Aesthetician: Salary, Job Description & Licensing

What does an aesthetician do? Aestheticians specialize in skin care. They perform a variety of facial and body procedures intended to increase, improve or maintain the appearance and health of human skin. Depending on exact job title and working environment, this may include facials, laser or wax hair removal chemical peels, makeup application, exfoliating body wraps and microdermabrasion, which involves the sloughing of dead skin cells.

Aestheticians may work in the fashion, beauty or medical industry. Aestheticians working in the beauty industry are commonly employed by spas, salons or retail stores, and provide some or all of the services outlined above.

Medical aestheticians generally perform many of the same duties, but often do so in different settings, such as hospitals or private doctor's offices. They work with plastic surgeons or other physicians to perform various skin care procedures on patients undergoing plastic surgery or other operations. Medical aestheticians employed by plastic surgeons may educate patients on the proper ways to care for their skin before and after surgery. This often includes providing special skin formulas and demonstrating how to use them.

In hospitals, medical aestheticians generally work with critically ill patients, such as cancer patients or burn victims. They teach them how to apply makeup to properly mask scarring, discoloration or other skin issues resulting from health problems. They can also provide makeovers or facials with the goal of increasing patients' mental well-being during and after traumatic surgeries or illnesses.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), all but one state requires personal experience workers, including aestheticians, to obtain licensure in order to work in the industry (www.bls.gov). While licensing requirements vary from state to state, some education and experience is generally needed in order to take and pass licensing exams, according to the BLS. Aspiring aestheticians can get the training required for licensure by enrolling in certificate programs at beauty schools, career training institutes or community colleges.

Certificate programs in aesthetics educate students fully in a variety of skin care procedures, as well as provide instruction in color theory, enabling students to become well-versed in selecting the ideal cosmetic or skin care products for specific skin tones. Students also learn about the uses and merits of various aesthetic products and styling tools. Applied instruction is part of most aesthetics certificate programs, which includes gaining hands-on experience by performing procedures on customers.

Medical skin care jobs, including aestheticians, require a unique skillset in order to successfully meet the job duties and responsibilities. Some of the skills and qualities that you will need if you want to become an aesthetician are described below.

• Detail orientation: Aestheticians perform procedures, like hair removal and makeup application, which require attention to fine details in order to be successful. For this reason, an aspiring aesthetician needs to have strong attention to detail.
• Technical expertise: Aestheticians need to know how to perform the various procedures that are a part of their job description. They gain this knowledge through training and certification programs.
• Effective communication: Because they are providing a service to customers, aestheticians need to interact professionally and politely with their customers while they are working.

Aestheticians may be paid hourly or receive an annual salary. The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) states that aestheticians working in the fashion and beauty industries also receive tips from their clients, commissions for selling products or both. Skincare specialists, including aestheticians, earned a median annual salary of $34,090 in 2019, according to the BLS. The BLS also projects that job opportunities for aestheticians will grow by 17% for skincare specialists during the ten year period from 2019 to 2029, which is much faster than average growth for all careers.

Aestheticians can work in salons, spas, retail outlets, doctors' offices or hospitals. The work they do can promote skin health, educate post-surgical patients, or increase a patient's self-confidence about their appearance. Demand for aestheticians is growing, and aestheticians can receive training through a cosmetology certificate program.