If you are considering the massage therapy business solely to make big bucks, you may need to look elsewhere. Many people believe that massage therapists make $100 hour, therefor resulting in 6 figure incomes. Not so at all. In fact, according to salary.com, the average full-time working massage therapist makes about $46k a year. However, due to the physical nature of massage, most massage therapists are unable to work full time. From my experience, most massage therapists work 15-25 hours a week.

Here is a look at the different avenues you can take if you do decide to persue a career in massage therapy.

The Day Spa Route If you choose to work in a day spa or resort-style setting, the massage therapist's commission usually falls within the 20-40% range.

Let's say you got hired at a nice day spa and you make a commission of 35%. This particular spa charges $80 for a one-hour massage. On a typical day, you will have 4 clients, but of course this depends on how busy the spa is. You would make $96 for an entire day of work! Keep in mind, most spas only pay their technicians a commission and NOT an hourly rate. If you worked 5 days a week making $96/day, you would only be bringing home $24k a year.

Massage Envy: Slave-Driving Option #1 Massage Envy is the Wal-Mart of day spas, offering their patrons massages as low as $39 per hour. Because of 'diploma mill' trade schools, which hand out massage certifications to anyone and everyone, the massage therapy market is completely diluted with therapists seeking work. These therapists, commonly individuals who have recently completed school and are unable to find massage jobs, end up working at Massage Envy. These hard working people receive a miesly $16 a massage. Their yearly income can come out to be less than $20k a year.

Cruise Ships: Slave-Driving Option #2 There are many advantages for working as a MT on cruise ships. There is no rent pay, although your living conditions are cramped and your room is usually shared with other cruise workers. Food is paid for too. If you have the day off on a day that the ship is at a port of call, most cruise lines will let you venture out.

I personally have never worked on a cruise ship, but their reputation is notorious. To sum things up: you work very hard and very often. In some instances, massage therapists can massage 10 hours a day or more, 6 days a week. The pay is very little. The range seems to be $12k-$20k/year (good thing you will have no rent or grocery expenses.) You may even have to sign a contract to stay in your job for 6 months or more.

Entrepreneur Way If you decide to own your very own massage therapy business and be successful, you may be able to make a nice sum of money.

Some salons and day spas will have a room that they are willing to rent to you on an either part time or full time basis. The rent fee varies greatly depending on the location of the facility, the size and condition of the room you are renting, and the newness/quality of the salon overall. Keep in mind the rent will be in a hefty ballpark range to $500-$1200 a month.

If you choose to open an entire spa by yourself, including massage, facials, nails, and more, I would advise that you have several years of spa experience before you make this huge step. Day spas are a risky investment but can be extremely lucrative if you manage to pull it off.

The Outcall Option Outcall massage therapy can be a difficult path to take but can also be very rewarding. Outcall massage therapy is when the CMT brings his massage table or massage chair to the client’s house, bringing the massage to the client. With outcall, you own your own business, but you have no rent to pay, and you also get to keep 100% of your earnings. However, expenses in advertising, liability insurance, licensing and equipment can be fairly expensive. Some outcall massage therapists, women in particular, even hire security to go with them for protection if they are going to a client’s home with which they are not familiar. Safety is a huge concern when performing outcall massage services.

Chiropractic Settings Many massage therapists settle into careers in a chiropractic office. This is an ideal setting for individuals who wish to work on rehabilitating clients in a medical yet holistic setting. CMTs in chiropractic offices are usually paid on commission, but occasionally a salary can be earned. Commission in this setting will usually range in the 40%-60% range for the CMT, slightly higher than in a day spa. Another plus about working in chiropractic setting is that there are many referrals and repeats clients. It’s crucial that CMTs have excellent knowledge in pathology, anatomy and kinesiology, especially in a setting such as this.

What About Tips? True, you can bump your income up from gratuities left by happy customers. Although, my best advice to you is to never depend on your tips. Gratuities will vary greatly depending on the price of the massage, the service received, the setting the clients are in and the wealth and generosity of the client. On average, you're going to make about a 15% gratuity of the massage cost. From an $80 massage, you're looking at a $12 tip. Keep in mind though that Uncle Sam will have a very demanding hand in your tip at the end of the year, so expect about a third of that to fly out the window.