How Much Does an Esthetician Make? Salary by State
Median annual salary (U.S.)
$45,330
Estheticians in the U.S. earn a median of $45,330 a year, or $21.79 an hour. Half of estheticians earn more than $45,330 and half earn less. The top 10% make more than $82,050.
Pay percentiles for estheticians
| Percentile | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $14.22 | $29,580 |
| 25th | $17.33 | $36,040 |
| 50th (median) | $21.79 | $45,330 |
| 75th | $28.70 | $59,700 |
| 90th | $39.45 | $82,050 |
U.S. wages, May 2025. BLS occupation: Skincare Specialists (SOC 39-5094). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
Highest-paying states for estheticians
| State | Median annual | Median hourly | vs. U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $79,320 | $38.13 | +75% |
| District of Columbia | $77,480 | $37.25 | +71% |
| Wyoming | $62,400 | $30.00 | +38% |
| Montana | $58,500 | $28.13 | +29% |
| Nebraska | $58,420 | $28.09 | +29% |
| North Dakota | $58,160 | $27.96 | +28% |
| Maine | $55,850 | $26.85 | +23% |
| Colorado | $54,500 | $26.20 | +20% |
| Oregon | $52,110 | $25.05 | +15% |
| Delaware | $50,820 | $24.44 | +12% |
| United States | $45,330 | $21.79 | — |
Top 10 states by median annual wage, May 2025. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
How many estheticians are there?
BLS counts about 72,890 estheticians employed in the U.S. (May 2025, excluding the self-employed). These figures cover the BLS occupation “Skincare Specialists”. The most jobs are in California (11,360), Texas (6,160) and Florida (5,270).
The mean (average) annual wage is $51,850, higher than the median of $45,330.
Hourly to annual pay calculator
Per year
- Monthly
- $3,778
- Biweekly
- $1,743
- Weekly
- $872
- Daily (8 hours)
- $174
- Hours per year
- 2,080
BLS annual figure; hourly × 2,080 may differ slightly.
Frequently asked questions
How much do estheticians make an hour?
The median hourly wage for estheticians is $21.79. The middle 50% earn between $17.33 and $28.70 an hour.
Which state pays estheticians the most?
Washington has the highest median wage for estheticians at $79,320, +75% vs. the U.S. median.
What is the starting salary for estheticians?
BLS does not report pay by experience, but the lowest-paid 10% of estheticians earn less than $29,580 a year, a common proxy for entry-level pay.