Contents
Esthetician Salary
Percentile | 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
Hourly Wage | $8.39 | $9.50 | $13.77 | $18.53 | $24.95 |
Annual Wage | $17,460 | $19,770 | $28,640 | $38,550 | $51,900 |
How much does an esthetician make? According to bls.gov, estheticians can expect to make a median annual salary of $28,920.
There are several things that can affect an esthetician’s salary. If an esthetician works privately, he or she will be paid more than those estheticians working for a spa.
Medical estheticians are also paid more than spa estheticians. Medical estheticians are specialists who work in a medical facility. The salary of an esthetician can also be affected by location. Since there are more people in a city who require the personal services that estheticians provide, estheticians working in a metropolitan area will generally earn more than those working in a rural location.
Furthermore, the cost of living is higher in highly populated areas which also explains the increase in pay. Experience in the industry will further impact salary. More skilled esthetician who have been practicing in the field for several years will command a higher salary than those estheticians who are fresh out of a cosmetology program.
Estheticians often work a varied schedule consisting of long hours depending on their place of employment. If employed at a doctor’s office, estheticians are likely to work regular business hours, Monday through Friday. However, if employed at a spa, estheticians could work evening and weekend hours. Similarly, estheticians who are self -employed can potentially work long hours involving nights and weekends. Estheticians can be employed full or part-time. A breakdown of the full process of becoming an esthetician can be found here.
There are several facets to look into when one is considering any career, and the same holds true in the case of the esthetician. One such aspect that can have a big impact on whether one takes this career and how it is shaped, is what to expect in terms of pay. Since pay is dependent upon a large variety of factors, we will outline and discuss the most important ones below, in order to help potential newcomers to the field make an informed choice.
Is a Career as an Esthetician a Good Investment?
There are many branches of skincare today, and each one contains a variety of jobs for those who have a career in some form of cosmetology in mind. In fact, steady growth in the broad field of cosmetology, including both medical and non-medical skincare fields, is expected to continue until at least 2024.
With this in mind, it may seem like a good idea to begin your studies after locating an accredited school featuring a dedicated teaching staff with the right coursework available.
However, a strong positive trend in the field is only a part of the equation when asking the question of whether a job is right for you. It’s also a good idea to look at how pay and income are trending, both on average and in specialty cases. This can help you get a clearer idea of what an investment in school and clinical hours might look like, in relation to what you’ll be earning.
We know it’s helpful to find as much information on the subject as possible. We’ve centralized some of the most important aspects of the field of an esthetician as they relate to pay.
Some of the most important factors we will cover are:
- Median Income
- Income for Medical Estheticians
- Income for Private Estheticians
- Location-Related Income
- Experience-Related Income
Salary
How much does an esthetician make? According to bls.gov, estheticians can expect to make a median annual salary of $28,920.
There are several things that can affect an esthetician’s salary. If an esthetician works privately, he or she will be paid more than those estheticians working for a spa.
Medical estheticians are also paid more than spa estheticians. Medical estheticians are specialists who work in a medical facility. The salary of an esthetician can also be affected by location. Since there are more people in a city who require the personal services that estheticians provide, estheticians working in a metropolitan area will generally earn more than those working in a rural location.
Furthermore, the cost of living is higher in highly populated areas which also explains the increase in pay. Experience in the industry will further impact salary. More skilled esthetician who have been practicing in the field for several years will command a higher salary than those estheticians who are fresh out of a cosmetology program.
Estheticians often work a varied schedule consisting of long hours depending on their place of employment. If employed at a doctor’s office, estheticians are likely to work regular business hours, Monday through Friday. However, if employed at a spa, estheticians could work evening and weekend hours. Similarly, estheticians who are self -employed can potentially work long hours involving nights and weekends. Estheticians can be employed full or part-time.
Annual Income
Although the median income for estheticians can still vary by location, there is a reasonable number that new estheticians can expect. We will also discuss the best locations for highest yearly pay.
Non-Medical Esthetician
A non-medical esthetician–that is, one who has chosen to work in a spa or massage parlor chain such as Massage Envy for example–can expect to make a starting salary of around $35,000. This can change based on location, as estheticians are in higher demand in metropolitan as opposed to rural areas. As well, certain non-medical industries in higher demand generally pay slightly above the regular rate. For example, many department stores are actively looking for estheticians to join as part of their beauty departments, and therefore often offer slightly above the norm salaries, around $37,000.
