SOC 39-5094.00Bright outlook

    Skincare Specialists

    Provide skincare treatments to face and body to enhance an individual's appearance.

    Median pay
    $45,330
    Growth
    +8.8%
    Much faster than average
    Openings a year
    14,200
    Typical education
    Postsecondary certificate

    Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition

    Source: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

    See the pathway

    Annual pay range

    Lowest 10% earn less than
    $29,580
    Median
    $45,330
    Highest 10% earn more than
    $82,050
    National wages for all workers in this occupation. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.

    72,890 people work in this occupation.

    In short

    Skincare specialists provide treatments to the face and body to improve a client's appearance. The career offers a median annual pay of $45,330, with opportunities for much faster than average employment growth.

    Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.

    What skincare specialists do

    Job Zone 3: Medium preparation

    Provide skincare treatments to face and body to enhance an individual's appearance. Includes electrologists and laser hair removal specialists.

    Usually vocational training, an associate degree or related experience.

    What the work is like

    Skincare specialists, also known as estheticians, beauticians, or electrologists, focus on enhancing the appearance of their clients' skin. Their daily work involves assisting and caring for others by performing face and body treatments, which can include hair removal and specialized therapies. To succeed, these professionals must establish and maintain strong interpersonal relationships, using active listening and social perceptiveness to understand client needs.

    This occupation aligns with realistic interests and requires a blend of customer service, sales, and marketing knowledge. Specialists must organize, plan, and prioritize their own work, which includes scheduling appointments and keeping track of supplies. They need to monitor processes and inspect their equipment to ensure safety and cleanliness. Strong communication skills are essential for interacting with clients, peers, and supervisors. When recommending products or treatments, specialists use persuasion and selling skills. They must also continuously update their professional knowledge to stay current on skincare techniques and safety standards. Key work styles for this career include attention to detail, dependability, empathy, and cooperation.

    How to get there

    To enter this career, individuals typically need a postsecondary certificate. The occupation is classified under medium preparation, which usually involves vocational training, an associate degree, or related work experience. Students preparing for this field often major in cosmetology and related personal grooming services.

    While specific requirements vary by location, some states list a license for this work. Additionally, professionals can pursue voluntary credentials to demonstrate their expertise, such as the Certified Laser Professional credential offered by Allied Beauty Experts. Building skills in customer service, administration, and basic psychology during training can help prepare candidates for the daily demands of managing clients and running a skincare business.

    Pay and outlook explained

    In 2025, the median annual pay for skincare specialists was $45,330. This means half of the workers in this field earned more than this amount, and half earned less. The lowest 10% of earners made less than $29,580, while the highest 10% earned more than $82,050.

    With 72,890 people employed in the field, the occupation is projected to grow by 8.8% from 2025 to 2035, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. This growth, combined with normal turnover, is expected to result in approximately 14,200 job openings each year.

    Interest profile

    Realistic (R) · strongest
    75 / 100
    Investigative (I)
    17 / 100
    Artistic (A)
    33 / 100
    Social (S)
    53 / 100
    Enterprising (E)
    35 / 100
    Conventional (C)
    40 / 100
    How strongly each interest area describes the work, from O*NET (scores rescaled to 0–100). The interest code lists the strongest areas in order.

    Interest code RSC. Compare it with yours

    What you'd do

    Assisting and Caring for Others
    88
    Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
    84
    Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
    83
    Selling or Influencing Others
    83
    Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
    83
    Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
    82
    Scheduling Work and Activities
    81
    Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
    80
    Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
    77
    Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People
    75
    Work activities rated by importance for this occupation, O*NET (0–100).

    Skills and strengths

    Skills

    • Speaking
    • Service Orientation
    • Active Listening
    • Monitoring
    • Critical Thinking
    • Reading Comprehension
    • Social Perceptiveness
    • Active Learning
    • Complex Problem Solving
    • Coordination

    Knowledge

    • Customer and Personal Service
    • Sales and Marketing
    • Administration and Management
    • Education and Training
    • English Language
    • Administrative
    • Communications and Media
    • Therapy and Counseling
    • Economics and Accounting
    • Psychology

    Abilities

    • Near Vision
    • Oral Comprehension
    • Oral Expression
    • Deductive Reasoning
    • Speech Clarity
    • Speech Recognition
    • Arm-Hand Steadiness
    • Problem Sensitivity
    • Written Comprehension
    • Finger Dexterity

