The Life of a Therapist

As a massage therapist, having given and received many massages, I know that determining whether or not to tip a massage therapist is often a source of awkwardness and uncertainty for many clients. It’s a question I’m asked often, by my own clients and by people who plan to see other therapists. There is not one clear-cut answer, but there are a few things you can keep in mind that may help you to make that decision based on your own situations.

First and foremost, was the service you received worth tipping? Was the massage therapist friendly and did you enjoy your massage? With the exception of therapeutic and physical therapy type work on injuries or related situations, was your massage pain-free? Did your therapist communicate with you throughout the session? Think of tipping your massage therapist like you would like of tipping your waiter or waitress at a restaurant - was the service worth it? Once you have decided whether or not you feel a tip is warranted you can then move on to determine whether or not a tip is appropriate.

Did you see the therapist in a spa or in a private massage practice? If the massage therapist is working at a spa, he or she is only earning a fraction of the price you paid for the massage (30-40% on average, more if they’re lucky) and is also competing with other massage therapists who may have seniority and get more clients assigned to them. Situations like this make tipping appropriate and I can guarantee your massage therapist will be very grateful for the extra cash at the end of the day.

If you saw the massage therapist in his or her own private practice you may have to do a little more digging. The same goes for a massage therapist who comes out to visit you in your home. If the massage therapist is the owner of the company, he or she has set the rates and should not need to be tipped, though it is oftentimes welcome. Many times the owner of a massage practice will not accept tips anyway. If the massage therapist you are seeing is an employee at the massage practice or wellness center, he or she will most likely be grateful for the tip. The massage therapist in this situation is probably making a little more than if he or she were in a normal spa setting, but they still aren’t getting 100% of the price you paid.

Massage therapists who work in chiropractor or doctors offices are normally independent contractors, so they may be setting their own rates but have to pay a small percentage back to the owner of the practice to cover their costs. It’s not likely to be a huge amount, but it cuts into the funds your therapist has for overhead (and to live on). Considering the setting, if it’s allowable, a tip is appropriate in this situation as well.

As I mentioned before, the most important step you need to take is deciding whether or not you feel the service you received was worth a tip. You should also never feel pressured to leave a tip if you don’t want to. Once you’ve made the determination, you can offer a tip regardless of whether or not you are clear as to the establishment’s rules or protocol. If it’s not appropriate, the massage therapist will gracefully decline, but at least he or she will know you thought enough of him or her to offer. In the end, the final decision is up to YOU!

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