Estheticians provide a variety of skin treatments and facials, things which make the customer look and feel better. As more people pay greater attention to the finer details to enhance their looks, the demand for Estheticians rises. As the demand rises, the Esthetician salary becomes more lucrative.
Contents
- 1 Average Esthetician Salary
- 2 Top Paying Industries for Estheticians
- 3 Highest Paying States for Estheticians
- 4 Worst States for Esthetician Salary
- 5 Highest Paying Metropolitan Cities for Estheticians
- 6 Top Non-Metropolitan Areas for Esthetician Pay
- 7 Highest Esthetician Employment Level by States
- 8 Job Outlook
- 9 Esthetician Job Description
- 10 Training and Experience
- 11 Average Annual Salary of Estheticians
- 12 Benefits of Being an Esthetician
Average Esthetician Salary
The salaries of Estheticians vary wildly depending on a number of factors. Those in the 10th percentile averaged a salary of over $18k compared to $57k for the 90th percentile. This is more than triple, which is not the norm in many occupations. The average annual esthetician salary was $33k.
| Percentile | 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly Wage | $8.41 | $9.42 | $13.89 | $18.85 | $27.36 |
| Weekly Wage | $337 | $377 | $556 | $754 | $1,094 |
| Monthly Salary | $1,458 | $1,633 | $2,408 | $3,267 | $4,742 |
| Annual Salary | $17,500 | $19,600 | $28,900 | $39,200 | $56,900 |
Top Paying Industries for Estheticians
As expected, Health and Personal Care Stores earned the highest at $67k per year. Nursing and Residential Care Facilities was second with $51k annually.
| Rank | Industries | Hourly Wage | Weekly Wage | Monthly Salary | Annual Salary | Employment Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Health and Personal Care Stores | $32.31 | $1,292 | $5,600 | $67,200 | 2,000 |
| 2 | Nursing and Residential Care Facilities | $24.28 | $971 | $4,208 | $50,500 | N/A |
| 3 | General Medical and Surgical Hospitals (including private, state, and local government hospitals) | $22.79 | $912 | $3,950 | $47,400 | 90 |
| 4 | Hospitals (including private, state, and local government hospitals) | $22.64 | $906 | $3,925 | $47,100 | 90 |
| 5 | General Medical and Surgical Hospitals, Privately owned | $22.02 | $881 | $3,817 | $45,800 | 60 |
| 6 | Outpatient Care Centers | $21.92 | $877 | $3,800 | $45,600 | 300 |
| 7 | Hospitals, Privately owned | $21.78 | $871 | $3,775 | $45,300 | 70 |
| 8 | Offices of Physicians | $19.71 | $788 | $3,417 | $41,000 | 4,000 |
| 9 | Ambulatory Health Care Services | $19.33 | $773 | $3,350 | $40,200 | 5,000 |
| 10 | Pharmacies and Drug Stores | $19.33 | $773 | $3,350 | $40,200 | 200 |
Highest Paying States for Estheticians
New Hampshire was the best place to be hired as an esthetician with an average salary of $42k. See the esthetician salary by state comparison chart for a full list of states.
| Rank | Salaries by States | Hourly Wage | Weekly Wage | Monthly Salary | Annual Salary | Employment Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Hampshire | $20.34 | $813 | $3,525 | $42,300 | 100 |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $19.13 | $765 | $3,317 | $39,800 | 100 |
| 3 | Arkansas | $18.89 | $756 | $3,275 | $39,300 | 90 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $18.75 | $750 | $3,250 | $39,000 | 2,000 |
| 5 | Virginia | $17.98 | $719 | $3,117 | $37,400 | 1,000 |
| 6 | Tennessee | $17.79 | $712 | $3,083 | $37,000 | 600 |
| 7 | North Carolina | $17.50 | $700 | $3,033 | $36,400 | 500 |
| 8 | California | $16.97 | $679 | $2,942 | $35,300 | 4,000 |
| 9 | Idaho | $16.78 | $671 | $2,908 | $34,900 | 100 |
| 10 | Maryland | $16.78 | $671 | $2,908 | $34,900 | 500 |
Worst States for Esthetician Salary
The state with the cheapest wages for Esthetician was Oklahoma at just under $23k.
