tip, it is only if I believe the individual deserves it. I have paid for a service and you are expected to do your best, if you don't why I should I compensate you any further? Because you have bills, family, etc? If it weren't for these customers (tippers or not), you would not have a job. Bottom line, if you are good at your job you don't have to worry about being tipped because you will be!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So you pay $90 for a 60 minute massage, you're paying for the massage to be a good one, not half assed and if it is good, which is what you're paying to get, you tip anyway. Tipping is out of control. TIP stands for "To Ensure Prompt Service", not to get quality work/services or the alrady high price you're paying for the service, regardless if the person is the owner or not. I'll tip if they go over the hour, if they provide something more than the basic service I'm paying for. How many of you get a tip from you work for going exactly what you're suppopse to do and yeah, wee're all working to make the other guy rich and we're not seeing "tips".

"Tip" is not an acronym. It refers to gratuity, which has nothing to do with prompt service. It is a gracious gesture intended to show kindness and appreciation. If you are not "tipping" a massage therapist, who receives a small portion of the amount you so generously gave the company your therapist works for, you probably should have stayed at home with a sore back.

Gratuity for services should generally be in the 15-20% range, though it is certainly appreciated if exceptional service is rewarded with exceptional gratitude.