Myotherapy is an outlying branch of massage therapy involving the application of pressure to muscles. Myotherapists work to reduce muscle spasms and initiate exercise regimens to reeducate muscles that have been damaged by physical stress. Certified myotherapists are registered by the International Myotheraphy Association.
Salary
According to 2010 data by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, massage therapists earn an annual mean wage of $39,770. This figure translates to an hourly wage of $19.12 over the span of a 40-hour work week before tax and benefit deductions. The BLS also states that a large percentage of massage therapists are self-employed, part-time workers, and that this realm of employment is expected to increase by 19 percent between 2008 to 2018. Increased awareness about myotherapy and massage therapy is also contributing to the growth of the field.
Factors Affecting Salary
The major factors affecting the salary of myotherapists is the size and location of their practice, proper licensing, and relative skills and experience. Many myotherapists also offer an array of related body treatment services to patients, such as chiropractic, hydrotherapy and spa therapy. Properly licensed practitioners with proper state certification can participate as affiliates in health care coverage programs of individual, state and corporate entities; this can act as a catalyst for increased client traffic.
Salary by State
According to 2010 data from the BLS, Alaska is home to the highest annual mean wage for massage therapists. Employees in that job category earn $86,250 annually, or $41.47 per hour calculated across a 40-hour work week before deductions. The U.S. metropolitan area with the highest annual mean wage for professionals in the message therapy field is Seattle, Washington. Massage therapy employees in that region earn $57,510 annually, or $27.65 per hour before deductions.States reporting low earnings for this occupation include Mississippi, Alabama, Oklahoma and West Virginia.
Relevant Experience and Skills
Myotherapists must successfully complete course work and licensee exams in order to become certified. According to the International Myotherapy Association, licensed practitioners must also take 45 hours of coursework every two years to maintain certification and stay abreast of developments in the field. Relevant coursework or professional experience in massage therapy, anatomy, physiology and pathology is also highly recommended.
