Skincare Specialists
Career, Salary and Education Information
What They Do: Skincare specialists cleanse and beautify the face and body to enhance a person's appearance.
Work Environment: Skincare specialists usually work in salons and beauty and health spas, and some are self-employed. Although most work full time, many work evenings and weekends.
How to Become One: Skincare specialists must complete a state-approved cosmetology or esthetician program and then pass a state exam for licensure, which all states except Connecticut require.
Salary: The median hourly wage for skincare specialists is $17.93.
Job Outlook: Employment of skincare specialists is projected to grow 17 percent over the next ten years, much faster than the average for all occupations.
Related Careers: Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of skincare specialists with similar occupations.
What Skincare Specialists Do[About this section] [To Top]
Skincare specialists cleanse and beautify the face and body to enhance a person's appearance.
Duties of Skincare Specialists
Skincare specialists typically do the following:
- Evaluate clients' skin condition and appearance
- Discuss available treatments and determine which products will improve clients' skin quality
- Remove unwanted hair, using wax, lasers, or other approved treatments
- Clean the skin before applying makeup
- Recommend skin care products, such as cleansers, lotions, or creams
- Teach and advise clients on how to apply makeup, and how to take care of their skin
- Refer clients to another skincare specialist, such as a dermatologist, for serious skin problems
- Disinfect equipment and clean work areas
Skincare specialists give facials, full-body treatments, and head and neck massages to improve the health and appearance of the skin. Some may provide other skin care treatments, such as peels, masks, and scrubs, to remove dead or dry skin.
In addition, skincare specialists create daily skincare routines for clients based on skin analysis and help them understand which skincare products will work best for them. A growing number of specialists actively sell skincare products, such as cleansers, lotions, and creams.
Those who operate their own salons have managerial duties that include hiring, firing, and supervising workers, as well as keeping business and inventory records, ordering supplies, and arranging for advertising.
Work Environment for Skincare Specialists[About this section] [To Top]
Skincare specialists hold about 80,500 jobs. The largest employers of skincare specialists are as follows:
| Personal care services | 43% |
| Self-employed workers | 35% |
| Offices of physicians | 7% |
| Health and personal care stores | 7% |
| Traveler accommodation | 2% |
Skincare specialists usually work in salons and beauty and health spas. Some work in medical offices. Skincare specialists may have to stand for extended periods of time.
Because skincare specialists must evaluate the condition of the skin, good lighting and clean surroundings are important. Protective clothing and good ventilation also may be necessary, because skincare specialists often use chemicals on the face and body.
Skincare Specialist Work Schedules
Part-time work is common for skincare specialists. Work schedules may vary and include evenings and weekends.
How to Become a Skincare Specialist[About this section] [To Top]
Get the education you need: Find schools for Skincare Specialists near you!
Skincare specialists must complete a state-approved cosmetology or esthetician program and then pass a state exam for licensure, which all states except Connecticut require.
Education for Skincare Specialists
Skincare specialists typically complete a state-approved cosmetology or esthetician program. Although some high schools offer vocational training, most people receive their training from a postsecondary vocational school. The Associated Skin Care Professionals organization offers a State Regulation Guide, which includes the number of prerequisite hours required to complete a cosmetology program.
Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations for Skincare Specialists
After completing an approved cosmetology or esthetician program, skincare specialists take a written and practical exam to get a state license. Licensing requirements vary by state, so those interested should contact their state board.
The National-Interstate Council of State Boards of Cosmetology provides contact information on state examinations for licensing, with sample exam questions. The Professional Beauty Association and the American Association of Cosmetology Schools also provide information on state examinations, and offer other professional links.
Many states offer continuing education seminars and programs designed to keep skincare specialists current on new techniques and products. Post-licensing training is also available through manufacturers, associations, and at trade shows.
Important Qualities for Skincare Specialists
Business skills. Skincare specialists who run their own salon must understand general business principles. For example, they should be skilled at administrative tasks, such as accounting and personnel management, and be able to manage a salon efficiently and profitably.
Customer-service skills. Skincare specialists should be friendly and courteous to their clients. Repeat business is important, particularly for self-employed workers.
Initiative. Self-employed skincare specialists generate their own business opportunities and must be proactive in finding new clients.
Physical stamina. Skincare specialists must be able to spend most of their day standing and massaging clients' faces and bodies.
Tidiness. Workers must keep a neat personal appearance and keep their work area clean and sanitary. This requirement is necessary for the health and safety of their clients and increases the likelihood that clients will return.
Time-management skills. Time-management skills are important in scheduling appointments and providing services.
Skincare Specialist Salaries[About this section] [More salary/earnings info] [To Top]
The median hourly wage for skincare specialists is $17.93. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $11.10, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $31.58.
The median hourly wages for skincare specialists in the top industries in which they work are as follows:
| Offices of physicians | $18.17 |
| Personal care services | $17.93 |
| Health and personal care stores | $15.21 |
| Traveler accommodation | $14.34 |
Part-time work is common for skincare specialists. Work schedules may vary and include evenings and weekends.
Job Outlook for Skincare Specialists[About this section] [To Top]
Employment of skincare specialists is projected to grow 17 percent over the next ten years, much faster than the average for all occupations.
About 13,500 openings for skincare specialists are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Employment of Skincare Specialists
The projected increase in employment reflects demand for services being offered, such as mini-sessions (quick facials at a lower cost) and mobile facials (making house calls) directly from skincare specialists rather than hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists. Employment growth also should result from the desire among many women and a growing number of men who seek out skincare services to reduce the effects of aging, to look good on social media platforms, and to lead a healthier lifestyle through better grooming.
| Occupational Title | Employment, 2021 | Projected Employment, 2031 | Change, 2021-31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Percent | Numeric | |||
| Skincare specialists | 80,500 | 93,900 | 17 | 19,800 |
More Skincare Specialist Information[About this section] [To Top]
For information about skincare specialists, visit
Associated Skin Care Professionals
For information about education and cosmetology schools, visit
American Association of Cosmetology Schools
For information about the spa industry, visit
For information about state licensing, practice exams, and other professional links, visit
A portion of the information on this page is used by permission of the U.S. Department of Labor.