Medical Esthetician
A medical esthetician–one who may work as a nurse or otherwise alongside a medical practice such as dermatology–tends to make somewhat higher income due to their training and background. Starting licensed medical estheticians can expect to make around $41,000.
Certain in-demand industries in the medical field also pay slightly higher. Although it is a very small percentage of the field, outpatient care currently tends to provide the highest income, at around $42,000.
Top Paying Industries
Industry | Employment | % of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean salary |
Outpatient Care | 320 | 0.05 | $20.52 | $42,680 |
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals | 90 | <.005 | $19.47 | $40,500 |
Physician’s Offices | 3,600 | 0.15 | $18.95 | $39,420 |
Department Stores | 330 | 0.02 | $17.87 | $37,180 |
Pharmacy Wholesalers | – | – | $16.58 | $34,500 |
Income by State
As stated, a more populated, centralized location is more likely to receive a higher volume of clients interested in the types of services offered by an esthetician. Although rural areas will still see some traffic as individuals are in need of skincare services regardless.
Within the more metro areas, there is some differentiation in terms of job outlook and availability, as certain cities are “on the rise” in terms of the demand for cosmetology services.
The top 5 states in terms of pay for estheticians are currently:
- Alaska
- Oregon
- D.C.
- New Hampshire
- Arkansas
There are a variety of factors that an affect this, and if you currently live in one of these states and are considering a career as an esthetician, it’s a good idea to look intowhich cities are increasing the number of cosmetology-related workers, and why. Although these are some of the highest paying areas, there are still other states with high demand for estheticians. Some of these include California, Florida, Hawaii, Texas and Los Angeles. While reasons for this are myriad, these states often see more sun, and thus more residents seek skincare treatment options year round.
Other population centers such as NTC, Michigan, NJ, and Colorado are also becoming increasingly popular choices. Even Canada is looking to hire competent, up and coming estheticians who have studied at credentialed US schools.
Top Paying States
State | Hourly mean Wage | Annual mean salary | # Employed | Employment/1000 jobs |
Alaska | $22.68 | $47,170 | – | – |
Oregon | $20.28 | $42,180 | 310 | 0.19 |
District of Columbia | $19.79 | $41,160 | 140 | 0.22 |
New Hampshire | $19.43 | $40,410 | 120 | 0.19 |
Arkansas | $19.02 | $39,560 | 120 | 0.11 |
Salary By State
State | 10% | 25% | Median | 75% | 90% | Jobs (2010) | Jobs (2020) | Outlook |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Alabama | – | – | – | – | – | 480 | 620 | +29% |
Alaska | $20,400 | $31,500 | $50,900 | $65,900 | $72,700 | 40 | 40 | +19% |
Arizona | $17,400 | $20,500 | $33,400 | $40,900 | $48,100 | 890 | 1,150 | +29% |
Arkansas | $25,200 | $31,800 | $36,500 | $51,300 | $57,700 | 180 | 220 | +22% |
California | $18,600 | $24,900 | $30,300 | $43,400 | $56,500 | 6,500 | 8,100 | +25% |
Colorado | $18,000 | $22,000 | $32,700 | $50,400 | $59,500 | 1,360 | 1,730 | +27% |
Connecticut | $17,800 | $18,400 | $19,300 | $36,900 | $61,600 | 1,040 | 1,230 | +18% |
Delaware | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
District of Columbia | $19,400 | $24,100 | $35,700 | $52,200 | $71,500 | – | – | – |
Florida | $17,300 | $19,300 | $28,700 | $35,500 | $44,100 | 4,020 | 4,840 | +20% |
Georgia | $16,000 | $17,000 | $18,600 | $25,700 | $35,800 | 1,560 | 2,050 | +32% |
Hawaii | $17,900 | $24,900 | $27,700 | $30,500 | $50,500 | 400 | 490 | +23% |
Idaho | $16,700 | $18,800 | $23,600 | $37,100 | $55,500 | 230 | 300 | +30% |
Illinois | $18,300 | $20,300 | $27,200 | $37,000 | $51,000 | 1,890 | 2,490 | +32% |
