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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At a spa, 20%. For a therapeutic massage, nothing.

why nothing? that seems really wrong and rude? tip 20% every time.

You don't tip other employees at a chiropractor's office or the chiropractor. It's a medical service if done in a therapeutic setting. It is not wrong to skip the tip.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Depends, um, on what extra services you get.

Gross.

Professional, licensed massage therapits don't give "um, extra services."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:i am both an employed massage therapist at a five star spa in a five star hotel - and - i also have my own massage practice. i have been practicing for 11 years - and i have a bit to say about all of this :
whereas - as a whole - massage therapy is very rewarding career - here are a few facts :
--the average yearly salary for a massage therapist is just over $35,000. .....

But this is a part-time salary...which equates more like to $45-50k/year if you find additional work to end up working full-time (like the rest of us do). I would say that's a pretty decent salary. I don't have a problem with tipping, but I don't quite get the notion that a masseuse, who is making about 6 times the amount that someone in the food industry is making, should expect the same percentage tip?

[Anonymous]

Everyone needs to realize FULL time for massage therapist is only 25 hours per WEEK because of how physical the job is, therefore therapists rely on their tips as a huge part of their wages. Minimum tip for a ONE hour session anywhere any style or kind of massage is minimum of $20.00 and cash is preferred otherwise if left on debit/creditcard they don't get it till their paycheck and it gets taxed more than cash tips do. So minimum $20.00 for an hour session and up from there if you appreciated how hard they worked to help make you feel better. I always tip my therapist $35 for an hour and she always goes way above and beyond for me. It really makes a difference for both my therapist and i.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
i am both an employed massage therapist at a five star spa in a five star hotel - and - i also have my own massage practice. i have been practicing for 11 years - and i have a bit to say about all of this :
whereas - as a whole - massage therapy is very rewarding career - here are a few facts :
--the average yearly salary for a massage therapist is just over $35,000. .....


But this is a part-time salary...which equates more like to $45-50k/year if you find additional work to end up working full-time (like the rest of us do). I would say that's a pretty decent salary. I don't have a problem with tipping, but I don't quite get the notion that a masseuse, who is making about 6 times the amount that someone in the food industry is making, should expect the same percentage tip?

Very well said!

[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.



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.'

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.

VERY well said!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
IF you think that your therapist is making a LOT of money....ask the front desk how much your therapist is being paid.
As a therapist at a spa and a clinic and a chiropractor I can tell you generally the rate of pay IS LOW!
And yet schooling runs $10,000-$15,000 or more and requires at least 6 months and ALSO requires therapists to pay for continuing education classes every year, carry their own liability insurance AND pay for their own state licensing every single year! Figure $400 per year just to practice!
Additionally due to repetitive stress to the hands, wrists and joints a therapist can't/won't usually work more than 25 hours a week MAX!
Expected career span for a LMT is ONLY SEVEN YEARS! Due to repetitive stress injuries.
Additionally therapists are paid ONLY for the time that they are giving massage. If I am there 8 hours but work only 90 minutes, I get paid for 90 minutes!
Chiropractors pay between $18 and $33 per hour. Typically no tips. So even $5 is nice. I've seen chiro's pay as little as $15/hr.
Envy/Heights/Elements (membership base clinics) pay $15-18 an hour. Will max at $20 but therapists rarely stay 5 years.
Spa's usually it's like between 30% and 50% of the charge. but 50% is RARE. Where I work 50 minute Swedish is $90 and I get paid $22.
Every therapist appreciates the gratuity. Some therapists are counting on it to pay the bills. But it is rare to be tipped through a chiropractic office or PT office.
Otherwise here is how I feel and see others feel about tips for a one hour session (50 minutes hands on)
Zero: Shameful. If you leave me nothing and come back again, don't expect my best work. Good work, but not my best.
That said: I have had a LOT of bad massages out there. Communicate what you want. If it is that bad still, don't tip.

Very well said.



