How much do estheticians make?
Answer
Estheticians in the US earned a median of $45,330 a year ($21.79 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned $36,040 to $59,700.
- Median annual pay
- $45,330
- Mean $51,850
- Median hourly pay
- $21.79
- Mean $24.93
- Typical range (10th–90th)
- $29.6K–$82.0K
- $29,580 to $82,050
- US jobs
- 72,890
- +8.8% projected, 2025–35
BLS OEWS, May 2025, released April 30, 2026. Wages include tips, commissions and production bonuses but not overtime premiums, shift differentials, other bonuses or benefits; self-employed workers are not included. Methodology
How to become an esthetician: steps, years and cost · Best-paying state after cost of living: Washington
Esthetician pay range
Annual wages, May 2025
- 10th percentile$29,580
- 25th percentile$36,040
- Median$45,330
- 75th percentile$59,700
- 90th percentile$82,050
Half of all estheticians earned more than $45,330 and half earned less. The lowest-paid 10% made under $29,580; the top 10% made over $82,050. The middle 50%, from the 25th to the 75th percentile, ran from $36,040 to $59,700.
These percentiles describe everyone in the occupation at one time. They are not pay steps by years of experience: they mix new and senior workers, different states, employers and hours. Pay generally rises with experience, credentials and specialization, but BLS does not publish pay by experience.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | Monthly |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $29,580 | $14.22 | $2,465 |
| 25th | $36,040 | $17.33 | $3,003 |
| Median (50th) | $45,330 | $21.79 | $3,778 |
| 75th | $59,700 | $28.70 | $4,975 |
| 90th | $82,050 | $39.45 | $6,838 |
| Mean (average) | $51,850 | $24.93 | $4,321 |
Esthetician salary by state
Median annual pay; cost of living from BEA regional price parities 2024
Highest-paying states
- 1. Washington $79,320
- 2. District of Columbia $77,480
- 3. Wyoming $62,400
- 4. Montana $58,500
- 5. Nebraska $58,420
Lowest-paying states
- 49. Idaho $34,130
- 48. Arkansas $36,520
- 47. Tennessee $36,590
- 46. Louisiana $36,890
- 45. Iowa $37,080
Best after cost of living: Washington. Its median of $79,320 is worth about $74,122 at national-average prices.
| Alabama | $39,260 | 36 | $44,200 | 28 | $18.88 | 590 | 0.28 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $41,240 | 32 | $40,290 | 43 | $19.83 | 120 | 0.37 |
| Arizona | $50,470 | 11 | $50,131 | 15 | $24.27 | 1,710 | 0.53 |
| Arkansas | $36,520 | 48 | $42,007 | 40 | $17.56 | 340 | 0.26 |
| California | $38,770 | 39 | $35,016 | 49 | $18.64 | 11,360 | 0.62 |
| Colorado | $54,500 | 8 | $52,886 | 8 | $26.20 | 1,510 | 0.53 |
| Connecticut | $43,680 | 29 | $42,158 | 38 | $21.00 | 660 | 0.39 |
| Delaware | $50,820 | 10 | $50,918 | 10 | $24.44 | 130 | 0.26 |
| District of Columbia | $77,480 | 2 | $70,500 | 2 | $37.25 | 200 | 0.29 |
| Florida | $43,880 | 27 | $42,431 | 34 | $21.10 | 5,270 | 0.53 |
| Georgia | $48,660 | 13 | $50,533 | 13 | $23.40 | 2,230 | 0.46 |
| Hawaii | — | — | — | — | — | 140 | 0.23 |
| Idaho | $34,130 | 49 | $35,740 | 48 | $16.41 | 720 | 0.84 |
| Illinois | $45,330 | 22 | $45,349 | 22 | $21.79 | 2,960 | 0.48 |
| Indiana | $44,450 | 25 | $47,627 | 18 | $21.37 | 1,120 | 0.35 |
| Iowa | $37,080 | 45 | $42,251 | 36 | $17.83 | 710 | 0.46 |
| Kansas | $45,760 | 20 | $50,806 | 11 | $22.00 | 420 | 0.29 |
| Kentucky | $38,580 | 41 | $42,791 | 31 | $18.55 | 830 | 0.41 |
| Louisiana | $36,890 | 46 | $41,822 | 41 | $17.73 | 600 | 0.31 |
| Maine | $55,850 | 7 | $57,548 | 7 | $26.85 | 260 | 0.41 |
| Maryland | $46,590 | 17 | $44,389 | 27 | $22.40 | 1,130 | 0.41 |
| Massachusetts | $47,310 | 14 | $44,735 | 25 | $22.75 | 1,360 | 0.37 |
| Michigan | $45,240 | 23 | $47,019 | 20 | $21.75 | 1,510 | 0.34 |
| Minnesota | $44,430 | 26 | $45,051 | 23 | $21.36 | 920 | 0.31 |
