05/14/2026
People see a $115 massage and assume the therapist is taking home $115. I wish that were true!
The reality is that a “1 hour massage” is rarely just 1 hour of work.
For many massage therapists, 20–30 hands-on hours a week is considered full time because of the physical demand this work puts on our bodies. And those hands-on hours don’t include:
• laundry
• sanitizing and disinfecting
• charting and client notes
• booking, scheduling, and marketing
• supplies like oils, creams, sheets, detergent, hot towels, and tools
• continuing education and licensing fees
• self-care so we can continue doing this work long term
• rent, utilities, software subscriptions, payment processing fees, and taxes
I do this work because I genuinely care about helping people feel better. But I also think it’s important for clients to understand that every appointment supports much more than the hour spent on the table.
You’re not just paying for a massage — you’re paying for the experience, education, care, preparation, and years of skill behind it.
