Massage therapist salary if compared to ultrasound technician salary is lower. Several factors are considered to affect the salaries difference. Here is an overview of the comparison of the massage therapist salary versus sonographer salary in terms of location of employment and level of experience. Other relevant comparisons such as education, job description, and job outlook and employment growth will be discussed.
Massage therapy education is much easier to accomplish rather than to accomplish ultrasound tech education and training. For interested individuals, massage therapy education and training can be accomplished from six month to one year depending on the school. Ultrasound education and training can be accomplished in at least two years in order to accomplish all the skills and expertise needed for one to become fully qualified in the field of medical sonography. Technical training schools and community colleges are the main schools for massage therapist aspirants while ultrasound schools can be universities and community colleges.
Becoming massage therapists in the US can vary depending on the state. If the state requires no education and training, then one can become massage therapist even without formal training. This is because massage techniques as well as massage therapy can be taught by experienced people even without the educational background. But an ultrasound technician can’t become qualified if there is no formal training and education. Aside from education and training, it is becoming stricter in more states and sonographers are required license before being employed in their hospitals and diagnostic medical centers as well as physician’s clinics.
In general, ultrasound technicians who have higher experience (in terms of years) can have higher income while massage therapist salary is also higher with more experience. Less than one year or equivalent to one experience in becoming massage therapist can have an annual income of $24,566 to $51,395 while sonographers are paid with an annual salary of $29,696 to $52,029. Massage therapists who have been working for one to four years can earn an annual income of $12,208 to $60,000 while medical sonographers can be offered an average annual salary of $29,252 to $58,890. Sonographers who have been employed for five to nine years in the field of sonography can earn an annual income of $36,799 to $74,297 while massage therapists for such experience can be paid with an average yearly income of $35,500 to $70,900.
There are states, which compensate sonographers or massage therapist with higher salaries when compared with the US annual average salaries given to both professionals. In Florida, ultrasound technicians receive an annual income of $30,100 to $82,434 while massage therapist salary is equivalent to $26,265 to $50,000 per year. In Illinois, the average annual income for massage therapists is $16,100 to $44,000 while the annual salary for ultrasound technicians is $40,851 to $93,491. Medical sonographers in Texas are paid with an annual salary of $29,799 to$70,469 while $18,000 to $38,010 is the annual income which massage therapist can earn. In California, sonographers are guaranteed to have an annual income of $39,262 to $78,537 while massage therapist can earn an income of $37,500 to $75,900 per year.
Massage therapist salary can be comparable to medical billing and coding jobs, which have little difference when it comes to salary ranges but occupational therapist salary and ultrasound salary is higher.
The job outlook for both professions is both good since more job opportunities are there for new ultrasound technicians and massage therapists. Most of the job opportunities for massage therapists are part-time in various spas and massage centers. This occupation can bring a better life to massage therapist because they can earn higher massage therapist salary aside from having a regular job.
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