    Work styles

    • Attention to Detail
    • Social Orientation
    • Dependability
    • Empathy
    • Cooperation
    • Optimism
    • Sincerity
    • Cautiousness
    • Integrity
    • Self-Confidence

    Also called

    Aesthetic RN Injector (Aesthetic Registered Nurse Injector) · Aesthetician · Beautician · Beauty Therapist · Brow Waxing Expert · Clinical Esthetician · Electrologist · Electrolysis Needle Operator · Electrolysis Operator · Electrolysist

    Career pathway

    From your interests to skincare specialists

    Interests that fit the work, the career, majors that lead there and colleges whose graduates in those majors earn the most. Hover or focus a step to follow one path.

    1. Interests

    2. This career

      • Skincare Specialists$45,330 median pay

    3. Majors

    4. Colleges

    College Scorecard program outcomes

    Colleges with strong outcomes

    Programs that lead to this career, ranked by what their graduates earn four years after finishing. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid.

    1. 1Clover Park Technical College logo
      Clover Park Technical College

      Lakewood, WA · Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services · Associate

      1 yr after
      $31,122
      4 yrs after
      $33,290
      Median debt
      Not reported
    2. 2Douglas Education Center logo
      Douglas Education Center

      Monessen, PA · Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services · Associate

      1 yr after
      $24,344
      4 yrs after
      $32,245
      Median debt
      $12,000
    3. 3Central New Mexico Community College logo
      Central New Mexico Community College

      Albuquerque, NM · Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services · Associate

      1 yr after
      $22,359
      4 yrs after
      $27,398
      Median debt
      Not reported
    4. 4Central Piedmont Community College logo
      Central Piedmont Community College

      Charlotte, NC · Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services · Associate

      1 yr after
      $24,015
      4 yrs after
      $26,550
      Median debt
      Not reported
    5. 5Bevill State Community College logo
      Bevill State Community College

      Jasper, AL · Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services · Associate

      1 yr after
      Not reported
      4 yrs after
      $23,086
      Median debt
      Not reported
    6. 6
      Coahoma Community College

      Clarksdale, MS · Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services · Associate

      1 yr after
      Not reported
      4 yrs after
      $22,918
      Median debt
      Not reported
    7. 7Houston Community College logo
      Houston Community College

      Houston, TX · Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services · Associate

      1 yr after
      $24,421
      4 yrs after
      $22,631
      Median debt
      $18,626
    8. 8Gadsden State Community College logo
      Gadsden State Community College

      Gadsden, AL · Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services · Associate

      1 yr after
      $15,398
      4 yrs after
      $18,504
      Median debt
      Not reported

    Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025. Programs with few graduates are not listed.

    NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk

    Majors that lead here

    Related programs by four-digit CIP code. They are common routes in, not the only ones.

    CareerOneStop

    Certifications, licenses and pay by state

    What skincare specialists may need beyond a degree, where a license is required, and what the work pays in each state.

    Certifications

    Core certifications employers recognise for this work.

    Search all certifications on CareerOneStop

    Training

    Programs of study that prepare people for this work.

    • Aesthetician/Esthetician and Skin Care Specialist
    • Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General
    • Facial Treatment Specialist/Facialist
    • Master Aesthetician/Esthetician

    Find training near you on CareerOneStop

    Licenses by state

    46 states list a license for this work. Open your state for the license and the agency that issues it.

    Check license requirements on CareerOneStop

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 6, 2026.

    Your plan

    Build my pathway plan

    Courses, majors, colleges, scholarships and a timeline for this career, built from your profile.

    Related careers

    Careers with similar work, interests or skills.

    All careers

    Questions about skincare specialists

    Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.

    What are some alternative job titles for skincare specialists?

    People in this field are also called estheticians, beauticians, clinical estheticians, electrologists, and beauty therapists. Some specialized roles include aesthetic RN injectors and brow waxing experts.

    What college majors are related to this career?

    The primary college major leading to this occupation is cosmetology and related personal grooming services. This program provides the hands-on training and technical knowledge required for the field.

    Is a license required to work as a skincare specialist?

    Licensing requirements depend on where you live, as some states list a license for this work. You should check the specific regulations in your state to see what is required to practice legally.

    Sources and attribution

    Every figure on this page comes from these public datasets. Missing values are shown as not reported, never estimated.

    O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 6, 2026.

    Page data updated November 5, 2026.