| Mississippi | $41,160 | 33 | $47,336 | 19 | $19.79 | 320 | 0.28 |
| Missouri | $45,200 | 24 | $49,770 | 16 | $21.73 | 1,390 | 0.47 |
| Montana | $58,500 | 4 | $61,810 | 6 | $28.13 | 280 | 0.54 |
| Nebraska | $58,420 | 5 | $64,837 | 5 | $28.09 | 550 | 0.54 |
| Nevada | $38,660 | 40 | $38,668 | 47 | $18.59 | 1,540 | 0.99 |
| New Hampshire | $46,890 | 16 | $45,015 | 24 | $22.55 | 430 | 0.62 |
| New Jersey | $45,870 | 19 | $42,158 | 39 | $22.06 | 2,660 | 0.62 |
| New Mexico | $47,230 | 15 | $51,219 | 9 | $22.71 | 370 | 0.42 |
| New York | $42,910 | 31 | $39,761 | 45 | $20.63 | 3,510 | 0.36 |
| North Carolina | $39,120 | 38 | $41,473 | 42 | $18.81 | 2,680 | 0.54 |
| North Dakota | $58,160 | 6 | $65,378 | 4 | $27.96 | 190 | 0.43 |
| Ohio | $39,150 | 37 | $42,199 | 37 | $18.82 | 1,700 | 0.31 |
| Oklahoma | $37,340 | 44 | $42,508 | 32 | $17.95 | 680 | 0.40 |
| Oregon | $52,110 | 9 | $50,416 | 14 | $25.05 | 1,070 | 0.55 |
| Pennsylvania | $43,620 | 30 | $44,705 | 26 | $20.97 | 2,560 | 0.42 |
| Rhode Island | $43,880 | 28 | $42,902 | 30 | $21.10 | 120 | 0.23 |
| South Carolina | $39,670 | 34 | $42,315 | 35 | $19.07 | 1,210 | 0.53 |
| South Dakota | $38,230 | 42 | $43,156 | 29 | $18.38 | 150 | 0.33 |
| Tennessee | $36,590 | 47 | $39,828 | 44 | $17.59 | 1,710 | 0.52 |
| Texas | $49,250 | 12 | $50,743 | 12 | $23.68 | 6,160 | 0.44 |
| Utah | $45,490 | 21 | $46,013 | 21 | $21.87 | 1,160 | 0.67 |
| Vermont | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Virginia | $39,350 | 35 | $38,920 | 46 | $18.92 | 1,970 | 0.48 |
| Washington | $79,320 | 1 | $74,122 | 1 | $38.13 | 2,200 | 0.62 |
| West Virginia | $38,030 | 43 | $42,493 | 33 | $18.28 | 80 | 0.12 |
| Wisconsin | $46,220 | 18 | $49,121 | 17 | $22.22 | 1,190 | 0.41 |
| Wyoming | $62,400 | 3 | $67,320 | 3 | $30.00 | 100 | 0.34 |
BLS OEWS, May 2025, state estimates. Adjusted pay = median ÷ (state price level ÷ 100), using BEA regional price parities for 2024; it ignores taxes. Figures for states with few workers in the occupation have larger survey errors and can change sharply from one year to the next. “—” means BLS did not publish the figure (2 states). State names link to each state’s highest-paying jobs.
Best-paying metro areas for estheticians
221 metro areas with published pay
| Metro area | Median | Adjusted | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $91,000 | $90,686 | 160 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $81,490 | $78,605 | 90 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $80,510 | $72,445 | 1,330 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $76,520 | $76,460 | 80 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $75,970 | $71,937 | 40 |
| Bellingham, WA | $64,830 | $62,738 | 80 |
| Portland-South Portland, ME | $64,370 | $63,196 | 140 |
| Naples-Marco Island, FL | $63,630 | $61,657 | 200 |
| Lincoln, NE | $61,560 | $67,219 | 120 |
| Waco, TX | $60,460 | $65,327 | 30 |
| Metro area | Jobs | Median | Adjusted |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 4,600 | $46,490 | $41,301 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 4,500 | $37,560 | $33,073 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 2,720 | $45,330 | $43,757 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 1,920 | $52,350 | $45,280 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 1,720 | $51,320 | $51,290 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 1,660 | $48,250 | $48,921 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 1,620 | $54,290 | $52,663 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 1,460 | $43,570 | $42,485 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 1,340 | $51,180 | $49,537 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 1,330 | $80,510 | $72,445 |
BLS OEWS, May 2025, metropolitan statistical areas; adjusted with BEA metro price parities (2024).