$5: Wow. You better be in a tough spot. But I won't give you my best work next time. Thumbs are the first to go. And I won't give you my thumbs.
$10: acceptable but nothing special or inspiring.
$15: I know that you appreciate my work, my education and my commitment.
$20: You get my very best every time. I am committed to you and your health and well-being. I may give you extra time, better lotion or other little freebies to let you know you are appreciated.
More than that and you got the massage of a lifetime and you really do appreciate it.


Awesome post. What goes around comes around. That said, here are some guidelines to tipping your doctor:

Nothing: Disgraceful and disrespectful. If he prescribes you the wrong thing and you die, your family shouldn't even have the face to show up at the hospital to ask for compensation. Zero tip? Seriously? The man went to med school for your health and you stiff him?! You know that $100,000 operation fee goes entirely to the hospital (if he were an idiot, he may enter into such an agreement) and your doctor survives on tips, right?
10%: Damn, I hate poor people. If you can't afford to tip the doctor properly, you can't afford to come to the hospital! Try a vet next time. Let's get this over with...
15%: Ok, not too bad; this is when the doctor starts to actually think about how to get you better. Nothing special, no late-night trips to the med library or anything, but he'll start to function at this level.
20%: OK, now we're in in the cool-people-who-deserve-good-care section. This 20% tip on your $5,000 1-hour visit is how you show your doctor that you appreciate him putting in all those long hours and paying $50K tuition for 4 years in med school
25%: I will do my very best every time for you when you show up to nurse you back to health. Now, I am committed to you as a patient and may give you little freebies like antiseptic wipes, pill containers, a fridge magnet with our logo on it, etc...
But more importantly, if you tip well, you are investing in your health and a life-long relationship with a doctor committed to your well-being, and you will appreciate better health as the years add on!

So next time you go to the hospital, remember how you like to be tipped for a massage, and tip your doctor the accordingly. Same goes for your garbage collector, doorman, supermarket clerk, the police, security guards, floor sweepers, laundromat, etc...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
IF you think that your therapist is making a LOT of money....ask the front desk how much your therapist is being paid.
As a therapist at a spa and a clinic and a chiropractor I can tell you generally the rate of pay IS LOW!
And yet schooling runs $10,000-$15,000 or more and requires at least 6 months and ALSO requires therapists to pay for continuing education classes every year, carry their own liability insurance AND pay for their own state licensing every single year! Figure $400 per year just to practice!
Additionally due to repetitive stress to the hands, wrists and joints a therapist can't/won't usually work more than 25 hours a week MAX!
Expected career span for a LMT is ONLY SEVEN YEARS! Due to repetitive stress injuries.
Additionally therapists are paid ONLY for the time that they are giving massage. If I am there 8 hours but work only 90 minutes, I get paid for 90 minutes!
Chiropractors pay between $18 and $33 per hour. Typically no tips. So even $5 is nice. I've seen chiro's pay as little as $15/hr.
Envy/Heights/Elements (membership base clinics) pay $15-18 an hour. Will max at $20 but therapists rarely stay 5 years.
Spa's usually it's like between 30% and 50% of the charge. but 50% is RARE. Where I work 50 minute Swedish is $90 and I get paid $22.
Every therapist appreciates the gratuity. Some therapists are counting on it to pay the bills. But it is rare to be tipped through a chiropractic office or PT office.
Otherwise here is how I feel and see others feel about tips for a one hour session (50 minutes hands on)
Zero: Shameful. If you leave me nothing and come back again, don't expect my best work. Good work, but not my best.
That said: I have had a LOT of bad massages out there. Communicate what you want. If it is that bad still, don't tip.

Very well said.



$5: Wow. You better be in a tough spot. But I won't give you my best work next time. Thumbs are the first to go. And I won't give you my thumbs.
$10: acceptable but nothing special or inspiring.
$15: I know that you appreciate my work, my education and my commitment.
$20: You get my very best every time. I am committed to you and your health and well-being. I may give you extra time, better lotion or other little freebies to let you know you are appreciated.
More than that and you got the massage of a lifetime and you really do appreciate it.


