Massage therapists may work as salaried or commissioned employees, or independent practitioners. A massage therapist may charge $25 to $60 an hour although those working for an hourly wage may earn less, but do not have overhead expenses. According to the Kansas Wage Survey, 2004 Edition, the mean wage was $14.38/hr.
Some examples of locations in which massage therapists practice include:
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Massage office
Group practice
Office in your home
Physicians' office and clinics
Hospitals and wellness centers
Nursing homes/hospices
Chiropractic offices
Onsite (chair massage in offices, airport, public events, etc. )
Health clubs and fitness centers
Sports teams and events (amateur and professional)
Spas and resorts
Hotels
Beauty and hair salons
Cruise ships
Massage therapists are currently regulated by 37 states and the District of Columbia. You may want to find out in advance the requirements in the area you wish to practice. Kansas currently does not regulate massage therapists, although the standard in the field is national certification by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB), which is similar to the "national boards" given in other health care fields. Most of the states regulating massage therapists adopted this exam as the state exam. Eligibility to take the NCBTMB exam includes completion of minimum educational requirements of a 500-hour training program.
