Brad Hiskins, MWax co-founder and therapist with 35 years of experience, recently hosted a free masterclass with The Health Leader Co., one of our trusted industry partners, for therapists looking to build a more profitable, sustainable, and fulfilling massage practice. In the session, he shared practical strategies to:
- Build a full-time income in massage, not just part-time
- Increase revenue without working more hours
- Scale your clinic or freelance work
- Apply proven tips from someone who’s done it all
Below, you’ll find Brad’s full notes from the masterclass — a detailed guide for anyone serious about taking their remedial massage career to the next level.
Despite its vital role in musculoskeletal health and patient wellbeing, Remedial Massage Therapy is often perceived as a “part-time” or “supplementary” profession, rather than a career capable of delivering a full-time income. This perception is outdated and inaccurate. When you examine income potential, workload, and professional demands, remedial massage stands shoulder-to-shoulder with physiotherapy, chiropractic, and osteopathy. Let’s take a closer look.
What is the financial viability of a Remedial Massage Therapist
Remedial Massage Therapists can and do earn a similar income to other health professionals. Let’s break down the financial viability of remedial massage using a straightforward formula:
Gross Income (before expenses) = Patients per Day × Fee per Session × Days per Week × Weeks per Year
Assume a practitioner sees:
- 5 clients per day
- Charges $100 per session/hour
- Works 5 days a week
- Takes 8 weeks off per year (for holidays, sick leave, public holidays), working 44 weeks annually
Annual Income = 5 × $100 × 5 × 44 = $110,000
Minus GST and business expenses of approximately $10,00 + $22,000 ($32,000) = $78,000 per year (before tax and tax returns)
This figure is comparable to many full-time physiotherapists, chiropractors, and osteopaths in private practice. If you increase the number of clients or session fees, and the income scales accordingly. The equation is simple, predictable, and replicable across all allied health professions.
The median incomes of Physiotherapists in Australia, according to Glass Door are $70K to $90K. According to Jobs and Skills Australia, the median wage is $88,992 and the Australian Physiotherapy Association has the median at $94,405 with a range of $68,660 - $122, 150 and the ATO $88,920.
Hence comparing Physiotherapy and Remedial Massage shows that our profession has the capability to earn a very similar wage, if not considerably more for those that are mentally, physically and personally capable of doing so.
Financial Need and Financial Want
Most Therapists Don’t Know Their Financial Target. They don’t know how much they ‘need’ to survive and how much they ‘want’ to enjoy life.
Here’s How to Calculate It (based on a sole operator, not an employee)
Many therapists don’t have a clear idea of how much money they actually need to earn to cover both their personal living expenses and business costs—let alone how much they want to earn to enjoy a fulfilling lifestyle. Without this clarity, it’s easy to undercharge, overwork, or feel stuck.
Let’s break this down into two categories: Need and Want. And yes, this will vary from individual to individual.
1. What You Need to Earn (Essential Living + Business Costs)
This is your baseline income, the amount required to cover your essential personal and professional expenses.
Personal Living Costs (Monthly)
|
Expense Category |
Cost (AUD) |
|
Mortgage/Rent |
$2,500 |
|
Electricity & Gas |
$250 |
|
Internet & Phone |
$150 |
|
Groceries |
$800 |
|
Petrol/Transport |
$300 |
|
Health & Car Insurance |
$400 |
|
Miscellaneous Bills |
$300 |
|
Subtotal |
$4,700 |
Business Operating Costs (Monthly)
|
Expense Category |
Cost (AUD) |
|
Room Rent |
$1,000 |
|
Laundry Services |
$200 |
|
Lubricants & Oils |
$100 |
|
Taping & Consumables |
$50 |
|
Booking Software/Apps |
$50 |
|
Insurance & Registration |
$150 |
|
Marketing/Website |
$100 |
|
Subtotal |
$1,650 |
Total Monthly Need = $4,700 + $1,650 = $6,350
Annual Need = $6,350 × 12 = $76,200
To meet this need working 44 weeks per year, you’d need to earn:
$76,200 ÷ 44 = $1,732/week
At $100 per session, that’s:
$1,732 ÷ $100 = ~17.3 clients per week
Or ~3.5 clients per day over 5 days
This is a sustainable workload for a full-time therapist.
2. What You Want to Earn (Lifestyle Goals)
This is your aspirational income, the amount that allows you to enjoy life beyond the essentials.
Lifestyle Goals (Annual)
|
Category |
Cost (AUD) |
|
Domestic Holidays (2x) |
$4,000 |
|
International Travel |
$6,000 |
|
Dining & Events |
$3,000 |
|
Sports/Cultural Events |
$2,000 |
|
Hobbies & Equipment |
$2,000 |
|
Savings & Investments |
$5,000 |
|
Total Annual Want |
$22,000 |
Total Annual Goal = $76,200 (Need) + $22,000 (Want) = $98,200
To earn this working 44 weeks per year:
$98,200 ÷ 44 = $2,232/week
At $100 per session, that’s:
$2,232 ÷ $100 = ~22.3 clients per week
Or ~4.5 clients per day over 5 days
This is still very achievable with good scheduling, self-care, and business systems in place.
Why This Matters
By calculating your “need” and “want” income targets, including both personal and business costs, you gain:
- Clarity on your financial goals
- Control over your pricing and workload
- Confidence in treating your practice as a full-time career
This analytical approach turns vague aspirations into measurable, achievable goals and helps you build a practice that supports both your lifestyle and wellbeing.
How to Increase Your Income as a Remedial Massage Therapist
Once you’ve calculated your financial “need” and “want,” the next step is to explore ways to increase your income. Fortunately, there are several simple, strategic adjustments you can make to your business model that can significantly boost your earnings.
