What is the etiquette for tipping massage therapists?
Tipping Confusion
These days it is so confusing to know who to tip, when to tip, and how much to tip.
In just the last few years, workers everywhere have taken to putting out tip jars. And more recently, point-of-sale systems have been set up to collect tips on all kinds of purchases.
There was a recent buzz on social media from a young woman shopping in a retail clothing store. She was asked for a tip when buying a shirt, which she found and picked out herself.
This is very confusing, frustrating, and embarrassing for consumers.
Historically, tips have been expected and used to supplement a worker’s wage. Waitresses are the best example. Waitstaff are paid a few dollars an hour with the understanding that they will earn tips from every table. This is well under the wage of most of jobs, and tips make up the difference, allowing them to end up making a pretty good income.
For those of us who are bit older and have seen this strange transition in the expectation of tipping, it’s quite strange to see tip jars out for workers who are making minimum wage as part of their pay agreement. Sure, everyone would like to make more money, but a barista making $17 an hour (the average pay for Starbucks as of October 2021) asking for tips with the same expectation of the waitress making $8 an hour (per the Department of Labor, January 2023) is pretty frustrating.
Tipping For Massage Therapy
Massage therapy is slightly confusing as well when it comes to whether or not to tip.
Massage therapy has a history in the beauty services realm with hairstylists, manicurists, and estheticians. Today, this also includes those who provide such services as waxing, lashes, permanent makeup, laser hair removal, and the like.
Historically, these are all services where tipping is expected.
However, massage therapists are licensed health care providers, and this does complicate and confuse the question of gratuity. We don’t tip our doctors, nurses, physical therapists, or other like providers, so why would we tip our massage therapist?
The short answer is that almost all employers make salary offers based on the expectation the therapist will receive tips.
There are clinics and practices out there that have implemented policies where they do not accept tips. For them, the tip has been included in the rate. This means they often charge more for the same service than others in the area. And it usually means the therapist is being paid a higher rate to account for the fact that he or she will not be receiving tips.
Some self-employed private therapists also have no-tipping policies. This means that they, too, have included the tip rate in the service fees they are charging. And those rates are often slightly higher than others in the area.
If a practice, clinic, or therapist has a policy of not accepting tips, it is often stated on the website. It is always wise to check that out before your appointment.
How Much To Tip?
It is customary to leave a tip on the full-priced service you received.
For example, if your therapist or the clinic s/he works at charges $60 for an hour, you would base your tip on that amount.
If you have a gift certificate, a voucher, or are able to take some kind of discount, you would still base your tip on the full amount of $60 even if you end up paying less.
It’s important to remember also that the tip is your responsibility if you’re using a gift certificate, voucher, or something else that covers the cost of the massage. Tip is almost never included in the gift certificate or voucher. Be sure to plan ahead when you plan to use that massage gift and take care of your therapist.
In the Northern Colorado area, around Fort Collins, Loveland, Windsor, Greeley, Johnstown, the average tip for a 60-minute massage is somewhere between $10-20. For a 90-minute massage, the average tip is somewhere between $20-40.
Therapists always appreciate cash tips, so it’s best to plan ahead and bring cash with you.
Most places do allow you to put the tip on a credit card, so you do have that as a backup option.
Catherine’s Policy on Tips
One additional factor that can confuse the question of whether or not to tip is that historically the owner of the business was not offered tips, even if the business offered tipped services.
I have no expectation of receiving a tip for my services. And about half my clients do not include tip.
Additionally, if including a tip means that someone cannot come in and receive care, I would absolutely prefer that person NOT include a tip. It is far more important to me that a person actually come in for treatment.
However, I do not have a policy against tips, either. Many of my clients have been receiving care from me for a very long time, and it is important to them to leave me a tip. I do not refuse them the opportunity, and do accept those tips. I am also so grateful for the tips they leave for me.
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