KEY TAKEAWAYS: Knowing how much money you can make as an esthetician is an important step in making career choices and determining the trajectory of your professional life. Esthetician salaries can vary based on a number of factors, and familiarizing yourself with these nuances can help you on your journey to becoming a successful skincare professional.
If you have a passion for skincare and helping people, embracing a career as an esthetician might be for you.
Before you jump into the esthetician path, however, it’s important to consider every factor–including the investment you’ll make in school, training, and more–to become a skincare specialist.
While following your dreams and honing your skills are valid reasons to choose a certain path in life, there’s no question that the esthetician’s salary will play a part in your career choice.
So, how much do estheticians make?
Your Esthetician Salary Guide
The median esthetician salary is around $43,200, while the average is slightly higher at about $44,500.
These numbers don’t tell the entire story, however, as the actual earnings of estheticians can vary wildly based on factors like location, specialty, experience, and more.
For example, some estheticians make as little as $27,000 per year, while others have an esthetician salary of nearly $100,000. What causes this large discrepancy? Read on to find out.
Your Location and Earning Potential
One of the biggest factors in an esthetician’s potential salary is their physical location in the country. Earning potential can differ significantly between cities, states, and regions.
While this discrepancy usually balances out to some degree, thanks to cost-of-living and other factors, it is still worth noting.
For example, the average yearly earnings of an esthetician in a state like Washington is over $50,000, while it dips closer to $30,000 in a state like West Virginia.
The disparity between these two extremes is substantial and should help set expectations for your esthetician salary depending on where you live.
Much of the difference between the earning potential of different locations is linked to factors like consumer demand and market saturation, so be sure to do some research before selecting where you plan to do business.
Increase Your Esthetician Salary with Specialization
The more specialized your training, the more you can potentially charge for it.
By investing your time and money into advanced education and training, you are setting yourself apart from the crowd and appealing to clients who are in search of more specialized services.
All of this translates into the opportunity for increased earnings.
There is a downside, however; you need a large enough client base in need of your specialized esthetician offerings.
It is a bit of a gamble, but special credentials do increase your professional standing, open doors to new opportunities, and speak to your expertise. With some strategic planning and marketing, you can set yourself up for a higher esthetician salary.
Experience Equals Earnings
It’s entirely possible to find instant success as an esthetician, but the financial success you experience tends to increase as your experience in the field grows.
The more time you put into your craft, the more your reputation benefits, your clientele grows, your professional network expands, and your career flourishes.
To reap the rewards of experience, you’ll need to be patient, establish yourself in your community, be consistent, and work hard, but–like in most careers–your esthetician salary will grow as the years pass by.
The Connection Between Services and Esthetician Salary
Being a successful beauty pro is all about your clients. Without a solid client base, you simply cannot create a thriving business or grow your salary.
In other words, you need to appeal to your target audience and attract paying customers if you want to increase your esthetician earnings.
While factors like location, marketing prowess, and longevity play a role in your ability to build a strong foundation of clients, the heart of your esthetician business is the service you provide.
If you offer services that your local clientele wants, you can attract them. If you don’t, you will need to change your approach.
Whether you choose to focus on a few core services to enhance your expertise or opt to expand your service offerings to appeal to a broader audience, you can leverage your services to grow your beauty biz and increase your esthetician salary.
Estheticians can be financially successful while enjoying all the other perks of their career choice, such as connecting with clients, embracing their passion, and getting involved in their community.
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