### Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Skincare Specialists Summary
                        
            
                                                        
                                                                
                        
            
            
            
                            
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
            						
							
				                                                
                                            




            			skincare specialists imageSkincare specialists provide treatments, such as peels, masks, or scrubs, to remove dead or dry skin.							
						Quick Facts:     Skincare Specialists2023     Median Pay
            						$43,200     per year
										$20.77     per hourTypical Entry-Level Education
                                    Postsecondary nondegree awardWork Experience in a Related Occupation
                                    NoneOn-the-job Training
                                    NoneNumber of Jobs, 2022
                                    82,000Job Outlook, 2022-32
                                    9% (Much faster than average)Employment Change, 2022-32
                                    7,500What Skincare Specialists Do
                                                
                        
                        
Skincare specialists provide cleansing and other face and body treatments to enhance a person’s appearance.
            
                        Work Environment
                        
Skincare specialists usually work in salons and beauty and health spas, and some are self-employed. Part-time work is common, and work schedules may vary and include evenings and weekends.
            
                                                How to Become a Skincare Specialist
                                                
                        
Skincare specialists must complete a state-approved cosmetology or esthetician program and then pass a state exam for licensure.
            
                        Pay
                        																																					    														The median hourly wage for skincare specialists was $20.77 in May 2023.									                                					
						
            
                        Job Outlook
                        						
												Employment							of skincare specialists is projected to grow							 9 percent from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations.
						About 12,400 openings for skincare specialists are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
            			
            			 Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
						State & Area Data
                       Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for skincare specialists.
            
            
						
                        Similar Occupations
                        
                                                    Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of skincare specialists with similar occupations.
            
            
                        More Information, Including Links to O*NET
                        
                                               
                        Learn more about skincare specialists by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
 What Skincare Specialists Do 
            

			Skin care specialistsSkincare specialists remove unwanted hair using wax or laser treatment.			
Skincare specialists, also known as *estheticians*, provide cleansing and other face and body treatments to enhance a person’s appearance.
Duties
Skincare specialists typically do the following:
Disinfect equipment and clean work areas before and after procedures
Evaluate clients’ skin condition and appearance
Discuss available treatments and determine which products will improve clients’ skin quality
Remove unwanted hair, using wax, lasers, or other approved treatments
Clean the skin before applying makeup
Recommend skincare products, such as cleansers, creams, or lotions
Teach and advise clients on how to apply makeup and how to care for their skin
Refer clients to another skincare specialist, such as a dermatologist, for serious skin problemsSkincare specialists give facials, full-body treatments, and head and neck massages to improve the health and appearance of the skin. Some provide other skincare treatments to remove dead or dry skin, such as masks, peels, and scrubs. They also may provide eyelash services, makeup application, and hair removal.
In addition, these specialists create daily skincare routines for clients based on skin analysis and help them understand which products will work best for them.
Those who operate their own salons have managerial duties that include hiring, firing, and supervising workers, as well as keeping business and inventory records, ordering supplies, and arranging for advertising.
 Work Environment
			Skin care specialistsSkincare specialists usually work in salons or spas.			

	    
				
	
	
	
	
	
	
	    					 Skincare specialists held about 82,000 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of skincare specialists were as follows:
        Personal care services
                53%Self-employed workers
                24Offices of physicians
                9Health and personal care retailers
                5Traveler accommodation
                3Skincare specialists usually work in salons and beauty and health spas. Some work in medical offices. Skincare specialists may have to stand for extended periods of time.
Because skincare specialists must evaluate the condition of the skin, good lighting and clean surroundings are important. Protective clothing and good ventilation also may be necessary, because skincare specialists often use chemicals on the face and body.
Work Schedules
Part-time work is common for skincare specialists. Work schedules may vary and include evenings and weekends.
 How to Become a Skincare Specialist