1. Increase Your Hourly Rate (Supply & Demand)
If demand for your services is high and your schedule is consistently full, it may be time to raise your rates. This is a natural part of business growth and reflects your experience, reputation, and value.
- Example: Increasing your rate from $100 to $120 per session means:
- At 20 clients/week:
- $100 = $2,000/week
- $120 = $2,400/week
- That’s an extra $17,600 per year (over 44 weeks)
Clients are often willing to pay more for therapists who deliver consistent results and offer a professional experience.
2. Increase Your Hours (With Mental & Physical Fitness)
If you’re physically and mentally capable, you can increase your working hours slightly to accommodate more clients.
- Adding just 1 extra client per day (5 per week) at $100/session:
- $500/week × 44 weeks = $22,000/year
However, this must be balanced with self-care, proper ergonomics, and recovery time to avoid burnout or injury.
3. Reduce Session Times (Fit More Clients Into the Same Hours)
Not every client needs a full 60-minute session. Offering 30- or 45-minute options can help you treat more people in the same amount of time.
- Example: Instead of 5 × 60-minute sessions/day, you could do:
- 6 × 45-minute sessions or
- 8 × 30-minute sessions
This increases your daily capacity while maintaining the same work hours. Shorter sessions can be ideal for:
- Targeted treatments
- Follow-ups
- Maintenance care
These sessions can raise your average hourly intake from $100 per hour to $120 per hour
- $100 = $2,000/week
- $120 = $2,400/week
- That’s an extra $17,600 per year (over 44 weeks)
4. Differentiate Yourself (Stand Out in the Market)
Promote yourself as a therapist with specialised skills or a unique approach. This increases perceived value and attracts clients who are willing to pay more.
- Examples of differentiation:
- Sports recovery specialist
- Chronic pain management
- Postural correction
- Pregnancy massage
- TMJ or headache relief
Use your website, social media, and referral networks to highlight your unique value proposition.
5. Offer Treatment Options That Reduce Physical Load
Adding modalities and tools that reduce your physical strain while increasing treatment effectiveness can help you work smarter, not harder.
- Examples:
- Cupping therapy
- Dry needling (if qualified)
- Taping techniques
- Exercise prescription
- Stretching programs
- Instrument-assisted soft tissue techniques
These options allow you to deliver high-value care without relying solely on manual pressure, helping preserve your body over the long term.
Smart Growth = Sustainable Income
Increasing your income doesn’t mean working yourself into exhaustion. With smart adjustments to your pricing, scheduling, treatment style, and marketing, you can build a profitable and sustainable practice that supports both your lifestyle and your longevity in the profession.
What factors determine our ability to be ‘full time’
Mental and Physical Demands: A Shared Reality
All these professions require:
- Deep anatomical and physiological knowledge
- Clinical reasoning and treatment planning
- Manual therapy skills
- Emotional intelligence and patient communication
- Physical endurance and posture awareness
Remedial massage therapists often work with complex cases involving chronic pain, injury rehabilitation, and stress-related conditions. The mental load of assessing, adapting techniques, and managing client expectations is no less or more than that of a physiotherapist, osteopath or chiropractor.
Physically, massage therapy is demanding. Sustained pressure, repetitive movements, and long hours on your feet require strength, stamina, and ergonomic discipline, just like in chiropractic adjustments or physiotherapy mobilisations or osteopathic manoeuvres.
Many suggest that it is impossible for Remedial Massage Therapists to be full time due to the mental and physical fatigue. However the mental and physical strain for other health professionals is similar or even more arduous. If they can do it, so can we.
There are of course many individual considerations. Children or elderly to look after, physical incapabilities, mental fatigue, injury or age. These however are consistent across the professions. Not all physiotherapists have the ability to work 38 hours due to work life balance. Not all chiropractors have the mental fitness to work 38 hours per week. Not all Osteopaths have the physical fitness to work 38 hours. We are all in the same boat. Our expectations should be the same.
Why the “Part-Time” Myth Persists
Several factors contribute to the misconception:
- Historical bias: Massage therapy is often seen as a luxury or complementary service, not a clinical intervention. This is inaccurate and needs to change.
- Lack of standardisation: Unlike physiotherapy, osteopathy, chiropractic, exercise physiology, Remedial Massage qualifications vary widely and the profession is self regulated (not bound by AHPRA regulation)
- Lack of a degree: Unlike the other professions, Remedial Massage is a competency based qualification, diploma level. The others are a curriculum based qualification, degree level.
- Clinic structures: Many remedial massage therapists work as contractors, work from home or rent rooms, which can lead to irregular hours—mistakenly interpreted as part-time work.
- Public perception: The therapeutic nature of massage is sometimes conflated with relaxation services, overshadowing its clinical value.
Although all these factors are hindering our perceived professional and financial success, we still remain a viable career option. We still have full patient loads, receive referrals from health specialists, receive private health rebates, work with elite sporting teams and have the ability to earn a very good income (both as a sole trader or an employee) that is equivalent to peer professions.
Time to Reframe the Narrative
Remedial Massage therapy is a legitimate, full-time health profession. It contributes meaningfully to patient outcomes, integrates with multidisciplinary care, and offers sustainable income and career growth. The same principles that define full-time work in physiotherapy, osteopathy or chiropractic; client load, income, clinical responsibility - apply equally here.
Not everyone has the capacity to earn what they need and want due to personal considerations, mental and physical endurance. These factors are the same for our peer professions. We can’t keep portraying our lack of financial viability based on those that have limitations with these 3 categories. It is time we reframed the narrative to attract the new generation of Remedial Massage Therapists.