How Much Does an Aesthetician Make a Year?

With the recent panic over the worldwide pandemic and nationwide economic recession, it is only natural that many workers are considering new career paths. If you have lost your job or are looking to maximize your income potential during these uncertain times, you may want to consider going into the medical aesthetics industry. You probably have a lot of questions: What does a medical aesthetician do? How much does an aesthetician make? In this blog post, we will discuss all this and more.

What Does a Medical Aesthetician Do?

Medical aestheticians are those who have received specialized training to beautify clients’ skin. They are highly qualified skincare specialists. Both aging baby boomers and millennials alike have come to embrace the various non-invasive procedures offered by aestheticians. It is perhaps unsurprising, then, to learn that there is an expected 11% job growth rate for aestheticians until the year 2028 — much higher than the national average. This growth rate is arguably as important to keep in mind as the average medical aesthetician salary. After all, you want to make sure that you are not going into a collapsing field.

Who Can Become a Medical Aesthetician?

Anyone can become a medical aesthetician as long as they are willing to learn. However, only medical professionals can become injectors. While anyone over the age of eighteen with a high school diploma can become a cosmetic laser technician with the right training, only those with medical experience can become certified to administer cosmetic injectables (such as Botox, Kybella, and Juvederm). Most estheticians work at medspas, day spas, or skin spas. Specialization and industry can both affect a medical aesthetician’s salary.

How Much Does an Aesthetician Make?

According to U.S. News, the average aesthetician salary in 2018 was $31,290 (or an average hourly rate of $17.48). This has only been increasing every year since 2010. Experts estimate that there will be 7,800 new aesthetician jobs by 2028. Those who work in clinical settings (such as dermatologists’ offices or plastic surgeons’ offices) tend to make more than those who work in salons or spas. Furthermore, aestheticians in Omaha, Kahului, Portland, Denver, and Olympia tend to be paid more than those in other metropolitan areas. In 2019, California, New York, and Texas had the highest employment level for aestheticians. However, Colorado, Washington, and Hawaii were the top-paying states for aestheticians.

Medical Aesthetician Compensation Structures

Medical aestheticians can be subject to many different compensation structures. These include:

• Hourly
• Salary
• Booth rental
• “Team member” compensation
• Hourly pay plus commission

Hourly rates and salaries are the most well-known types of compensation structures. These are self-explanatory.

“Booth renters,” however, tend to be more established estheticians working as independent contractors. They are called booth renters because they pay a flat rental fee to a salon or spa. This fee tends to be charged either weekly or monthly. They can set their own working hours and fees. However, this also means they have to buy their own supplies and provide their own business insurance.

In contrast, “team members” are estheticians who work in salons or spas. They are provided with a base pay that is supplemented by a commission salary package. How much they earn is based on both their position and the services they can administer. Team members are less autonomous than booth renters. Team members’ employers may track their performance through their… 

• Pre-booking Percentage. This is the number of clients who booked another appointment with the esthetician before leaving.
• Premium Service Percentage. This is determined by the aesthetician’s service categories.
• Retail Sales Percentage. This is determined by the number of retail products the esthetician has sold.

Of all the above compensation structures, hourly pay plus commission tends to be the most common in salon and spa environments. It is more straightforward than a team member scenario. Salaries are generally more common in more professional environments, such as clinics and medspas. 

How Can I Become a Medical Aesthetician?

Except for Connecticut, all American states require that aestheticians undergo a certain amount of training before getting licensed. The number of hours required varies from state to state, but can be around 260 to 600. Once students have completed their training, they will need to pass a written and a practical, hands-on exam. They will then finally become licensed through either the state board of cosmetology or the department of health.

Part of the appeal of the medical esthetics industry is that anyone can join, no matter their previous level of experience. We welcome anyone who is willing to learn — whether you are an established aesthetician or someone entirely new to the beauty industry.

Online Comprehensive Laser Course

At the National Laser Institute, we are proud to offer a Online comprehensive laser course to help you advance to the next stage of your career. We have been a leader in the industry for almost two decades, and our laser program has seen tens of thousands of successful graduates. The Online comprehensive laser course is split into two phases: online didactic classroom instruction and in-person clinical demonstrations at one of our nationwide locations.

Our expert instructors will make sure to provide you with hours of quality instruction on each modality, including:

• Cellulite Reduction
• Coolsculpting
• Laser Hair Removal
• Laser Skin Rejuvenation
• Microneedling
• Photofacial
• Radiofrequency Skin Rejuvenation
• Radiofrequency Skin Tightening
• Tattoo Removal

For your convenience during these uncertain times of the pandemic, you can also choose to take the program entirely online. Our experienced staff will be with you every step of the way — even after you complete the program. Our Graduate Services Department sends out hundreds of job leads every month. They are also happy to assist with resume cleanup and interview preparation.

Call Us Today

Do you want to work directly with clients to help make their visions come true while also maximizing your income potential? If so, becoming a medical aesthetician may be the right choice for you. At National Laser Institute, we are dedicated to helping you advance to the next stage of your career — or even start forging a new path altogether. Do not hesitate. Take the first step towards your future today. Call us at 855-637-4530 for more information. We can help answer any questions you may have about our courses and your new career.

We also have a podcast all about getting into the medical aesthetic industry. Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts.