Work Environment
Skincare specialists held about 68,700 jobs in 2020. The largest employers of skincare specialists were as follows:
- Personal care services - 47%
- Self-employed workers - 28%
- Offices of physicians - 9%
- Health and personal care stores - 7%
- Traveler accommodation - 3%
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.
Work Schedules
Skincare specialists typically work full time, and many work evenings and weekends. Working more than 40 hours a week is common.
Job Outlook
Employment of skincare specialists is projected to grow 29 percent from 2020 to 2030, much faster than the average for all occupations.
About 10,100 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
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.
Earnings
The median hourly wage for skincare specialists was $17.93 in May 2021. 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.
In May 2021, the median hourly wages for skincare specialists in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:
- Offices of physicians - $18.17
- Personal care services - $17.93
- Health and personal care stores - $15.21
- Traveler accommodation - $14.34
Skincare specialists typically work full time, and many work evenings and weekends. Working more than 40 hours a week is common.