What moves esthetician pay: employers and settings
Where an esthetician works makes a clear difference. Offices of physicians pay a median of $51,590 and offices of other health practitioners pay $49,590. Both reflect medical esthetician jobs that support dermatology and cosmetic procedures. Salons and spas, which employ about 73% of the field, pay a median of $43,880. Hotel and resort spas pay $45,240 and drugstore and beauty retail jobs pay $41,910.
State matters even more. Washington leads at $79,320, and it is also best after adjusting for living costs ($74,122 adjusted). The District of Columbia follows at $77,480, then Wyoming at $62,400, Montana at $58,500, and Nebraska at $58,420. At the low end are Tennessee at $36,590, Arkansas at $36,520, and Idaho at $34,130.
The spread across the field is wide, from $29,580, the 10th percentile, to $82,050, the 90th, because pay depends on tips, product commissions, how full your book is and how many hours you work. Advanced training in peels and laser treatments, where a state allows it, and a loyal client list are what move estheticians toward the top. Self-employed estheticians keep more per service but pay their own rent and supplies.
| Industry | Share of jobs | Median pay |
|---|---|---|
| Personal Care Services | 73.2% | $43,880 |
| Offices of Physicians | 8.7% | $51,590 |
| Offices of Other Health Practitioners | 5.4% | $49,590 |
| Health and Personal Care Retailers | 4.8% | $41,910 |
| Traveler Accommodation | 3.6% | $45,240 |
| Other Amusement and Recreation Industries | 1% | $39,660 |
| Employer type | Jobs | Median pay |
|---|---|---|
| Private employers | 72,790 | $45,330 |
| Local government (incl. schools and hospitals) | 80 | $39,360 |
BLS OEWS, May 2025, national industry-specific and ownership estimates (4-digit NAICS).
Esthetician pay over time
Median annual pay, 2015–2025
- 2015
- 2016
- 2017
- 2018
- 2019
- 2020
- 2021
- 2022
- 2023
- 2024
- 2025
The median rose from $30,090 in 2015 to $45,330 in 2025, up 51% in nominal dollars. After inflation, the 2015 median is worth $40,676 in May 2025 dollars, so real pay grew 11% over the period.
BLS OEWS, May 2025 and earlier May releases; inflation from the CPI-U, US city average, May of each year.
What estheticians do
An esthetician (also spelled aesthetician, and called a skincare specialist by BLS) is a licensed professional who treats the skin of the face and body for appearance, not disease. A typical appointment starts with a look at the skin under a magnifying lamp, then cleansing, exfoliation, extractions of blackheads, a mask or light chemical peel, and a recommendation for products to use at home. Many estheticians also wax, tint brows and lashes, and apply makeup.
About three in four work in salons, day spas and other personal care businesses, and nearly 3 in 10 are self-employed, often renting a treatment room. A smaller group works in dermatology and plastic surgery offices as medical estheticians, preparing patients for procedures and doing peels and post-treatment care under a physician's direction. Hotels and resorts with spas hire them too. The work is hands-on and close to the client, done under bright light, with chemicals that need good ventilation. Evening and weekend appointments are normal, and part-time schedules are common.
A typical day
- Examine a client's skin under a magnifying lamp and ask about allergies, medications and routines
- Cleanse, steam and exfoliate the face, then remove blackheads and clogged pores by hand
- Apply masks, serums and light chemical peels suited to the skin type
- Wax brows, lips, legs and bikini areas, and tint brows and lashes
- Recommend and sell home-care products, and keep notes on each client's treatments
- Disinfect tools, change linens and sanitize the treatment room between clients
- Refer clients with rashes, suspicious moles or acne that needs medicine to a doctor
Also called: aesthetician, skincare specialist, estheticians, clinical esthetician, electrologist, facialist, medical esthetician, skin therapist.
How to become an esthetician
Full guideTo become an esthetician, you complete a state-approved esthetics program, whose length is set by each state (600 hours in California, 750 in Washington, 220 for Florida's facial specialist registration), then in most states pass a written exam, plus a practical exam in some, to get a license. Full-time students can be licensed in about 6 months to a year.
- Typical time
- 6 to 12 months
- Fastest: About 5 months
- Minimum education
- State-approved esthetics (skin care) program, a postsecondary certificate; schooling rules vary (California requires completing 10th grade)
- License
- Required in all states (Florida issues a facial specialist registration); hours, exams and scope of practice vary by state
- Typical training cost
- $3.7K–$8.0K
- See the guide for what it includes
Read the step-by-step guide to becoming an esthetician: each step with its time and cost, education options, exams, licensing and advancement.