			Skin care specialistsSkincare specialists must pass a state-approved cosmetology program before getting licensed.			
Skincare specialists must complete a state-approved cosmetology or esthetician program and then pass a state exam for licensure.
Education
To enter the occupation, skincare specialists typically must complete a state-approved cosmetology or esthetician program. Although some high schools may offer vocational training, most people receive their training from a postsecondary vocational school. The Associated Skin Care Professionals organization has information about schools and requirements by state.
Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations
After completing an approved cosmetology or esthetician program, skincare specialists take a written and practical exam to get a state license. Licensing requirements vary by state, so those interested should contact their state board.
The National-Interstate Council of State Boards of Cosmetology and American Association of Cosmetology Schools provide contact information for state licensing boards. Resources about exam and licensing requirements include sample exam questions.
Many states offer continuing education seminars and programs designed to keep skincare specialists current on new techniques and products. Post-licensing training is also available through manufacturers, associations, and at trade shows.
State reciprocity agreements may allow licensed skincare specialists to get a license in another state without needing additional formal training or state board testing. Contact your state licensing agency for details.
Important Qualities
***Business skills*.** Skincare specialists who run their own salon must understand business principles, such as accounting, to manage a salon efficiently and profitably.
***Customer-service skills*.** Skincare specialists should be friendly and courteous to their clients to encourage repeat business.
***Initiative*.** Self-employed skincare specialists generate their own business opportunities and must be proactive in finding new clients.
***Physical stamina*.** Skincare specialists spend most of their day standing.
***Tidiness.*** Workers must keep their work area clean and sanitary for the health and safety of their clients. They also must keep a neat personal appearance to increase the likelihood that clients will return.
***Time-management skills.***Skincare specialists need to manage their time efficiently for scheduling appointments and providing services.
 Pay

			



	
 
                                                     
            
    
                Skincare SpecialistsMedian hourly wages, May 2023Total, all occupations$23.11   Skincare specialists$20.77   Personal appearance workers$16.79Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
 

	
	



		
	
	
	
The median hourly wage for skincare specialists was $20.77 in May 2023. 


The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $13.27, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $39.10.





		
	    					 In May 2023, the median hourly wages for skincare specialists in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:	
        Offices of physicians
                $23.65Personal care services
                20.75Health and personal care retailers
                17.88Traveler accommodation
                16.61Part-time work is common for skincare specialists. Work schedules may vary and include evenings and weekends.
 Job Outlook

   
        
    
          
        
    
                Skincare SpecialistsPercent change in employment, projected 2022-32Skincare specialists9%  Personal appearance workers8%  Total, all occupations3%Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program
            
            
			 
	
	
	

			Employment				of skincare specialists is projected to grow				 9 percent from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations.
			
			About 12,400 openings for skincare specialists are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
			
			 Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
			Employment
	
			
The projected increase in employment reflects demand for services being offered, such as mini-sessions (quick facials at a lower cost) and mobile facials (making house calls) directly from skincare specialists rather than hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists. Employment growth also should result from the desire among many women and a growing number of men who seek out skincare services to reduce the effects of aging, to look good on social media platforms, and to lead a healthier lifestyle through better grooming.
			

                        Employment projections data for     skincare specialists, 2022-32
                Occupational Title
                        SOC Code
                        Employment, 2022
                        Projected Employment, 2032
                        Change, 2022-32
                        Employment by IndustryPercent
                        NumericSOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program**Skincare specialists**
			39-5094
			82,000
			89,400
			9
			7,500
			Get data
 State & Area Data **Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)** The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link(s) below go to OES data maps for employment and wages by state and area. Skincare specialists **Projections Central** Occupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. All state projections data are available at www.projectionscentral.com. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. In addition, states may produce projections for areas; there are links to each state’s websites where these data may be retrieved. **CareerOneStop** CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. There is also a salary info tool to search for wages by zip code.
 Similar Occupations This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of skincare specialists. Occupation
                Job Duties
                ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION
                2023     MEDIAN PAY**Barbers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists**
            Barbers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists provide haircutting, hairstyling, and other services related to personal appearance.
            Postsecondary nondegree award
            $35,080**Manicurists and Pedicurists**
            Manicurists and pedicurists clean, shape, and beautify fingernails and toenails.
            Postsecondary nondegree award
            $34,250**Massage Therapists**
            Massage therapists treat clients by applying pressure to manipulate the body's soft tissues and joints.
            Postsecondary nondegree award
            $55,310
 Contacts for More Information
								
For information about skincare specialists and esthetician schools, visit
Associated Skin Care Professionals (ASCP)
For information about education and cosmetology schools, visit
Beauty Schools Directory
For information about the spa industry, visit
International Spa Association (ISPA)
For information about state licensing, practice exams, and other resources, visit
American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS)
National-Interstate Council of State Boards of Cosmetology (NIC)
Professional Beauty Association (PBA)

                                                
                                                        
                                                                                                    O*NET
                                        Skincare Specialists
 Suggested citation: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.  Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Skincare Specialists, 
        	 at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/personal-care-and-service/skincare-specialists.htm (visited *May 21, 2024*).
 **Last Modified Date:**
                        Friday, April 19, 2024


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