What To Expect in an Esthetics Career

Estheticians deal with all things skin, from skincare treatments for the face and body to waxing services, brow and lash enhancements, makeup application and more. If you’re looking to pivot careers and are passionate about skincare, becoming an esthetician should be a top consideration. Plus, this fulfilling profession offers a wide range of both personal and professional benefits for you to look forward to.

Let’s take a look at exactly what you can expect from an esthetics career.

Promising Job Outlook

For starters, one of the most exciting aspects of an esthetics career is the field’s anticipated growth. By 2031, employment opportunities are expected to increase by 17%, a promising statistic driven by several factors, including:

The ongoing prioritization of self-care and wellness
More and more individuals wanting to reduce the effects of aging, especially through a proactive approach
A consumer shift in interest from heavy, matte makeup to a makeup-free, natural look that requires esthetic treatments to enhance what you already have — think: glowing, dewy skin from facials and a proper skincare regimen; flawless eyebrows from tinting, laminating, or microblading; long and thick lashes from extensions; fuller lips from dermal fillers; and more

While there’s no telling whether these trends will continue to dominate the beauty industry in the coming years, rest assured that even if they don’t, they’ll be replaced by something else requiring a skilled esthetician’s touch to achieve.

Varied Employment Opportunities

Due to the continued interest in a wide range of esthetic services, licensed estheticians can expect to find work in environments like:

Day spas
Medical spas
Resorts
Hair salons
Hair removal studios
Dermatology offices
Beauty brands
Your own business

Rewarding Work

As an esthetician, you have options when it comes to specializing, whether it’s in the type of treatment you offer or the area you treat, such as the face versus the body. Regardless, your end goal will be the same: helping clients look and feel their best.

Contrary to the popular saying, beauty isn’t only skin deep — many of the concerns you’ll be treating are likely affecting your clients’ confidence and self-esteem as well. So, while your work might feel challenging at times, it pales in comparison to the rewarding feeling that comes from helping clients improve their physical and mental well-being.

Great Income Potential

What you make as an esthetician will vary depending on where you live, the setting you work in, the number of hours spent performing services on clients per week, the type of services you specialize in, and whether you’re self-employed or an employee.

Estheticians are typically paid by the hour, as schedules and the number of clients you see can fluctuate from week to week. You’ll make tips, and — if your employer has a commission structure in place for retail sales — you can augment your income by recommending products that clients proceed to purchase.

You can choose to be a self-employed esthetician or work for a business — both will offer you enhanced flexibility when it comes to your schedule, as well as the potential for income growth. In either path, you’ll be responsible for maintaining a sanitary environment, doing laundry, and marketing yourself to build your client base. Self-employed estheticians will have additional responsibilities, such as renting a workspace, purchasing equipment and supplies, and completing administrative tasks like scheduling (or hiring someone to do so).

Quick, Invaluable Training

In order to practice esthetics professionally, you’ll need to go back to school to receive proper training and obtain your license. However, you can finish your schooling in a much shorter amount of time than a traditional degree requires, putting you on the fast track to launching your career.

The specific amount of time you’ll spend in esthetics school depends on how many hours of training your state requires for licensure and whether you’re attending school full-time or part-time. In Iowa and Minnesota, you’ll need 600 hours of esthetics training to get licensed, which can be completed in under a year, even operating on a part-time schedule of 18 to 24 hours of school per week.

Your curriculum will consist of both theory and practical components, as well as business skill development to help you become a confident client-facing professional. In the classroom, you’ll learn about skin physiology, behaviors, and conditions before moving on to chemistry, products, and the variety of face and body treatments estheticians perform. Then, you’ll get real-world experience executing these treatments on clients.

By the end of your program, you’ll be well-prepared to pass your state’s esthetics licensing exam(s) and obtain your license.

Set Your Esthetics Career in Motion at PCI Academy

Whether you’re just starting out in the professional world or making a much-needed career pivot, thriving as an esthetician and experiencing the many benefits a career in this line of work has to offer is attainable with the right school as your partner.

At PCI Academy, an NACCAS-accredited institution, our comprehensive esthetics curriculum encompasses both specialized coursework and practical instruction to fulfill Iowa and Minnesota’s 600-hour licensure requirements. Our flexible part-time schedules can accommodate your own, and we also assist with job placement as you near graduation.