How Much Does a Massage Therapist Make in Canada? | 2020 Data

Although it holds a single title, a career as a massage therapist can be incredibly diverse depending on the type of work and business environment you choose to enter.  

From physiotherapy clinics, chiropractic practices and sports injury clinics, to fitness centres, spas and wellness centres, there’s a whole lot of job variety as a massage therapist! At Robertson, we offer diploma programs in both Massage Therapy and Advanced Massage Therapy.  

 

But how much does a massage therapist make in Canada? 

Similar to the number of different places to work as a massage therapist, there is a wide range of salaries offered as well. This depends on which province you’re working in, whether you’re working independently or in a clinic, and whether you’re working in a medical setting (like a sports clinic) or a leisure setting (like a spa). 

A 2016 analysis report prepared by the Canadian Massage Therapist Alliance found that over 20 per cent of massage therapists in Canada earn an income of less than $25,000, 23 per cent earn an income in the range of $25,000-39,999 and 18 per cent earn an income in the range of $40,000-54,999. The average cost for a 60-minute session is $71.00- 90.00 and over 60 per cent of respondents set their own fees and schedule. 

 

Massage Therapist Salary by province

Depending on which city and province you’re practicing massage therapy in, your salary can change significantly. This has to do with job demand, the number of registered massage therapists and the cost of living in that area.  

We’ve rounded up the average hourly rate of massage therapists across Canada (according to Indeed.com). 

• Vancouver, British Columbia—$63.01 per hour  
• Calgary, Alberta—$39.75 per hour 
• Saskatoon, Saskatchewan—$24.88 per hour
• Winnipeg, Manitoba—$28.19 per hour
• Toronto, Ontario—$50.65 per hour
• Montreal, Quebec—$33.29 per hour 
• Charlottetown, PEI—$30.55 per hour 
• Sydney, Nova Scotia—$32.86 per hour 
• Moncton, New Brunswick—$14.22 per hour 

 

Working independently vs. working in a clinic

There are pros and cons to both working independently and working in a clinic. Working in a clinic is great if you’re a new massage therapist starting out in your career, as you’ll have plenty of support from other coworkers, a solid roster of already-existing clients and a chance to learn how to run the business side of massage therapy. The downside is that you’ll sometimes have to pay rent or a room rental fee and comply with clinic hours. 

When working independently, you’ll have the freedom to make your own hours and charge what you want hourly. You also may not have to factor in rent or a room rental fee if you work from home or decide to make your work mobile (visit people at their homes instead of having them come to you) but you may have higher overhead costs initially. 

If working as an independent massage therapist interests you, you’re in luck—in today’s digital age of Facebook ads and Instagram business profiles, it’s easier than ever to reach audiences and garner new clients through digital marketing. This makes it much more feasible for massage therapists to work independently as opposed to relying solely on clinic clients. 

A quick Google search of ‘wellness Instagram accounts’ brings up hundreds of lists of wellness accounts to follow. As a healthcare professional, you should take advantage of this incredibly valuable platform to educate and inform your audience of the benefits of massage therapy, which will hopefully translate into new clients and in turn, more income. 

 

In our Massage Therapy diploma program, you’ll learn the basics of business, legal practice and communications, along with hands-on skills.  

 

Work setting 

Finally, the type of business and setting you choose to work in can affect your salary. As a massage therapist, you have the opportunity to work in a medical setting, like a sports injury clinic or physiotherapy or chiropractic practice, or a more leisurely setting like a spa or wellness centre. 

At a spa or wellness centre, you might receive tips alongside your hourly wage or salary. There is no consensus across Canada for proper tipping etiquette of massage therapists though some customers will tip up to 15 to 20 per cent of the service cost. 

In a medical setting like a hospital, physiotherapy clinic or chiropractor practice, you can hone your skills in many different kinds of therapy—pregnancy and maternity, sports, geriatric, rehabilitation, pediatrics, chronic illness, etc. Depending on the type of massage therapy you are practicing, your salary may differ. 

 

 

To sum it up, there’s a huge range of jobs and salaries available as a massage therapist, depending on the province you’re in, the setting where you work and whether you are working independently or for a clinic or business. 

To learn more about massage therapy or either of Robertson’s massage therapist diploma programs, fill out an application to speak with one of our Student Admissions Advisors.