by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Aesthetician/Esthetician & Skin Care Specialist covers Aesthetician/esthetician And Skin Care Specialist. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Cleanse, Depilate, Massage, And Beautify The Human Body And To Function As Licensed Estheticians And Skin Care Specialists. Includes Instruction In Skin Anatomy, Physiology, And Health; Principles Of Nutrition; Decontamination And Infection Control; Health And Safety; Facial And Body Massage; Body Wrapping And Spa Treatments; Temporary Hair Removal Including Waxing And Tweezing; Color And Skin Analysis; Client Consultation And Care; Applicable Laws And Regulations; Business Practices; And Sometimes Related Alternative Healing Regimens. Examples: [Waxing], [Basic Aesthetician/esthetician]. Continue reading for the important information every aesthetician/esthetician & skin care specialist major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering aesthetician/esthetician & skin care specialist programs.
Across the country, aesthetician/esthetician & skin care specialist draws strong interest, with 42,738 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Aesthetician/Esthetician & Skin Care Specialist Schools ranking analyzes these 715 schools to determine the best overall colleges for aesthetician/esthetician & skin care specialist students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of aesthetician/esthetician & skin care specialist programs later in this article.
Programs in Aesthetician/Esthetician & Skin Care Specialist build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations aesthetician/esthetician & skin care specialist graduates commonly enter.
Skills built by a aesthetician/esthetician & skin care specialist program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a aesthetician/esthetician & skin care specialist major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several aesthetician/esthetician & skin care specialist degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 3,722 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 62 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 38,641 |
People currently working in careers related to aesthetician/esthetician & skin care specialist tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | 39.1% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 30.2% |
| Master’s degree | 19.2% |
| Some college courses | 8.8% |
| Post-doctoral training | 2.6% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in aesthetician/esthetician & skin care specialist careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in aesthetician/esthetician & skin care specialist opens doors to numerous career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to aesthetician/esthetician & skin care specialist.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to aesthetician/esthetician & skin care specialist.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Skincare Specialists | 23,098 | 0.5% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of aesthetician/esthetician & skin care specialist graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $17,533 |
| 4 years | $20,210 |
| 5 years | $22,425 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for aesthetician/esthetician & skin care specialist graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers aesthetician/esthetician & skin care specialist grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Skincare Specialists | $60,954 |
With 715 different aesthetician/esthetician & skin care specialist programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased aesthetician/esthetician & skin care specialist school rankings to help you.
Students interested in aesthetician/esthetician & skin care specialist, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General | 55,875 |
| Nail Technician/Specialist and Manicurist | 14,442 |
| Barbering/Barber | 12,398 |
| Facial Treatment Specialist/Facialist | 2,901 |
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Arts, Other | 2,497 |
| Master Aesthetician/Esthetician | 1,882 |
| Cosmetology, Barber/Styling, and Nail Instructor | 1,436 |
| Hair Styling/Stylist and Hair Design | 1,386 |
| Salon/Beauty Salon Management/Manager | 514 |
| Make-Up Artist/Specialist | 426 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
