Estheticians perform a variety of skin care treatments, makeup, and wellness services for a variety of clients.  An estheticians salary will vary by experience, education, location,  and clientele.

There is some confusion as to what the difference is between an esthetician and an aesthetician.  An aesthetician is just the British spelling of esthetician, their meaning is the same.  Estheticians are also sometimes referred to as medical estheticians.  Medical estheticians receive additional training, and work in a medical setting.

National Average Esthetician Salary

Hourly Wage                          Annual Wage

Lower:             $8.22                                       $17,090

Middle:            $15.40                                     $32,030

Upper:             $24.47                                     $50,090

Average Esthetician Salary By State

Click your state for licensing and salary information

*All statistical data is from the U.S. Department of Labor

Hottest Markets For Estheticians

Today’s Job Market:

No one can argue that with today’s economy, finding a decent paying job is not easy.  Many people struggle to find work and end up settling for whatever wage paying job they can get, regardless of pay.  Many times individuals take part time employment just so they can have something coming in.  Worst still is those people who go to college, spend four years working as hard as they can to get a degree, only to find that upon graduating there are no jobs to be had.  Not only that, these people now have some very large student loans to pay off.  With no income they do not have the means to make payments.  They are stuck with these loans for life until they are payed off.  Even a bankruptcy will not dismiss student loans.  These are some of the same people that are forced to take inferior jobs with poor pay, just so they can keep up with there loan payments.  This is hardly the planned outcome many had has they started college, with dreams of success.

Is Esthetician School A waste Of Time?

Given the current economy, it is only logical to ask yourself if going to school for a career is a waste of time, or worse a trap that will destroy your future.  The answer is a definite no!  What matters is choosing a career that is guaranteed to provide you with a job upon graduation.

The Job market for estheticians is expected to grow around 38% over the next ten years!  This represents one of the fastest growing job markets of any sector in this country.  The national average esthetician salary ranges from $25,000 to $50,000.

Esthetician License:

Estheticians are skin care specialist who treat a variety of skin conditions using various techniques and over the counter products.  They are required to be licensed in the state they are working in.  Every state has slightly different requirements but all require any where from 300-1200 hours of instruction, as well as a written and practical exam upon completion of a certified programs.  There are numerous schools in every state that offer esthetician training programs.

Hottest Markets For Esthetician Jobs:

Like any other career, location plays a big part in your ability to find employment.  Location will also determine what your likely starting and top salaries will be.  In general, the job market for estheticians is going to increase everywhere, there are of course some places where the markets are larger to begin with and therefore will have many more jobs available as the sector grows.  The same goes for salary, the areas with the highest salaries will likely also see the biggest increase as demand for esthetician increases.  When there are many jobs and few workers, employers must raise wages to entice prospects to come work for them instead of their competitors.  This is exactly the situation you want to be in as you start your career.  One point, the areas with the largest markets are not always the areas with the highest pay.  You must determine for yourself what is the best route to take if you are planning on relocating.

States With The Most Jobs:

State                                       Avg. Hourly Wage                 Avg. Annual Salary

1. California                                        $16.10                               $33,490
2. Texas                                              $16.04                               $33,360
3. Florida                                            $14.27                               $29,680
4. New York                                       $17.05                               $35,460
5. Illinois                                             $16.29                               $33,890

States With The Highest Salaries:

State                                    Avg. Hourly Wage                 Avg. Annual Wage

1. Delaware                              $22.18                                   $46,130
2. Hawaii                                  $20,58                                   $42,810
3. Oregon                                 $20,02                                   $41,650
4. District of Columbia            $19.99                                    $41,580
5. Washington                          $19.41                                    $40,370

Other Articles:

Esthetician Career Information

What Is A Medical Esthetician?