A sports massage therapist provides therapeutic care and rehabilitation techniques to help patients heal from sports-related injuries and prevent injury. In the US, sports massage therapists earn well over $44,000 per year while annual earnings in Australia are more than AU$66,000 ($50,203 USD). Annual salaries in Canada and New Zealand are similar when converted to the US dollar at roughly C$47,000 ($36,223 USD) and NZ$56,000 ($38,108 USD), respectively, followed by the UK at £27,000 ($32,644 USD). Those in South Africa earn more than R139,000 ($10,163 USD) and income in India is about Rs253,000 ($3,915 USD). Salaries for sports massage therapist vary based on geographic region, professional experience, and work setting. Additional details on this career are found in this guide.
How Much Does a Sports Massage Therapist Make per Year?
Annual and hourly wages, along with US dollar conversions, for sports massage therapists are provided in the chart below.
| Sports Massage Therapist Salary | US | Canada | UK | Australia | New Zealand | India | South Africa |
| Hourly Wage | $21 | C$22 | £13 | AU$32 | NZ$27 | Rs122 | R67 |
| Annual Wage | $44,413 | C$46,688 ($36,223 USD) |
£27,409 ($32,644 USD) |
AU$66,357 ($50,203 USD) |
NZ$55,734 ($38,108 USD) |
Rs252,858 ($3,915 USD) |
R139,489 ($10,163 USD) |
Factors that Influence the Sports Massage Therapist Salary
The following paragraphs provide details on salary and the impact of geographic region, professional experience, and work setting on overall earnings.
1. Geographic Area
Sports Massage Therapist Salary in US
Sports massage therapists in the US earn more than $44,000 per year, or $21 per hour. An additional $700 in bonus pay can boost overall earnings. Newly trained sports massage therapists can expect an average entry level salary of about $33,000 per year, increasing with experience to roughly $54,000 annually upon reaching a senior level position.
Sports Massage Therapist Salary in Canada
In Canada, entry level sports massage therapists earn about C$35,000 per year, increasing to about C$57,000 per year for senior level professionals. Across all experience levels, the average annual salary is about C$47,000 while the hourly rate averages C$22 per hour. There also is the potential for C$700 or more in additional bonus pay.
Sports Massage Therapist Salary in UK
Sports massage therapists in the UK earn a starting salary of more than £20,000 per year when beginning their careers. With experience and additional responsibility, senior level sports massage therapists see annual earnings top £33,000. Overall, the average annual salary across all experience levels for sports massage therapists is more than £27,000, or £13 per hour. Bonus pay can add another £400 to total earnings.
Sports Massage Therapist Salary in Australia
Sports massage therapists in Australia earn an annual salary of more than AU$66,000, or AU$32 per hour. Entry level pay is well over AU$49,000 per year compared to senior level pay that can reach AU$81,000 annually. The average bonus pay is just over AU$1,000.
Sports Massage Therapist Salary in New Zealand
In New Zealand, sports massage therapists earn about NZ$56,000 per year, plus another NZ$900 in bonus income. Hourly wage earners receive an average of NZ$27 per hour. Those early in their career earn an average salary over NZ$41,000 per year compared to those in senior level positions who bring home about NZ$68,000 annually.
Sports Massage Therapist Salary in India
Sports massage therapists in India earn nearly Rs253,000 per year, equating to about Rs122 per hour. An additional Rs4,000 in bonus pay can increase overall earnings. Entry level pay is about Rs191,000 per year while senior level professionals earn about Rs312,000 annually.
Sports Massage Therapist Salary in South Africa
In South Africa, sports massage therapists earn an annual salary of between more than R104,000 and R171,000. The hourly pay averages R67 per hour. Across all experience levels, sports massage therapists earn well over R139,000 per year, or R67 per hour.
2. Experience
Salaries increase with experience in all countries reviewed in this guide. The country with the largest gap between entry level and senior level pay is New Zealand where annual earnings at the top level are NZ$21,000 more per year, representing growth of 66%. Annual salaries increase between 63% and 65% in the other countries included in this guide, with the smallest growth percentage of 63% found in Canada and India.
3. Industry
Sports massage therapists work in physical therapy and rehabilitation centers, sports teams, fitness and training facilities, and in private practice. Those who work in for-profit and private sector organizations likely earn higher annual salaries and have more potential for bonus income compared to their colleagues in non-profit and public-sector employment. Since sports massage therapists are slightly more specialized than general massage therapist, their salaries can be higher than a general massage therapist salary.
Working Hours
Sports massage therapists typically work full-time; however, there are opportunities for part-time employment and flexible scheduling. Work hours are most often during normal business hours from Monday through Friday, though some may offer expanded hours in the early morning, evening, or weekends to accommodate patient availability.
Bonuses and Benefit Packages
Full-time sports massage therapists often receive healthcare coverage and paid time off; however, those who are self-employed usually must cover the expenses for these benefits. While bonus pay is seen in all countries reviewed in this guide, this pay is not typically a large amount.
Job Outlook
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, growth among massage therapists, including those specializing in sports massage therapy, is projected at 24% between 2016 and 2026. This growth is due to increased demand in massage therapy services with increased awareness of its benefits and treatment efficacy. To practice as a sports massage therapist, completion of a certification program that may take two years is required and licensure or registration may be necessary in some geographic regions, including most states in the US.
Conclusion
A career in sports massage therapy offers strong employment opportunities as this field is expected to increase at a much faster than average rate. While earning potential is less than some other healthcare positions, salaries are reflective of the required education and training. Most sports massage therapists work full-time hours and receive benefits and bonus, but there are part-time employment opportunities that may offer greater work flexibility despite the lack of benefits or bonus pay.
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