For information only. Not meant as advice in any form. Please consult your medical professional or lawyer.
It’s common knowledge that not everyone is qualified to perform cosmetic procedures and skin treatments. In a beauty salon or medical spa, most services are provided by a master esthetician. As skin care experts, they work closely with patients to achieve their goals, which makes it one of the most rewarding professional careers. With the demand for aesthetic procedures today, working as an esthetician can also be fulfilling when it comes to compensation.
So how much is the average salary of a medical esthetician? According to several salary aggregate sites, the annual pay for estheticians ranges from $40,000 to $90,000. The median hourly wage can start as low as $10 and increase to $44. Some factors that affect an esthetician’s average income are years of experience, educational background, location, and pay structure.
What is The Average Salary of Medical Estheticians?
While medical professionals administer most services in medical spas, some cosmetic treatments are performed by an esthetician. An esthetician, or skin care specialist, is an individual who’s trained in procedures that can help enhance the appearance of the skin.
Over the years, the demand for this type of job has been on the rise, especially since a lot of patients have been looking for nonsurgical treatment options to maintain their youthful and healthy skin. Being an esthetician offers plenty of advantages, one of which is that it provides good money.
According to labor statistics gathered by different salary aggregate sites, the yearly income for a medical esthetician is between $40,000 to $90,000. These estimates are based on the information provided by anonymous individuals who work in the industry. Here’s a table showing the various esthetician salaries from different sources:
| Hourly rate | Annual salary | |
| ZipRecruiter | $19 | $40,464 per year |
| Comparably | $20 | $41,827 per year |
| Payscale | $18.95 | $48,699 per year |
| Salary.com | $24 | $50,127 per year |
| Indeed | $27 | $50,560 per year |
| Glassdoor | $44 | $93,318 per year |
Top US States That Offer High Esthetician Salary
The location of the aesthetic practice can also determine the mean annual salary of an esthetician. Generally, a skincare specialist who’s working in an affluent community and servicing wealthy clients, such as celebrities, may receive a higher pay grade compared to those in a smaller spa or salon suite.
Here are some of the top states with the most number of medical spas and wellness centers that offer a high esthetician salary:
- California – With almost 2,000 aesthetic practices in the state, the average hourly pay for an esthetician in California is $30.09, while the annual salary is $54,081.
- Florida – If you want to work in a medical spa in Florida, you may expect to receive at least $26 per hour or around $48,000 per year.
- Oklahoma – Medical spa businesses are also popular in Oklahoma and the state offers an average of $25 per hour or $46,978 per year.
- New York – The med spa industry is also booming in New York State, with an average esthetician salary of $29.71 per hour or $54,108 per year.
- New Hampshire – Estheticians who are employed in New Hampshire typically receive an average hourly rate of $26.96 per hour and $49,099 per year.
- North Carolina – In the state of North Carolina, estheticians may receive an hourly wage of $27.16 or an annual pay of $49,457.
- South Carolina – Meanwhile, the estimated salary of estheticians working in South Carolina are $26.39 per hour or $48,070 per year.
Other Factors That May Affect Esthetician Salary
Aside from the location of practice, there are other factors that may influence the total salary that estheticians can receive per hour or in a year. Since medical estheticians work in a clinical setting, their expertise and training matter when it comes to determining their pay grade. Their form of employment and pay structure in a med spa can also affect their income.
1) Years of Experience
The salary of a master esthetician can significantly differ from a beginner. As with any industry, your compensation is directly affected by your level of experience. If you’re an entry-level skincare specialist, your average pay may range from $30,000 to $40,000. Meanwhile, if you already have years of professional esthetician experience, your salary may range between $50,000 to $90,000.
2) Educational Background
To become a licensed and successful esthetician, you need to complete a specialized cosmetology program and meet the required training hours. The number of hours vary per state but on average, an individual must accomplish around 600 to 1000 hours of training and hands-on practice.
Upon finishing cosmetology or esthetician school, you can increase your qualifications by becoming a certified esthetician. The certification process usually involves learning a training manual, gaining at least 2 years of work experience, and applying for licensing tests. You’ll receive proof of certification and esthetician license once you successfully pass the written exam.
3) Pay Structure
A pay structure is defined as a system that determines how much income you receive based on your job description, employment type, and effectiveness to the business. If you’re a full-time esthetician at a salon spa suite or aesthetics clinic, you typically receive a base salary along with client tips.
But if you’re an independent contractor, it basically means you’re renting an esthetician room at a salon and your pay is based on the number of clients that you treat in a day. While being a booth renter offers some flexibility, you’ll be responsible for your other expenses such as buying your tools and supplies and maintaining your equipment which can affect your overall profit margin.
How Do Estheticians Differ From Other Salon and Med Spa Personnel
Compared to other staff members in a med spa, medical estheticians receive a relatively higher pay grade. Here’s how their salary compares to the income of other spa employees:
| Licensed esthetician | $40,000 to $90,000 |
| Makeup artist | $39,000 to $70,000 |
| Hair stylist | $25,000 to $59,000 |
| Nail technician | $22,000 to $38,000 |
| Wax specialist | $36,000 to $70,000 |
| Massage therapist | $44,000 to $70,000 |
One reason why estheticians have a higher mean income is that they receive additional training and specialize in a wide range of treatments. At a medical spa, a skincare specialist or beauty professional can administer any of the following procedures:
- Facial services – This can include chemical peel treatments and skin exfoliation which require the use of medical-grade skin care products.
- Acne treatment – This involves the extraction of acne and blackheads to improve a patient’s skin appearance.
- Microdermabrasion – This treatment involves removing dead skin cells using a handheld microdermabrasion device.
- Hair removal – Estheticians are also trained in waxing, threading, and using lasers to remove unwanted hair on any part of the face or body.
How to Increase Your Esthetician Salary
There are a lot of opportunities for professional growth in the aesthetics industry, and if you’re a medical esthetician, here are some ways you can increase your compensation:
- Pursue continuing education and gain additional skills that are relevant to your day-to-day responsibilities.
- Receive your master esthetician license and train in the latest procedures and techniques for skin care.
- Increase your business and sell retail beauty and skin care products in your practice.
- Upsell services by offering add-ons, upgrades, or premium treatments to your clients.
- Join events and network with other professionals in the industry to stay updated about opportunities that offer a higher salary.
Enhance Your Aesthetic Knowledge and Get Online Training Courses From FACE Med Store
If you want to work in the aesthetics industry, being a medical esthetician is a good place to start. It offers a relatively good pay grade along with the rewarding experience of helping clients with their skin conditions and meeting their aesthetic goals.
At FACE Med Store, we have a wide selection of educational courses and training videos that can help enhance your skills and knowledge as an esthetician. We also offer high-quality and affordable tools and equipment that you may need to perform cosmetic procedures. To know more about our products or to see our stock list, contact us today.