| Rank | Salaries by States | Hourly Wage | Weekly Wage | Monthly Salary | Annual Salary | Employment Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oklahoma | $10.96 | $438 | $1,900 | $22,800 | 400 |
| 2 | Louisiana | $11.68 | $467 | $2,025 | $24,300 | 200 |
| 3 | South Carolina | $11.68 | $467 | $2,025 | $24,300 | 400 |
| 4 | Michigan | $12.16 | $487 | $2,108 | $25,300 | 700 |
| 5 | Georgia | $12.16 | $487 | $2,108 | $25,300 | 400 |
| 6 | Mississippi | $12.31 | $492 | $2,133 | $25,600 | 60 |
| 7 | Iowa | $13.03 | $521 | $2,258 | $27,100 | 200 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $13.17 | $527 | $2,283 | $27,400 | 1,000 |
| 9 | Kentucky | $13.41 | $537 | $2,325 | $27,900 | 500 |
| 10 | Nevada | $13.99 | $560 | $2,425 | $29,100 | 500 |
Highest Paying Metropolitan Cities for Estheticians
The #1 cities to work in as an Esthetician are San Francisco, San Mateo, and Redwood City, which are all located in sunny California. The average annual salary of Estheticians in these major cities was $47k.
| Rank | Metropolitan Cities | Hourly Wage | Weekly Wage | Monthly Salary | Annual Salary | Employment Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco-San Mateo-Redwood City, CA | $22.74 | $910 | $3,942 | $47,300 | 400 |
| 2 | Nashua, NH-MA | $22.64 | $906 | $3,925 | $47,100 | 40 |
| 3 | Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA | $19.90 | $796 | $3,450 | $41,400 | 900 |
| 4 | Oakland-Fremont-Hayward, CA | $19.76 | $790 | $3,425 | $41,100 | 400 |
| 5 | Tacoma, WA | $19.47 | $779 | $3,375 | $40,500 | N/A |
| 6 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $19.18 | $767 | $3,325 | $39,900 | 800 |
| 7 | Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $18.80 | $752 | $3,258 | $39,100 | N/A |
| 8 | Peabody, MA | $18.17 | $727 | $3,150 | $37,800 | N/A |
| 9 | New York-White Plains-Wayne, NY-NJ | $17.74 | $710 | $3,075 | $36,900 | 1,000 |
| 10 | Santa Ana-Anaheim-Irvine, CA | $16.97 | $679 | $2,942 | $35,300 | 200 |
Top Non-Metropolitan Areas for Esthetician Pay
The best non-metropolitan area to work in is Maui and Kauai which had an hourly wage of nearly $25 an hour.
| Rank | Non-Metropolitan Areas | Hourly Wage | Weekly Wage | Monthly Salary | Annual Salary | Employment Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hawaii / Maui / Kauai | $24.47 | $979 | $4,242 | $50,900 | 90 |
| 2 | Southwest Maine | $16.49 | $660 | $2,858 | $34,300 | N/A |
| 3 | North Central Colorado | $15.34 | $613 | $2,658 | $31,900 | 40 |
| 4 | East Central Pennsylvania | $15.05 | $602 | $2,608 | $31,300 | N/A |
| 5 | Eastern Texas | $12.50 | $500 | $2,167 | $26,000 | N/A |
| 6 | Low Country South Carolina | $11.78 | $471 | $2,042 | $24,500 | 50 |
| 7 | Northwest Illinois | $10.96 | $438 | $1,900 | $22,800 | 40 |
| 8 | West Central Kentucky | $10.91 | $437 | $1,892 | $22,700 | N/A |
| 9 | East Central Illinois | $10.87 | $435 | $1,883 | $22,600 | N/A |
| 10 | Southern Indiana | $10.29 | $412 | $1,783 | $21,400 | N/A |
Highest Esthetician Employment Level by States
If you’re not as concerned about the money, then a major factor in determining what state to work in should be the number of employed. The state with the most employed is Texas with over 4k working Estheticians. You will have more opportunities in a state like Texas, California, Illinois, New York, Florida, or Massachusetts.
