For information only. Not meant as advice in any form. Please consult your medical professional or lawyer.
There are many occupations you can apply for with a nursing degree. From being a healthcare specialist and paramedic to a family nurse practitioner, dermatology nurse, certified registered nurse anesthetist, and staff nurse, there are many professional options for this career path. Another in-demand job today in many wellness clinics, dermatology offices, and medical spas is a nurse esthetician.
So what is the average nurse esthetician salary? Based on several job aggregate websites, an aesthetic nurse salary can range from $56,000 to $100,000 per year. The average annual pay can be determined by several factors such as years of experience, education, location of the practice, and employment setting.
A nurse esthetician, or certified aesthetic nurse specialist, is an indispensable member of any salon or medical spa. They support and work closely with physicians, dermatologists, and medical doctors in almost all aspects of patient care. From receiving patients to evaluating their skin problems and performing cosmetic procedures, nurse estheticians are vital in guaranteeing successful treatments.
Anyone who’s interested in becoming a nurse esthetician will look at the benefits of the position. One of the biggest advantages of working as an aesthetic nurse is the high annual pay. According to various salary aggregate sites, the annual income for cosmetic nurses ranges from $50,000 to $100,000. These salary estimates are provided by anonymous contributors who are working in the industry.
To have a clearer picture of the estimated annual pay, here’s a table showing the data from different sites:
Estimated annual income | |
Comparably | $56,911 per year |
Glassdoor | $97,829 per year |
Indeed | $91,595 per year |
Payscale | $81,000 per year |
Salary.com | $62,041 per year |
ZipRecruiter | $88,341 per year |
With the popularity of noninvasive cosmetic procedures, a lot of medical spas are looking for new nurse estheticians to join their staff. While being an aesthetic nurse practitioner is an exciting and rewarding venture, the starting salary may not be immediately as high as those displayed on the aggregate sites.
One of the most crucial factors that can influence your average annual pay is the location of your practice. It’s common to have a significant difference in the compensation offered by aesthetic practices in smaller neighborhoods and clinics in metropolitan cities and affluent communities.
If you’re thinking of beginning your career as an aesthetic nurse, it’s important to research the best cities where you can make the most money from your skills and expertise. Here are the popular states that offer a high compensation for nurse estheticians:
Location is not the only factor that can influence how much a nurse esthetician will receive in a year. Depending on where you’ll be working, the qualifications for the aesthetic nurse position can vary and your level of expertise, training, and certifications will be evaluated. The work environment and pay structure may also determine your average annual salary.
Experienced nurse estheticians will make more income than entry-level or newly certified nurse practitioners. If you don’t have enough work experience yet or if your training doesn’t meet the requirements in the med spa job posting, you may receive a slightly lower starting salary than what’s expected for nurse estheticians.
Nurse estheticians who are just beginning their careers can expect to receive an average annual salary ranging from $47,000 to $57,000. If you already have about 5 to 10 years of nurse esthetician experience, you may begin to earn $80,000 to $100,000 per year.
Hiring managers may also consider your educational background and training in setting your starting pay grade. Generally, nurse estheticians are expected to have completed a nursing degree and passed the exam to receive their license. Having additional certifications in advanced cosmetic treatments can also strengthen your competency as a nurse esthetician and put you in a higher salary range.
Nurse estheticians can be employed in different work environments which can also determine how much compensation they’ll receive. For example, registered nurses working in hospitals and healthcare facilities may be able to earn more income than those in private practices. Aesthetic nurses who work in medical spas can also have a slightly higher starting salary than other nurse practitioners in other settings.
It’s also important to look at the pay structure of the facility that you’re applying for to have a picture of how much you’ll earn in a year. A salary structure refers to the system that determines the income you’ll receive based on several factors such as your role, responsibilities, and the difficulty of the job. Having a comprehensive salary structure gives you an idea about how your employer will compensate for your performance and effectiveness in the medical spa.
Aesthetic nurses are essential personnel that help keep the medical spa running. One of their main responsibilities is to assist the medical director or plastic surgeon in administering treatments. In addition, they can also do other important tasks such as:
The primary difference between an aesthetic nurse and a medical esthetician is their education and background. Generally, a nurse esthetician has a degree in the medical field and has specialized in cosmetic nursing. On the other hand, a medical esthetician doesn’t have a medical or aesthetic nursing degree.
Anyone can become a medical aesthetician as long as they’ve attended a cosmetology or esthetician school and received their state license. However, to become a nurse esthetician, you have to be a graduate of a nursing school. Unlike general or medical estheticians, aesthetic nurses have a solid foundation in the anatomy and physiology of the human body and skin and have enough nursing practice and clinical experience.
There’s no easy way to become a nurse esthetician. It generally takes a lot of time and commitment to finish nursing school and accomplish the required hours of practice in your desired work setting. Here’s an overview of the steps to become a licensed nurse esthetician:
A nurse esthetician is one of the high-paying jobs in the field of cosmetic and medical aesthetics. However, there are some ways you can increase your earning potential as a cosmetic nurse and this can include:
There are plenty of work opportunities in the aesthetic industry and being a nurse esthetician is one of the most rewarding and high-paying jobs. If you already have a nursing degree and want to become an aesthetic nurse, you’d only need to earn a state license and work in a medical spa practice to kickstart your career.
At FACE Med Store, we have a selection of online training courses and modules that can help improve your skills as a nurse esthetician. We also offer high-quality medical tools and equipment that you may need to administer treatments. Call us today to know more about our other aesthetic courses or inquire about our stocks.