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Skincare Specialists: Job Description
Provide skincare treatments to face and body to enhance an individual's appearance. Includes electrologists and laser hair removal specialists.
What Do Skincare Specialists Do?
Typical responsibilities of skincare specialists include:
- Sterilize equipment and clean work areas.
- Cleanse clients' skin with water, creams, or lotions.
- Demonstrate how to clean and care for skin properly and recommend skin-care regimens.
- Determine which products or colors will improve clients' skin quality and appearance.
- Keep records of client needs and preferences and the services provided.
- Treat the facial skin to maintain and improve its appearance, using specialized techniques and products, such as peels and masks.
- Examine clients' skin, using magnifying lamps or visors when necessary, to evaluate skin condition and appearance.
- Perform simple extractions to remove blackheads.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Top skincare specialists draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Top Skills
These are the skills that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Other Skincare Specialists Job Titles
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Aesthetic RN Injector (Aesthetic Registered Nurse Injector)
- Aesthetician
- Beautician
- Beauty Therapist
- Brow Waxing Expert
- Clinical Esthetician
- Electrologist
- Electrolysis Needle Operator
How Many Skincare Specialists Are There?
There are roughly 22,973 skincare specialists working in the United States today. Employment is projected to grow by +0.5% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Skincare Specialists Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $60,954 |
| Hourly median | $29.31 |
| 10th percentile | $40,663 |
| 25th percentile | $50,809 |
| 75th percentile | $71,100 |
| 90th percentile | $81,245 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Skincare Specialists Make in Different U.S. States?
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Maine | $73,500 |
| Washington | $64,880 |
| Vermont | $61,060 |
| District of Columbia | $54,990 |
| North Dakota | $52,510 |
| Nebraska | $52,010 |
| Oregon | $52,000 |
| Colorado | $50,270 |
| Missouri | $49,410 |
| Delaware | $47,310 |
| Wyoming | $46,920 |
| Michigan | $46,620 |
| Arizona | $46,550 |
| Maryland | $46,420 |
| New Jersey | $46,130 |
| North Carolina | $46,120 |
| New York | $45,770 |
| Massachusetts | $45,600 |
| Connecticut | $45,470 |
| Utah | $44,960 |
| Iowa | $44,400 |
| New Hampshire | $44,190 |
| Pennsylvania | $43,920 |
| Indiana | $43,900 |
| Texas | $42,940 |
| Georgia | $42,340 |
| Mississippi | $42,010 |
| Ohio | $41,660 |
| Louisiana | $41,340 |
| Idaho | $41,230 |
| Nevada | $40,700 |
| Montana | $39,620 |
| Alaska | $39,440 |
| Illinois | $38,580 |
| Rhode Island | $38,310 |
| Florida | $38,060 |
| West Virginia | $37,750 |
| Arkansas | $37,250 |
| California | $36,390 |
| Oklahoma | $36,320 |
| Kansas | $36,240 |
| Tennessee | $36,090 |
| New Mexico | $36,000 |
| Virginia | $35,860 |
| South Carolina | $35,810 |
| Alabama | $35,710 |
| Minnesota | $35,410 |
| South Dakota | $31,930 |
| Wisconsin | $29,880 |
| Kentucky | $26,360 |
| Puerto Rico | $23,030 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Compensation for skincare specialists differ across the country. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| New England | $47,778 | 3.0% | 0.71 |
| Rocky Mountains | $47,007 | 4.7% | 1.22 |
| Middle Atlantic | $45,527 | 14.6% | 0.99 |
| Plains States | $43,149 | 5.1% | 0.75 |
| Southwest | $43,037 | 11.3% | 0.90 |
| Great Lakes | $40,509 | 11.8% | 0.87 |
| Far Western US | $39,930 | 25.8% | 1.57 |
| Southeast | $38,536 | 23.5% | 1.05 |
Top Metro Areas
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | WA | $78,020 | 120 |
| Portland-South Portland, ME | ME | $77,280 | 100 |
| Bend, OR | OR | $68,200 | 70 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | WA | $67,040 | 1,250 |
| Lincoln, NE | NE | $63,300 | 70 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | WA | $63,020 | 190 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | WA | $58,600 | 60 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | LA | $58,160 | 110 |
Which Industries Hire Skincare Specialists
Most skincare specialists are concentrated in the following sectors:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 51,870 | $38,570 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 11,410 | $47,300 |
| Retail Trade | 3,190 | $38,830 |
| Accommodation and Food Services | 2,130 | $39,040 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 740 | $36,260 |
| Wholesale Trade | 470 | $54,500 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 330 | $62,400 |
| Educational Services | 50 | $53,360 |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Software Skincare Specialists Use
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
The work environment for skincare specialists reflects the following characteristics:
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Contact With Others
- Frequency of Decision Making
- Physical Proximity
How to Become Skincare Specialists
Typical skincare specialists positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. This occupation sits in Medium Preparation Needed (Job Zone 3), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Similar Occupations
Similar Occupations
- Spa Managers (Supplemental)
- Dentists, General (Supplemental)
- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (Supplemental)
- Prosthodontists (Primary-Long)
- Optometrists (Supplemental)
- Podiatrists (Supplemental)
- Dermatologists (Primary-Short)
- Pediatric Surgeons (Supplemental)
Top Programs to Study For This Career
Aspiring skincare specialists often complete programs in:
Personal and Culinary Services
4 programs across 1 majors
About the Data
This profile draws on the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 39-5094.00 (Skincare Specialists).