| Rank | States | Hourly Wage | Weekly Wage | Monthly Salary | Annual Salary | Employment Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas | $16.44 | $658 | $2,850 | $34,200 | 4,000 |
| 2 | California | $16.97 | $679 | $2,942 | $35,300 | 4,000 |
| 3 | Illinois | $14.66 | $587 | $2,542 | $30,500 | 2,000 |
| 4 | New York | $16.11 | $644 | $2,792 | $33,500 | 2,000 |
| 5 | Florida | $14.66 | $587 | $2,542 | $30,500 | 2,000 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $18.75 | $750 | $3,250 | $39,000 | 2,000 |
| 7 | Virginia | $17.98 | $719 | $3,117 | $37,400 | 1,000 |
| 8 | New Jersey | $14.62 | $585 | $2,533 | $30,400 | 1,000 |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | $13.17 | $527 | $2,283 | $27,400 | 1,000 |
| 10 | Missouri | $15.72 | $629 | $2,725 | $32,700 | 1,000 |
Job Outlook
The growth projection for Estheticians is an astounding 40% from 2012 to 2022. That’s nearly 18,000 new job opportunities. For comparison, all other jobs as expected to grow only 11%.
| Employment Projections Data for Estheticians, 2012-2022 | |
|---|---|
| Employment, 2012 | 44,400 |
| Projected Employment, 2022 | 62,000 |
| Employment Difference: | 17,600 |
| Estheticians | 40% |
| Personal Appearance Workers | 14% |
| Total, All Occupations | 11% |
Source: Bureau of Labor and Statistics
Esthetician Job Description
Through sessions with an Esthetician, people can improve their facial health through a number of skin treatments, which includes scrubs, wraps, chemical peels, and special acne treatments. Because of the nature of the work in beautifying clients, these professionals can often be referred to as ‘Aestheticians’.
Training and Experience
Appropriate training is one of the most important factors in becoming a successful Esthetician. In order to become one, you have to possess a certificate which is granted after a specific course at an Esthetician school.
A typical training program lasts between 300 to 1000 hours, during which the students learn about a number of important aspects about skin care like different skin types, how they react to cosmetics, and how best to apply any products. At the end of the program the candidate gets an accreditation from the State Board of Cosmetology in their respective state.
In addition, different states have their own methods and criterion for granting licenses, hence it is best to check with the local authorities about these requirements.
A trained and certified esthetician can get to work in a hospital or a health care facility, often in close association with a dermatologist. Other good places to get work are salons or spas. Even plastic surgeons engage them, as some of the clients need service in skin care post surgery. The salaries of Estheticians in these industries will vary, so if the pay is important to you, please be sure to check the salary tables on this page.
It goes without saying that whatever the student learned in a classroom is mostly theoretical, and the real learning happens when the work starts and the person starts picking the finer details through working with a number of clients. Therefore, clients always prefer an esthetician who has been in the field for a few years.
The hands-on experience not only gives you valuable experience on how the different skin types react to a treatment, it is also very helpful in understanding the clients’ expectations. In addition to experience and skills, a friendly attitude is of paramount importance, and will help you improve your potential income.
Average Annual Salary of Estheticians
As per the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual salary of an Esthetician is $31,720. It may take some time to get established as an independent Esthetician, therefore, it is advisable to start your career working with a well-established dermatologist, hospital, or even a spa.
Once you have gained the all important experience and confidence, the possibilities of going independent can be considered, and your potential salary is without limits. Having your own practice will enable you to build your own client base and your salary as an Esthetician will only depend on your ability to provide superior service and build your business.
Benefits of Being an Esthetician
The Esthetician career is great for anyone who enjoys making others feel beautiful and better about themselves. The clients are often very high placed and even celebrities, so there is every possibility that you will be on first name terms with some of the rich and the mighty. For a career that requires minimal schooling, your earning potential is quite high relative to other jobs. Looking at the nature of work, the demand and Esthetician salary of such specialists is likely to grow.