Massage - top 5 High paying - low stress jobs

[peter gunn]

I didn't want to highjack the current thread asking how much to charge for massage.

I recently came across an artilcles on Forbes.com which listed the top 5 highest paying low stress jobs. Massage is 4th on the list. I assume the researcher received lots of massages and thought mmm - this is a good money spinning job. Of course these figures don't into account the additonal costs involved with the running of the business. I am my calmest when giving a massage but the business side and the financial uncertainty of self-employment can be qutie stressful. I understand from reading on American discussion forums that some massage schools give students unrealistic expectatations of how much they can earn once they qualify.

When I worked in a spa many clients would say - "wow you must be so relaxed at the end of the day?", I would reply, "The experience is different for both of us!!" I couldn't tell them that doing at least 8 people a day back to back was extremely tiring and that at the end of a shift I was too knackered to do anything but sleep when I got home.

Here's a section from the article.

* Massage Therapist
Massage therapy is an extremely low-pressure, relaxing career for most people. (As long as the thought of touching a stranger's back doesn't drive your stress level through the roof, of course.) Not only are most massage therapists self employed, but they also get to smell smoothing aromatherapy scents and listen to calming background music or ocean sounds all day while they work.

Because many massage therapists work part-time, yearly salaries vary wildly in this field. However, most of these massaging masters charge by the hour. On average, they earn between $10-35 an hour.

Of course, if you take on plenty of clients, you could easily earn a salary of $45,000 or more. That kind of cash will certainly not rub you the wrong way.

Link to the full artilce
http://bit.ly/crlQfo

 

[Cordania]

ROFLMAO!

If I could get the smileys up on my computer there'd be a whole load of them here!

 

[blealofal]

The author of that article is delusional! Even the other jobs listed as low stress high pay are not! And how can massage therapists earning from $10 per hour be considered high pay? Only when you 'take on plenty of clients' because most massage therapists are 'part time', hello, part time for an office worker of 20hr per week is considered a pretty heavy load for a massage therapist......

The tech jobs (software engineer and technical writer) aren't exactly low stress jobs for most people.

 

[lujndyjo]

Actually, the author said "high paying", not "top paying" low stress jobs.
I think these five were given as examples. I had a client who was a software engineer pulling £90Kpa for doing very little, and it's work he enjoys. My friend's husband makes nearly twice that in the same field. He's a complete geek, if he wasn't being paid to do what he does, he would be sat at home doing it as a hobby anyway!

To balance this out a bit, a friend of mine was a massage therapist in Canada, he retired in his thirties. Admittedly his clients were high end, predominantly professional athletes and he was teaching as well. His wife is still working and is a partner in another therapy business but through choice, not necessity.

However, the example given of $45K is hardly delusional, I'd gladly wager with you there are massage therapists on HP making at least that.

Yes, self-employment can be stressful in many ways, but if you're clever with your time and put systems in place to reduce paperwork then you can find a fantastic work/life balance. Good business planning and marketing in the early days can also relieve much of the stress of "will I have enough clients" once you're established. Personally, I wouldn't go back to the stress of my old career for any amount of money.

 

[asdf]

Hi everyone, i had to comment on this.I am a beauty and holistic therapist who specialises in massage.
I previously worked in a spa and did massage back to back,and i got customer comments wow you must be sooo realaxed etc i could hardly say well actually id love to push you off that bed and get on it myself as iv got back ache , head ache and iv not had time for lunch, the next person in this room is shoving pressure notes under my door!!
I would smile sweetly and nod away!
I had to get out so i got a completely differant job.I then got made redundant and my then boss became my buisness partner and we used the building to open a beauty salon.
Recession has caused people to cut back beauty but alot are stressed so i now do 80% massage.
And i must say its the best.I book extra time for people ,i space my day i have a decent lunch.If your lucky enough to be self employed it can be fab.Just take care of you too.It can be 1 of the most rewarding careers.It takes time to build up but massage is also a very low cost treatment.All you need is oil!
I have seen alot of people who train in holistics never do it fulltime.Only a few carry it on and make it a big success,the more you can offer the better!Money wise it takes time to grow but id say its pretty good and if you balance it with looking after yourself having a job you enjoy is worth it!!
Il shut up now haha but id say it is in the right circumstances

 

[Pompal 09.]

LOL - sounds like we worked at the same place!!

 

[Vana Kazami]

How about acupuncture in UK?
Here is China. Both acupuncture and massage are popular as medical therapy. And massage is also a beaty and relaxation therapy.
Easy for money here? Well, there are lots of spa pr salon etc. It depends on how you run it I think.

 

[Landlord]

Hi

I thought this was appropriate video for this thread:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wj6rT9p45Rc

Being a massage therapist is such hard work.

RP