Awesome post. What goes around comes around. That said, here are some guidelines to tipping your doctor:

Nothing: Disgraceful and disrespectful. If he prescribes you the wrong thing and you die, your family shouldn't even have the face to show up at the hospital to ask for compensation. Zero tip? Seriously? The man went to med school for your health and you stiff him?! You know that $100,000 operation fee goes entirely to the hospital (if he were an idiot, he may enter into such an agreement) and your doctor survives on tips, right?
10%: Damn, I hate poor people. If you can't afford to tip the doctor properly, you can't afford to come to the hospital! Try a vet next time. Let's get this over with...
15%: Ok, not too bad; this is when the doctor starts to actually think about how to get you better. Nothing special, no late-night trips to the med library or anything, but he'll start to function at this level.
20%: OK, now we're in in the cool-people-who-deserve-good-care section. This 20% tip on your $5,000 1-hour visit is how you show your doctor that you appreciate him putting in all those long hours and paying $50K tuition for 4 years in med school
25%: I will do my very best every time for you when you show up to nurse you back to health. Now, I am committed to you as a patient and may give you little freebies like antiseptic wipes, pill containers, a fridge magnet with our logo on it, etc...
But more importantly, if you tip well, you are investing in your health and a life-long relationship with a doctor committed to your well-being, and you will appreciate better health as the years add on!

So next time you go to the hospital, remember how you like to be tipped for a massage, and tip your doctor the accordingly. Same goes for your garbage collector, doorman, supermarket clerk, the police, security guards, floor sweepers, laundromat, etc...

Excellent point. So true. Tipping outside of restaurant service people (who are paid by employer about 1/2 of minimum wage and work less than 8 hr shifts) is SO out of control now days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Same as any service...between 15-20%...depending on how it went and the masseuse did.

+1 and if the best massage ever - 25%

[Anonymous]

$20

[Anonymous]

I pay $25 copay for my massage. I get one once a month. The first time I tried to tip her, she said, not you don't have to. After that, I have been leaving the tip on the table as I am dressing up after the massage. Is OK to only leave $10? Like I said, I am only paying the copay $25 and get 12 massages for year.

[Anonymous]

I joined massage envy, pay $59.00 every month for an hour ( discount price ) after the initial $49.00 hour massage. My husband joined as well and we tip differently. I tip $16, as suggested in the room signs if the MT focused on what I asked for my back issues. I started this years ago and now do not want to change the amount to my repeat MT. My husband tips $12 and is bothered by the tips so many people expect when they are not making under minimum wage. 20% of the $59 we pay is $12, however I bought into the kooL-aide of their recommended signs in the room saying the tip should be based on the non-discounted rate if not signed up for autopsy net at MASSAGE ENVY. It said $16 for an hour.

Tips what you are comfortable with , not what others tell you to. If you feel incredible walking out, you may want to give something above and beyond.

I am of the mindset that cost ( in a perfect world) should not matter, example in a restaurant...I order a Diet Coke and bowl of soup for $10... Same restaurant, I order lobster and a bottle of wine for $80 . Tip $3 versus $16... Really? The server comes over and provides service, brings out our food, checks on us and removes plates to our table the same amount. They don't spends any more time at our table with lobster and wine that they did with the Diet Coke and soup at the same establishment, right?

Tips should be about above and beyond service, not based on what you spent on your food or for a massage. I do agree tipping in the USA is a tad out of control and just expected regardless of the service provided. We should learn something from Europe service, at a restaurant or a massage therapists office/massage envy. They treat you well regardless and do not base your experience on a tip that may or may be coming later, they just hope you come back. CHEERS!

