How to Make the Most Money as an Esthetician (Without Burning Out or Selling Your Soul)
- FoH Team
- 48 minutes ago
- 7 min read
How to Make the Most Money as an Esthetician (Without Burning Out or Selling Your Soul)
Let’s cut through the fluff: you didn’t get into aesthetics to “love skin”—you want impact, income, and independence. As every other business owner does and you're absolutely deserving of it.*
*This, assuming you, who is reading this, aren't a trafficking dirtbag in the spa industry sent to launder people and money.... cause if you were that type, you wouldn't be here asking how to make money.
Just saying... Estheticians and wax studios see a ton of trafficked people and there is zero education on what to do in those situations trending. Reminder- knowing this, don't judge your success as a science-loving skincare pushing esthetician who does bikini wax in the same category as the flashy esties who sold out for the dollar. You deserve more, and the world deserves a safe place to feel beautiful again instead of a spa industry full of ICK... this blog is meant to let you know that you CAN be good and make a living... in fact, that's authentic and it shines. So own it. Anyway... I digress.
The real question isn’t “Can estheticians make money?”
It’s: “How do I stand out and scale without getting stuck?” Don't fall for the 6-figure hype and the collaboration game. If a client sees better options elsewhere, they'll go. So create the best in your lane, and stop impeding traffic with the back and forths you're doing. It's perfect not to be perfect. It's perfect to grow as you make mistakes. It's stuck to let your nerves over how YOU LOOK ON CAMERA stop you from ever opening up your camera and taking faceless marketing videos and telling your clients and future clients why you do what you do. If you're not able to make reels that go viral, it's not your video editing skills and the lighting holding you back; it is the lie you're telling yourself that you're not enough. And frankly, you are. Your clients believe that. So you should believe that and stop standing in your own way of marketing while letting coaches and influencers tell you that there is more wrong with you that needs to be worked on so that you can finally achieve that six-figure esthetician status. Getting stuck is normal; that's why there are chains and tows and help to get unstuck. It doesn't stop successful people from moving forward, though, and if you're stuck, your next step is getting unstuck, not "how to make money while I'm stuck."
Anyway, here’s everything Google says estheticians are dying to know—and everything they’re not telling you that could change your business.
1. Where Do Estheticians Make the Most Money?
Short answer: Urban + destination spa markets.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the top-paying states for estheticians are:
Washington – $69,250 avg/year
Connecticut – $65,720
Oregon, Colorado, and New York follow closely
But geography is only one part. What matters more? How you brand yourself locally. We’ve seen estheticians in “slow towns” out-earn big-city spas because they show up like the local celebrity skin expert. There are always going to be two sides of the skincare discussion, broken into optional further distinctions among who will buy from you, but if you know those distinctions and cater to a few of them in your area, you will be busy. How busy you want to be and how much you make is up to your closing skills and what the current client type can afford and will pay. It's a formula specific to your situation, but you will know it when you start working within it. Also, if you choose to live off-grid in an area of three people and then search blogs "why can't I make money as an esthetician," you're overlooking your problem and need to refer to the "get unstuck" paragraph because a pivot or a drive might be in your future.
Not Everyone Wants a Facial
You can't squeeze blood from a turnip and people will drive for a lot, but if you're not willing to market your 6-hour off grid drive to your spa of luxurious magical times properly, no one will know about it and your random drive by doens't happen and therefore your secret formula is harder than most and won't be helped with a simple "pass out business cards to your neighbors." To you, who don't live near people but chose a career path that includes touching random strangers often, I suggest learning about internet broadcasting and podcasting, and discussing the need for skincare and selling products, and virtual facial walk-thru videos, because traffic needs to be possible, even in small towns. But my point with the polar opposite ideas- being in Miami, where everyone wants a bikini wax vs being in podunk, where the only wax discussions were when granny went to Vegas and swore she hugged Elvis... you're not going to be able to make everything happen everywhere. Know your audience, offer what they need, and do it well.
👉 Want to become a local SEO legend and take some of the "talking about how great I am" off your plate? Our Local Celebrity SEO Package is made for this. $597/mo – no shady backlinks.
