Average wage for an MT in a Chiropractor's office?

[bay232323]

Is there an average wage for MT's in Chiro's offices? I never know what to put as my "desired salary" when applying for jobs. :?

 

[KOTU]

I've seen it hang around $30/hour session here.

 

[Pompal 09.]

I was paid $30 per hour and $15 for half hour - when only doing massage.

His fee for massage was $60/$30. But was billing out and often getting paid more from insurance.

I supplied everything except:
Room
Table
Stereo

I helped with (not paid):
Appointments
Phones
Office fill in (was paid for times I did this)

 

[Larkin L]

I suppose pay depends on number of hours worked and responsibilities. One place I interviewed at awhile ago (turned out to be a bait and switch, I didn't take it) offered $14 an hour for a 20 hr work week. Duties included things other than massage and the $14/hr was paid regardless of what you would be doing.

I know some offices pay per massage with a different rate or no pay when not massaging. That's why I don't really know what to put in a cover letter when the employer requests a desired wage be submitted with a resume.

I am just out of school (completed a 1,035 hr shiatsu/massage program) and I have a BA in psych. I don't know how/if any of that would influence what I should request or what an office would pay.

 

[Stevie]

It has been a while since I did a cover letter or resume. I am pretty sure I just put negotiable down when asked for salary requirements. Especially if I wasn't sure on the specifics of the job.

 

[Brrrrrrin]

i always did the same thing as masthera. it's so much easier to put negotiable. i've put this down on every application i've ever filled out. i think i read (way back in the day) that this was the correct thing to fill in that spot.

good luck!

 

[FinalusTestarios]

Thanks for the feedback. Negotiable sounds good, but would it seem odd to put that in a cover letter? It seems like a better option for an application. I received an email from the office itself informing me of the open position and they specifically asked for "a full resume and cover letter with your desired wage and schedule." I suppose negotiable is better than nothing...or asking for too much. :wink:

 

[Ava is Dank <3]

yeah gessika, that is a little odd. i guess they are just looking for what you're looking for. i would still put that you are negotiable on pay and put hours you are hoping/looking to work.

 

[NewsReader]

Update: I have an interview this coming Wednesday. All I know at this point is that it will be 17-21 hours a week and they pay hourly (even when you are not doing massage work). Clients recieve massage in 15 minute increments. They are a "integrative health" center and also provide acupuncture, and PT as well as chiropractic.

For those of you who know, what is the average work day like for an MT in this sort of environment? What other duties and responsibilities do you have outside of massage work? I interviewed at a place last month that was basically looking for someone do do a ton of other non bodywork related stuff and I really want to concentrate on the bodywork. Is it typical in a chiro office to be doing a lot of "other" things? I really don't want another office job with a few hours of massage tossed in per week. :?

Thanks.

 

[Tiocfaidh ar la mo chara]

Average wage at Chiro office

Jennifer,
I worked in a DC/MD office for 14 years. I started at about $35.00 and got to $40.00 where I stayed until I left. I found out that both docs were charging office visits on top of the massage and I was probably paid 30% of the total. I was also not compensated for no shows and there were lots of them.
Be careful with the appointments that are short. The warm up massages are taxing if you do them back to back. You'll be doing deep tissue/ focused massage on tight muscles - this will be hard on your body.
My average day was about 4 hours. I scheduled a 15 min. break in the middle so I could snack, stretch, make phone calls, etc. This sometimes got eaten up by talking to docs, patients, looking for files,etc. Be mindful that if you show too much initiative the staff will look for you to do their work. I prefer to be paid as a contractor, not to do office tasks. However, be very nice to the front desk as they schedule your appointments and any politics can be dreadful.
Hope this helps,
rubmyster

 

[Pompal 09.]

Were you only paid per massage? This is an hourly wage set up so they pay for the time you are there no matter what you are doing. It is also employee status, not contractor but there are no benefits at the part time level.

The other place I interviewed at was going to pay $14 an hour. They did 30 minute massages on clients but also had the MTs doing all sorts of other things like giving 30 minute massages to people off the street for $15 to try and get them to become new clients. There was a script you were supposed to read and everything. I don't want to get into another situation like that. I have no idea if that was an odd set up or if that kind of stuff is common.

 

[Bret H]

I agree with rubmyster, watch out for burn out in those situations. It is very common that you will be doing much more massage than anything else. And yes, showing too much initiative will get you caught up in other work many times. You need breaks between.

I also working for a DC (as an IC) who charged more for massage and I only received about 40% when our agreement was 50%.

I worked for a spa as an employee, was paid $15 an hour all day (not just when massaging and nothing more for massaging). The nail tech and I basically ran the entire spa and had to juggle that with our regular work (massage and nails). I feel for all that we did, we were very underpaid.

I have never been in a situation where I had to do anything like the second job you mentioned. I wouldn't have taken a job like that either.

 

[Timmy]

Average wage at Chiro office

Jennifer,
I worked in a DC/MD office for 14 years. I started at about $35.00 and got to $40.00 where I stayed until I left. I found out that both docs were charging office visits on top of the massage and I was probably paid 30% of the total. I was also not compensated for no shows and there were lots of them.

Be careful with the appointments that are short. The warm up massages are taxing if you do them back to back. You'll be doing deep tissue/ focused massage on tight muscles - this will be hard on your body.
My average day was about 4 hours. I scheduled a 15 min. break in the middle so I could snack, stretch, make phone calls, etc. This sometimes got eaten up by talking to docs, patients, looking for files,etc. Be mindful that if you show too much initiative the staff will look for you to do their work. I prefer to be paid as a contractor, not to do office tasks. However, be very nice to the front desk as they schedule your appointments and any politics can be dreadful.
Hope this helps,
rubmyster

I filled in for a few days at chiropractor's office last fall for a colleague of mine while she was on vacation. I got paid her usual rate which was $37.50/hour. I also found out the hard way my first day there that when they ask what hours you are available, you better be prepared to work all of those hours with absolutely no breaks. :evil:

I've mentioned this before in other threads, but I have a real problem with chiros scheduling so many clients back to back with no breaks and then billing the clients for full hour massages when they are actually receiving a session that tpically lasts closer to 50 minutes. :roll: I point this out whenever someone compares my price for a one hour massage with a chiros. The client almost always gets at least 10 to 15 minutes more massage for the "hour" massage I give vs. what they receive at the chiros office.

 

[ipnez]

I am working at a local hospital doing 10 minute chair massage for their staff every Thursday from 1:30 until 5:30, and 10-15 minute neck and shoulder or feet and leg massage for their patients in Acute Care and Long Term on Tuesday and Thursday eveings from 6-8pm. This is only a trial program to see if massage can become a more permnant part of the hospital, and I am getting $15 per hour. I also have a 15 minute break and a half hour lunch break on Thursdays. I get the $15 whether I have staff or patients to massage or not. So far it's been looking good. The pay is good for the area. I dont know if that helps you out any- I think it will depend on your area.