Is it worth it? Training cost against pay
Compare careers- Training time
- 6 to 12 months
- Typical path in our guide
- Training cost
- $3.7K–$8.0K
- Tuition and exam fees, before aid
- Median pay
- $45,330
- $5,650 below the all-jobs median ($50,980)
- Cost vs. one year's pay
- 8–18%
- Training cost as a share of a year at the median
The median for estheticians is below the median for all US jobs, so the case for training rests on the work itself, entry speed and local pay rather than a pay premium. This is a rough guide: it ignores taxes, financial aid, interest, earnings given up while training and how pay changes over a career. How we calculate ROI.
Job outlook for estheticians
BLS Employment Projections 2025–35
- Projected growth
- +8.8%
- All occupations +3.5%
- Jobs in 2025
- 104,200
- 113,300 projected for 2035
- Openings each year
- 14,200
- New jobs plus replacements
- Self-employed
- 29.2%
- Not in the pay figures above
BLS projects skincare specialist jobs to grow 8.8% from 2025 to 2035, from 104,200 to 113,300. That is much faster than the 3.5% average for all jobs, and about 14,200 openings are expected each year as new jobs add to the need to replace people who leave. Demand is coming from cheaper short facials, mobile services that come to the client's home, and more men and women booking skin treatments for anti-aging and general grooming. Competition is stiffer at high-end spas and medical practices.
Related careers and their pay
- Cosmetologist$35,790
- Massage Therapist$58,450
- Dermatologist$328,730
- Surgical Technician$64,650
- Barber$38,210
- Nail Technician$35,760
- Medical Assistant$45,690
- Dental Assistant$48,070
Related occupations from O*NET 31.0; median annual pay from BLS OEWS, May 2025.
Esthetician salary FAQ
How much do estheticians make an hour?
The median hourly wage for estheticians was $21.79 in May 2025. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $14.22 an hour and the highest-paid 10% more than $39.45. Hourly figures are BLS estimates for all workers in the occupation, full-time and part-time.
Which state pays estheticians the most?
Washington has the highest median pay for estheticians, $79,320 a year, followed by District of Columbia ($77,480) and Wyoming ($62,400). After adjusting for each state's price level, Washington comes out ahead at about $74,122 in national-average dollars.
Do estheticians make six figures?
Few do: based on the BLS percentiles, fewer than 10% of estheticians earn more than $100,000 a year. The median is $45,330, and the top 10% earn more than $82,050. Pay generally rises with experience, specialization and location.
What is the difference between an esthetician and a dermatologist?
A dermatologist is a physician who diagnoses and treats skin disease, prescribes medicine and performs surgery after medical school and residency. An esthetician has a state license from a few hundred hours of beauty school and works on the skin's appearance with facials, peels and hair removal. Estheticians are trained to spot problems and refer clients to a doctor, not to treat them.
What is a medical esthetician?
It is an esthetician who works in a dermatology, plastic surgery or medical spa setting, helping with skin care before and after procedures and doing peels and other treatments under a physician's supervision. Most states do not issue a separate medical esthetician license; the base esthetics license plus extra training is typical. Washington has a separate master esthetician license that adds training for lasers and deeper peels.
Do estheticians get tips?
Yes. In salons and spas, clients usually tip after facials and waxing, and many estheticians also earn a commission on the skin care products they sell. Both are part of the pay that BLS counts. Medical offices are less likely to have tipping, but they tend to pay a higher base wage, with a median of $51,590 in physicians' offices.
Sources
Data updated October 28, 2026 · Text checked against its sources October 28, 2026
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates, released April 30, 2026, SOC 39-5094
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–2035, released September 2026
- O*NET 31.0 Database (39-5094.00), U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under CC BY 4.0; tasks rewritten by Careers and Salaries
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state and metro area, 2024
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), US city average, May values
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study and institution data, most recent cohorts, released 2026-10-15
- Skincare Specialists, Occupational Outlook Handbook, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · checked October 28, 2026
- NIC Exam Types, National-Interstate Council of State Boards of Cosmetology · checked October 28, 2026
- License Requirements and Esthetician Application for Examination and Initial License, California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology · checked October 28, 2026
- Get your license: Cosmetology, Washington State Department of Licensing · checked October 28, 2026
- Esthetician Licensing Requirements, Connecticut Department of Public Health · checked October 28, 2026
- License Finder, CareerOneStop, U.S. Department of Labor · checked October 28, 2026
- Information Regarding the Written and Practical Examinations, California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology · checked October 28, 2026
- Esthetician Application for Examination and Initial License (form 1015-1004, rev. August 2025), California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology · checked October 28, 2026
- WAC 308-20-120 Written and performance examinations; RCW 18.16.020 Definitions, Washington State Legislature · checked October 28, 2026
- Florida Statutes 477.0201, Specialty registration, Florida Legislature · checked October 28, 2026
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