2. Which Beauty Service Makes the Most Money?
High-ticket, low-overhead, and low-time-per-client is the goal. Aside from The Skin Classic skin tag and spot treatments, which you can do at mobile parties and make tons! Here are the current top earners include:
Advanced facials: DermaFrac, DMK, Hydrafacial, JetPeel, Geneo
Brows + PMU: $500–$1,500+ per service
Pro aging + acne programs: monthly series = consistent revenue
Body sculpting + tech-forward devices
Product sales: Estheticians with private label options or affiliate links can 2–3x their income. Need some recs for private label options? Ask NASNPRO
💡 Pro tip: Packaging matters. A single $95 facial doesn’t scale—but a $900 skin transformation program? That does. Stay in the game of offering real value, price it right, and offer great customer service- and your client wins while you win.
3. How to Make 6 Figures as an Esthetician
Here’s the simple math:
$8,400/month = $100K/year
That’s 21 clients/week at $100/facial, OR 10 clients/week at $200/facial + product sales
But the real key? Systems.
📍Branding + booking automation
📍SEO that brings clients TO you
📍Conversion-focused websites (we build these 👋)
📍Loyalty or referral rewards to boost retention
👉 Grab our RACE MODE Website Audit if you don’t know why your site isn’t converting.
4. What’s the Difference Between an Aesthetician vs. Esthetician?
Quick breakdown:
Aesthetician = more clinical, medspa/derm route
Esthetician = spa-based, client care + skincare focus
Both can earn six figures, but branding matters more than the spelling. Pick the path that aligns with how you want to be seen.
5. Do Estheticians Make More Than Cosmetologists?
YES—when they niche. Otherwise, not usually. Everyone needs their hair cut often, whereas many people you ask on the street don't wash their face, know what an esthetician is, or think a facial is anything other than luxury day activity. It's not that skincare isn't required daily, it's that society doesn't have that as etched into the psyche as "I need a haircut and only this pro can do it."
Estheticians focused on skin correction, advanced services, or retail often out-earn cosmetologists (who average $29K–$45K/year nationally). Esthetics has fewer materials, more retail margin, and more repeat-client potential.
6. How to "Get Rich" as an Esthetician
Step 1a: Realize that "RICH" doesn't mean all the dollars, it means having enough and knowing you're enough and enjoying the enough you have while enjoying making more. If that's not your definition of rich in some fashion, newsflash- you will never get there. Chasing paper is a bunk game. Chasing life--- that will bring you the riches you seek.
But anyway, here’s your roadmap:
Specialize – become known for one result (acne, DMK, pro-aging, bridal glow, etc.) and then showcase to current clients what else you can do.
Stack your income – services + products + memberships + digital offers
Automate your growth – use SEO, email marketing, and booking systems
Get visible – show up online like the expert you are
💡 This is where we come in. At Facets of Hospitality, we help estheticians build what we call "Brand Infrastructure"—the tech, voice, and strategy that turns your business into a brand.
7. What Type of Estheticians Make the Most Money?
The ones who:
Like what they do and what they sell.
Use their own advice and aren't fake.
Build a brand instead of just a menu
Sell results, not sessions
Use tech to grow visibility without burning out
This can be focusing on a brand and facial in your area, or a service you're great at, or a system for a problem you are great at solving...
8. Can an Esthetician Make $100K/Year?
Yes, and many do—but not by staying on the treatment table 40 hours a week with cheap services. They offer value and they stack value.
The top estheticians we work with:
Have a well-optimized Google Business Profile
Use conversion-focused websites
Automate their referrals, email marketing, and reviews
Repackage their knowledge into digital products or skin programs, and memberships.
9. Can You Make a Good Living as an Esthetician?
Absolutely. But “good” depends on:
Systems, not hustle
Client experience + education, not just touch
Business skills, not just licenses
What you need to survive and thrive in your area.
10. What Actually Stops Estheticians From Making Money?
Let’s call it out:
Fear of visibility
Bad advice from people who’ve never done it
Shiny object syndrome (new machine, new mentor, no results)
Relying on platforms you don’t own
Not realizing you’re in business, not in skin school anymore
Money doesn't avoid you because you're not good enough. It avoids confusion. If your message is inconsistent, your offer is unclear, your brand is quiet, and your site is chaos, you’re unknowingly telling money to go elsewhere.
🙋♀️ This is why Facets of Hospitality exists.
We help estheticians:
Clarify their brand voice
Build offers that make sense and sell
Optimize websites so people actually book
Set up SEO and automation that works while you sleep
If you're stuck, it’s not a sign to quit. It’s a sign to simplify, systemize, and speak louder.
💡 Step one? Let us audit your site. You deserve to be seen. And paid.