Estheticians are skin care specialists who give facials, massages for the neck and head, full-body treatments and put on makeup. They sometimes remove hair through laser treatments or waxing. Estheticians, like other personal appearance workers including barbers and cosmetologists, are licensed by their states after completing a training program.

Job Outlook

There were about 38,800 estheticians in the United States as of 2008, according to a Bureau of Labor Statistics estimate. The BLS estimates that overall, jobs for personal appearance workers are expected to grow by about 20 percent through 2018, which is much faster than average for other occupations. Entry-level workers will likely have an easier time finding a job than those with more experience who want to work in top businesses.

Job growth for estheticians is expected to grow even more than the rate for all personal appearance workers. Their expected job growth rate is expected to be nearly 38 percent through 2018. This is due mostly to the growing popularity of skin treatments.

Salary Factors

Entry-level estheticians typically earn much less than those with more experience. A salon’s location and size play large roles in determining esthetician salary. Commissions on how many products they sell and the price of different services can also affect their salaries. Estheticians who bring in new business may also receive bonuses. Many estheticians who are part-time workers and who are self-employed do not receive benefits like health insurance or paid vacations. They may, however, receive some free samples of skin care products so that they can recommend them to clients.

Average Esthetician Salary

The average esthetician salary in the United States, as of May 2010, was $32,030, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ estimate. The average hourly wage was $15.40.

Salary Range

The esthetician salary can vary significantly. The 10th percentile earned up to $17,090 per year, or $8.22 per hour, according to the BLS as of May 2010. The 25th percentile made up to $20,640 per year, or $9.92 per hour. The median annual salary was $28,920, or $13.90, and the 75th percentile earned up to $40,810 per year, or $19.62 per hour. The 90th percentile earned at least $50,890 per year, or $24.47 per hour.

Where to Work

Esthetician salary in doctors’ offices were the highest, on average, of all industries where estheticians are employed. There, they earned an average of $39,540 per year, or $19.01 per hour, according to the BLS as of May 2010. The BLS-titled “Other Amusement and Recreation Activities” industry paid an average of $38,450 per year, or $18.49 per hour. Outpatient care centers paid an average of $37,650 per year, or $18.10 per hour. General medical and surgical hospitals paid an average of $37,280, or $17.92 per hour. Department stores paid estheticians an average of $36,660 per year, or $17.63 per hour.

Highest-Paying States

Delaware is the highest-paying stat in the United States for estheticians, according to the BLS as of May 2010. The average salary there was $46,130 per year, or $22.18 per hour. The second highest-paying state is $42,810 per year, or $20.58 per hour. Oregon comes in next at $41,650 per year, or $20.02 per hour, and the District of Columbia is fourth at $41,580 per year, or $19.99 per hour. The fifth highest-paying state as of May 2010 is $40,370 per year, or $19.41 per hour.

Highest-Paying Metropolitan Areas

Esthetician salary can vary significantly based on an individual’s location. The highest-paying metropolitan area is Portland-Vancouver-Beaverton, OR-WA , where the average annual esthetician salary is $46,620 per year, or $22.41 per hour. Next is Wilmington, DE-MD-NJ at $46,170 annually, or $22.20 per hour. Tallahassee, FL is third on the list at $46,160 per year, or $22.19 per hour. Oakland-Fremont-Hayward, CA is fourth at $44,140 per year, or $21.22 per hour. Tucson, AZ is fifth at $43,870 per year, or $21.09 per hour.

Highest-Paying Non-metro Areas

The highest-paying area for estheticians out of the non-metropolitan areas of the country is Hawaii / Maui / Kauai non-metropolitan area , where the average salary is $41,360 per year, or $19.89 per hour, as of May 2010, according to the BLS. The North Central Colorado non-metropolitan area comes in second place at $41,000 per year, or $19.71 per hour. The North Georgia non-metropolitan area holds third place at $36,660 per year, or $17.63 per hour. The Southwest Maine non-metropolitan area is fourth at $36,080 per year, or $17.35 per hour. The fifth place spot belongs to the South Central Wisconsin non-metropolitan area, where the average salary is $22,080 per year, or $10.62 per hour.