What is an esthetician and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
Quoted Expert
Charley Sain

Do you enjoy beautifying things? Maybe you love revamping rooms, upcycling clothes, and repainting walls. Maybe you like doing makeovers. Did you know that you can actually beautify people for a living? Professionals who do these are called estheticians.

Estheticians are considered beauty professionals. They can work in different settings such as dermatology clinics, hospitals, even spas! They know all about taking care of one's skin. If you want to pursue this, you need to understand the science behind beautification. You should be able to know which chemicals clash, and which ones you should avoid putting on faces. This is why estheticians should be trustworthy and should act with integrity.

If you really are interested in this, you should also know how to communicate with others. You need to be able to explain procedures well and calm down anxious patients. This job pays really well, especially if you are in a medical setting.

What general advice would you give to an Esthetician?

C

Charley SainCharley Sain LinkedIn Profile

Cosmetology Instructor, Program Coordinator for Cosmetology, Esthetics, and Manicuring, Cleveland Community College

My advice to a new professional would be to work hard, continue your education, and never give up. The beauty industry rapidly changes, due to modern technology, so it is imperative to continue your education and continue your professional growth. It is essential to work hard because building a clientele can be challenging, especially during these times. Do not let those challenges get you down; stay focused, and keep your eye on your goals.
ScoreEstheticianUS Average
Salary
3.2

Avg. Salary $41,419

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level
4.5

Growth Rate 17%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity
2.5
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.34%

Asian 8.65%

Black or African American 5.06%

Hispanic or Latino 16.29%

Unknown 6.40%

White 63.26%

Gender

female 93.86%

male 6.14%

Age - 33
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 33
Stress Level
4.5

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity Level
5.7

Complexity Level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance
10.0

Work Life balance is excellent

6.4 - fair

Esthetician career paths

Key steps to become an esthetician

  1. Explore esthetician education requirements

    Most common esthetician degrees

    Bachelor's

    31.2 %

    Associate

    25.4 %

    High School Diploma

    12.2 %
  2. Start to develop specific esthetician skills

    Skills
    ascdesc
    Percentages
    ascdesc
    Customer Service26.99%
    Excellent Guest13.75%
    Cleanliness8.31%
    Retail Products6.80%
    Body Treatments6.62%
  3. Complete relevant esthetician training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New estheticians learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an esthetician based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real esthetician resumes.
  4. Obtain the necessary licensing

    Becoming an licensed esthetician usually doesn't require a college degree. However, you need to pass an exam to become a licensed esthetician in most of states. 38 states require estheticians to have license for their work. You can see the list of states below.
    State
    ascdesc
    Education
    ascdesc
    Exam
    ascdesc
    License Url
    ascdesc
    AlabamaSpecific course requiredState exam requiredLicensed Esthetician
    AlaskaSpecific course requiredState exam requiredEsthetician
    CaliforniaSpecific course requiredState exam requiredEsthetician
    ColoradoSpecific course requiredState exam requiredEstheticians
    DelawareSpecific course requiredThird-party exam requiredAesthetican
  5. Research esthetician duties and responsibilities

    • Manage the aesthetics department and perform consultations with patients regarding aesthetic and facial surgery procedures.
    • Cleanse skin and remove makeup.
    • Close group for PCA skin care professionals only.
    • Maintain HIPPA privacy laws while reviewing patient's history.
  6. Prepare your esthetician resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your esthetician resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an esthetician resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose From 10+ Customizable Esthetician Resume templates

    Build a professional Esthetician resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Esthetician resume.
    Esthetician Resume
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  7. Apply for esthetician jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for an esthetician job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How Did You Land Your First Esthetician Job

Zippi

Are you an Esthetician?

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Average esthetician salary

The average Esthetician salary in the United States is $41,419 per year or $20 per hour. Esthetician salaries range between $28,000 and $60,000 per year.

Average Esthetician Salary
$41,419 Yearly
$19.91 hourly

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How do estheticians rate their job?

4/5

Based On 1 Ratings

5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

Esthetician reviews

profile
4.0
A zippia user wrote a review on Mar 2021
Pros

Helping people with their self confidence by correcting their skin’s imperfections and overall health.

Cons

Poorly managed practices that don’t prioritize patient’s satisfaction through care.


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Feb 2021
Pros

Being skin specialist i like to take care of skin and the happy face in my client face..

Cons

I like everything there is no such dislike being skin specialist.


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Aug 2020
Cons

Working all weekends, being in tons of social interactions a day, high stress situations, work comes home with you, getting criticism online, lots of disinfection and cleaning, lots of interaction with coworkers. Some days at work I want To go hide in the bathroom to avoid anymore social interaction and stress from dealing with the public all day.


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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