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.
What Is A Nurse Esthetician’s Salary?
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 |
Top States With The Highest Average Income for Nurse Estheticians
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:
- New York – This state is home to a number of medical spa businesses, making it one of the best destinations for anyone who’s looking to work as a registered aesthetic nurse. The average nurse esthetician salary in this state is about $106,173, which is 16% higher than the national average.
- California – Aesthetic nurses can also expect to earn an estimated average of $99,396 per year, which is 9% higher than the recorded median income.
- Florida – Med spas and aesthetic clinics are also big in this state, and aspiring cosmetic nurses can expect to receive an average annual salary of $88,217.
- New Jersey – Nurse estheticians working in medical spas and healthcare facilities in this state can expect to earn an average of $95,993 per year.
- North Carolina – Aesthetic nurses employed in practices in North Carolina can earn about $89,728 per year.
- Mississippi – Registered nurse estheticians who work in Mississippi can receive an average annual pay of $83,189.
- Oklahoma – Nurse estheticians who are looking to move to Oklahoma can expect to receive an average of $85,172 per year.
Other Factors That Determine How Much An Esthetician Nurse Makes
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.
1) Level of Experience
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.
2) Training and Certification
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.
3) Employment Setting
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.
4) Salary Structure
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.
What Are The Roles of A Nurse Esthetician?
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:
- Conduct initial screening and examine a patient’s skin conditions before coordinating with a medical doctor
- Listen to a client’s cosmetic goals and suggest treatment options that may be able to address their needs
- Prepare the patient before their treatment and provide essential aftercare management
- Schedule appointments and set medical treatments with the physician
- Maintain the cleanliness and sanitation of facilities and equipment before every aesthetic procedure or skin treatment
- Administer basic skin care procedures such as chemical peels, laser hair removal, microdermabrasion, microneedling, facials, and light therapy
- Provide cosmetic injectables like Botox and dermal fillers under physician supervision
- Perform laser treatments for tattoo removal
- Assist doctors with facial plastic surgery or non-surgical body contouring procedures
- Recommend the best skin care products and educate clients on how they can maintain healthy skin
Nurse Esthetician vs. Medical Esthetician: How Do They Differ?
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.
How To Become A Nurse Esthetician
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:
- Complete your nursing education and get either a two-year associate degree (ADN) or a four-year bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN).
- Apply and pass the licensing exam in your state. Most individuals who have an ADN or BSN are required to take the NCLEX-RN exam before they can practice as aesthetic nurse specialists.
- After passing the licensure exam, you need to gain at least 2 years of working experience or complete 1000 training hours in medical aesthetic practice. You can also apply for a nursing job in a plastic surgery clinic, dermatology office, medical spa, or healthcare facility.
- You can further establish your career as a nurse esthetician by applying for accreditation through the Plastic Surgical Nursing Certification Board to become either a Certified Plastic Surgery Nurse or Certified Aesthetic Nurse Specialist.
Ways to Increase How Much A Nurse Esthetician Makes
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:
- Pursue additional training in specialized cosmetic treatments such as Botox injections, fillers, and lasers and receive a certification.
- Always communicate with your manager and discuss feedback from patients to support your request for a salary raise.
- Establish a close relationship with patients by providing excellent service and care.
- Go to networking events and meet with other professionals to explore new job opportunities with higher pay.
- Relocate to a state that offers a higher base salary for nurse estheticians.
Develop Your Aesthetic Skills With Online Training Courses From FACE Med Store
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.
