How Much Does Esthetician School Cost?

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Estheticians are skin care specialists. They typically work in salons and spas and perform a wide range of skin care and cleaning services, including skin analysis, waxing, facials, makeup application, eyelash and eyebrow treatment, and manicures and pedicures. Earning a master license in esthetics (alternately known as aesthetics) allows one to perform more advanced treatments such as chemical peels, laser hair removal, and microdermabrasion.

Esthetician School Considerations #

Here's what you should know if you're thinking about a career as an aesthetician:

Salary and Job Outlook #

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that there were 31,810 skincare specialists in the U.S. in May 2012 earning a median annual wage of $31,720 and a median hourly wage of $15.25

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According to the BLS, the employment of skincare specialists is expected to grow 25 percent from 2010 to 2020 thanks to an increasing number of beauty salons and spas. This anticipated rate of job growth is faster than the average for all occupations (14%). You can find out more about skincare specialists by checking out the BLS's Occupational Outlook Handbook.

Job Requirements #

Proper training is required in order to earn an esthetician license. Since you need to be licensed in the state you wish to work in, it makes sense to attend a private technical school or community college in that same state (although some states offer reciprocity).

Thirty states and Guam require 600 hours of training for a standard esthetician license. The remaining states (except for Florida, which doesn't require esthetician licensing and Connecticut, which requires a esthetician license) require up to 500 hours of esthetician training (OR, SC, WI, AK, MI, MA, PA) or up to 1,500 hours of licensing (AL, UT, VA, GA, KS, NV, IL, LA, MO, TN, TX, IN, MO). Use this link to view specific esthetician licensing requirements by state.

Note that the information above is for a basic esthetician license. Earning a master license requires advanced coursework and more hours of training—usually 1,200 to 1,500.

Esthetician School Average Costs #

• Basic esthetician training takes roughly six months to complete. Expect to pay approximately $4,000 to $6,000 in tuition and fees at a community college and $6,000 to $12,000 at a private school. In-state students should be charged less than out-of-state students at community colleges.
• Master esthetician training typically costs twice as much as basic esthetician training (as it requires double the coursework). Private schools can charge up to $20,000 for master esthetician training.
• Budget an additional $750 to $2,000 for books and other supplies.
• Scholarships and federal financial aid (Stafford loans, Pell grants, and PLUS loans) may be available for esthetician school students. Contact the financial aid departments of individual schools to find out what offer.
• Esthetician biannual licensing fees are typically less than $100. Exam fees (required for licensure) are assessed separately and run $100 to $200.

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