[Anonymous]

Massage therapists offer a service that I find wonderful! After reading several of these comments I am frustrated that no one has talked about the real issue regarding tipping. I've read many of the massage therapists rationalizations, such as they rely on these tips for food, gas, etc., they are only working 25 hours, they are professionals...ah! Professionals, licensed professionals, at that. Yes, they are! Professionals don't accept tips. The problem is not with the therapists; It's with the employers. What is happening here is that your employers are expecting the clients you serve to pay a portion of your salary. It's a scam. It really is. If a massage costs $75, that's what it should cost & they need to pay you a larger percentage of that $75. It's that simple. Massages are expensive to the average person & most of us cannot afford to get one on a regular basis as it is, then we are expected to pick up part of your wage to save your employer money!

You deserve every dollar you earn, but it needs to be paid by your employer. If that's going to increase the price of a massage, so be it. But it is your employer who needs to be treating you as a professional and paying you what you're worth, not relying on the public to pick up their slack. You should not have to be on this thread trying to justify your worth. We know your worth it. I always tip, but rarely get a massage because I simply can't afford the price. Of course, it is an investment in our health. But I would rather pay the extra $15-$20 for the massage itself than be guilted into paying for a portion of your salary that your employers expect when they put their little sign out about how much tip is expected. No, you pay these licensed professionals what they are worth and if they are conscientious professionals, they will do a great job becasue of their work ethic.

As a retired RN I have worked my ever-loving butt off. I was paid as a licensed professional and a tip, though offerred from the patient's heart, is never accepted and never expected. Tips for a professional is an insult to the industry they are representing.

People would probably be much more relaxed during a massage if they didn't have to think about if their tip is adequate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We go to the Kingsmill Spa in Williamsburg a few times a year (family nearby) and at the end, the receptionist will say, "we've automatically added 18% gratuity, would you like to change it?" I usually just say its fine, even though I think it's a bit high. The masseuse already gets about half of the price too (so $60 of a $120 massage). That's not a horrible hourly rate. I don't get tipped for doing my job.

http://www.balancepointmassage.com/massage/tipping.html notice the line that says, "a 1 hour massage usually equates to 2 or 3 hours of regular work. Therefore, although the therapist can earn a higher hourly rate they can only work half or a third as much. Therefore, it all balances out." Through my own experience, giving a massage is like working out, like running a one hour endurance race... In your job, are you running an endurance race? Do you work up a sweat? Giving a massage is not a walk in the park. It is a skilled job and some CMT's are better than others. My guess is at a restaurant, you sometimes don't tip thinking that you "don't get tipped for doing your job." This is an incorrect way of thinking. Your job probably should never have tips associated with it. Assuming that the the CMT gets 1/2 of the price you paid is also not correct. So, in other words, you are teaching the wrong idea for giving a tip associated with a massage.

Follow the website I pointed you to and you can't go wrong, especially if you are receiving a massage from an honest CMT who pays their taxes to good old uncle Sam.

Be generous if they were exceptional, and always pay a minimum unless you feel that they didn't listen to you and didn't give you the massage that you paid for.

About the cheapest price I have ever found for a 60 minute massage is $40 (excluding other countries). I might add that it was an excellent massage. If you really like the CMT and want to have them treat you extra special, give more than the customary 10 - 20% tip. In other words, in the massage industry, a 50% tip is fairly common. However, this all depends on your budget and how often you want to keep coming back. The CMT will be happy with your 10% tip, just tell them that you wish you could give more, but instead you will visit as often as possible. If you give the wait staff a hard time at a restaurant, leave that type of mentality at home when going for a massage. The better you are to the CMT, the better they will treat you.

Just remember that there is no cookie cutter recipe when dealing with a human being. Leave your pre-judgments at home and just be generous where possible and be tight (but not too tight) if you are on a shoestring budget! If you want a really exceptional experience, get a 4-hand massage (two CMT's at the same time), remember, your tip will be divided, but the same rule still applies.

[Anonymous]

Massage Envy? VERY overrated ..... extremely conscious about $$$!