Iowa | $16,500 | $18,300 | $24,500 | $29,300 | $37,000 | 110 | 130 | +20% |
Kansas | – | – | – | – | – | 320 | 400 | +23% |
Kentucky | $15,700 | $16,600 | $18,100 | $20,900 | $35,700 | 90 | 120 | +33% |
Louisiana | $16,100 | $17,100 | $18,800 | $26,800 | $34,600 | 510 | 590 | +16% |
Maine | $17,300 | $22,100 | $36,300 | $43,000 | $46,600 | 150 | 170 | +18% |
Maryland | $19,000 | $24,900 | $30,100 | $38,100 | $49,400 | 760 | 910 | +21% |
Massachusetts | $22,900 | $28,500 | $34,500 | $41,500 | $54,100 | 2,110 | 2,680 | +27% |
Michigan | $16,300 | $17,500 | $19,500 | $30,300 | $42,400 | 1,310 | 1,580 | +21% |
Minnesota | $17,000 | $19,200 | $28,200 | $40,900 | $64,000 | 750 | 920 | +22% |
Mississippi | $16,100 | $17,300 | $19,600 | $22,700 | $25,400 | – | – | – |
Missouri | $17,200 | $20,700 | $32,600 | $36,600 | $44,500 | 670 | 770 | +15% |
Montana | $17,600 | $24,100 | $31,000 | $36,500 | $50,000 | – | – | – |
Nebraska | $18,400 | $26,100 | $34,400 | $41,900 | $45,700 | 280 | 330 | +18% |
Nevada | $16,000 | $17,000 | $18,700 | $22,900 | $50,600 | 610 | 710 | +17% |
New Hampshire | $22,000 | $27,700 | $41,900 | $51,400 | $57,800 | 270 | 330 | +24% |
New Jersey | $20,400 | $24,400 | $27,900 | $32,100 | $41,500 | 750 | 910 | +21% |
New Mexico | $17,100 | $19,200 | $49,000 | $55,200 | $58,900 | – | – | – |
New York | $18,900 | $22,900 | $32,200 | $42,700 | $48,500 | 2,820 | 3,650 | +30% |
North Carolina | $19,200 | $24,100 | $29,700 | $37,100 | $56,000 | 410 | 530 | +28% |
North Dakota | – | – | – | – | – | 60 | 60 | +11% |
Ohio | $16,800 | $18,000 | $21,700 | $30,800 | $43,300 | 1,580 | 1,950 | +23% |
Oklahoma | $16,100 | $17,400 | $20,600 | $28,900 | $38,500 | – | – | – |
Oregon | $22,400 | $27,100 | $36,900 | $48,200 | $81,900 | 250 | 300 | 0% |
Pennsylvania | $17,000 | $19,600 | $22,700 | $28,500 | $37,700 | 2,400 | 2,850 | +18% |
Rhode Island | $18,500 | $22,100 | $32,800 | $41,200 | $46,900 | 280 | 340 | +20% |
South Carolina | $16,200 | $17,600 | $20,900 | $28,400 | $41,900 | 240 | 260 | +6% |
South Dakota | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
Tennessee | $16,500 | $18,100 | $24,200 | $33,700 | $44,700 | 600 | 780 | +30% |
Texas | $17,400 | $21,000 | $28,800 | $42,100 | $48,200 | 3,640 | 4,700 | +29% |
Utah | $21,300 | $25,200 | $29,400 | $37,600 | $44,500 | 970 | 1,300 | +33% |
Vermont | $19,700 | $24,600 | $27,300 | $30,000 | $47,700 | 140 | 150 | +13% |
Virginia | $16,100 | $17,300 | $19,300 | $43,100 | $56,700 | 1,500 | 1,860 | +24% |
Washington | $19,000 | $19,400 | $34,100 | $44,900 | $58,300 | 1,420 | 1,600 | +12% |
West Virginia | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
Wisconsin | $17,200 | $20,000 | $30,500 | $37,100 | $47,100 | 970 | 1,160 | +19% |
Wyoming | $19,200 | $22,400 | $33,300 | $41,300 | $45,900 | 20 | 20 | +10% |
Income by Experience
As one might expect, income tends to increase as one puts in more work in the field, gaining experience, trust, and a base clientele. Experienced estheticians can statistically make over 30% more than novices, once they’ve put in a requisite number of years in the field. An experienced esthetician at the top of their career could expect to earn a minimum of $60,000.
The majority of estheticians working today have between 1 and 4 years of experience, with only 16% having more than 10 years of experience under them. These stats may be an added consideration when it comes to investing in the field.
Summing Up the Factors
In conclusion, you can see that the pay scale for estheticians relies on a variety of different facets of the business. Certainly, it will take some time, patience and dedication to the craft in order to build up a solid client base and reputation for success. But once done, you’ll have every opportunity to become a highly sought after, master esthetician at the top of the field.