​Every time I’m researching beauty industry topics, I like to look at what people are searching for. And one question I see constantly is: “What is an esthetician salary?” So naturally, I clicked into Google and opened the first thing that popped up from ZipRecruiter, and what do they tell the world? $30,100 a year. Twenty-fifth percentile.

Let me tell you something with honesty, experience, and love: That number is not even close to accurate. If that were true, we wouldn’t have spas and med spas popping up everywhere. No one would invest thousands into esthetics school just to walk out and make a wage that doesn’t reflect the heart, the energy, and the skill this career requires. And business owners like me? We wouldn’t be able to keep our doors open.

The problem is that online salary numbers don’t reflect real estheticians building real careers in real treatment rooms. So let’s break down what estheticians actually earn, why the range varies so drastically, and how your decisions impact your income more than any algorithm ever could.

There are a few big reasons why the $30k number is so far off.

1. Estheticians rarely work 40-hour weeks. And this is where salary numbers get distorted. This is emotional, energetic, client-facing work. Most estheticians work 25–30 hours of hands-on service per week. Not because they’re lazy, but because this is intense work that requires energy management and recovery. When someone calculates “annual salary” as if you’re working 40 hours of back-to-back treatments, the math falls apart instantly.
2. Those numbers include every scenario. 
   ​Online averages combine:

• Estheticians who build a career
• Estheticians who quit within the first year
• Estheticians who move every few months
• Estheticians with no additional training
• Estheticians working in low-paying spas
• Estheticians who never learned to build clientele

It’s not an accurate reflection of the potential. It’s just an average of every path someone could take. And in esthetics, your path makes all the difference.

The biggest factor? Clientele stability. Your clientele is your business. Period. 
And here’s the part that many new estheticians don’t realize: Every time you switch jobs, you lose 30–50 percent of your clientele. Not because you did anything wrong, but because:

• people are creatures of habit
• convenience matters
• trust takes time
• clients attach to routine

When your environment changes, their routine changes. And every restart is a rebuild.

This is why “job-hopping” kills momentum. It sets your income back dramatically because you’re constantly restarting the thing that actually grows your income: relationships.

Estheticians who earn the most are the ones who:

• stay consistent
• stay rooted
• invest in education
• build meaningful client relationships
• let time compound their efforts

The longer you stay in one place, the more powerful your business becomes.

Whether you’re about to begin an esthetician school, a cosmetology school program, or preparing to take advanced training here at Aesthetics Academy, we need to have a very real conversation. Your education will only ever be as strong as you are willing to make it. And I say this as someone who trains licensed aestheticians, esthetics students, licensed cosmetologists, nurses, NPs, and medical assistants every single week, and as someone who goes into esthetic schools and cosmetology schools across the nation every month to support the next generation. So let’s get something clear right out of the gate…

How bad do you want it?

• We train people who want depth.
• We train people who want science.
• We train people who want to work in advanced modality aesthetics.
• We train people who want to stand out.

We do not teach the basics of traditional esthetics. That is what your aesthetician or cosmetology school is for. We train:

• Licensed estheticians/aestheticians (yes you can spell it both ways and neither is wrong)
• Students currently enrolled in an esthetic/cosmetology program
• RNs
• NPs
• Medical assistants
• Medical providers 
• And providers wanting to expand into advanced modalities

We fill the gap between what the state requires… and what the real world actually demands. But before you ever get to us, here’s something you need to understand about your education.​

You Might Not Have Liked Your Esthetics Education- You Are Still Responsible

This is the part no one wants to talk about.

• You might not like your instructor.
• You might not like their teaching style.
• You might not like the stories they tell (or don’t tell).
• You might not like how they show up.

But let me tell you the truth from someone who has been in dozens of Idaho schools:

• Schools are limited.
• Choices are limited.
• Resources are limited.
• And people who complain about schools rarely have any idea what it takes to run one. Everyone thinks they can do it better. Yet almost no one actually opens a school.

So here’s what I’m tired of hearing:

• “My school didn’t teach me that.”
• “My instructor didn’t show us this.”
• “I feel behind because my education wasn’t good.”

I sympathize. Truly, I do, but sympathy doesn’t change reality. This is your job, this is your responsibility. And when you walk into a job interview, nobody cares that you didn’t like your instructor or felt your school lacked depth. If you chose the wrong school, I feel terrible for you, but you still have to fix it.

And yes, that means taking extra classes. It means signing up for workshops. It means coming to our Academy for facial basics, waxing basics, preceptorship training, or whatever you feel you missed. Do what you need to do, but sitting around complaining accomplishes nothing.


The Ugly Truth: Not Everyone Should Be in This Industry

Here comes the hardest truth of all. We encourage way too many people to enter esthetic school who simply are not ready. Not because they’re incapable, but because they lack professionalism.

And let me be blunt. You do not magically grow up in 600 hours of esthetic school. You do not suddenly become disciplined because you love skincare. Six months in a basic program does not fix immaturity. Two thousand hours in cosmetology school doesn’t guarantee readiness either.

Parents often say, “They’ll grow up in school.” That logic MIGHT apply to college — four years of independence, deadlines, structure, and life skills, not beauty school.

Because here’s the reality, you must start preparing before you ever enroll. And if you plan to come out of school and get a job, you need to treat school like a job from the very beginning.

That means:

• Show up on time
• Show up looking like a professional
• Pay attention
• Put your phone away
• Participate
• Ask questions
• Go above what is required

Because if you think showing up halfway in school but expecting a full-time job afterwards makes sense, you’re in for a massive wake-up call.

You Will Not Be Exceptional if You Behave Like a Student Who Doesn’t Care

When I teach in aesthetic schools, I can instantly spot who will make it. It’s not the prettiest facial massage. It’s not the best laid wax strip. It’s not the person with the most friends (being popular doesn’t count anymore in adult education). It’s the student who is hungry. The one who pays attention. The one who sits up straight and leans in. The one who takes initiative. The one who acts like a professional long before they actually are one.

Because here’s the truth, there are thousands of estheticians coming into the market every year. The industry is competitive. Medical aesthetics is even more competitive. Only the exceptional survive. And exceptional people act exceptional long before they get the title.

If You Want to Step Into this Industry- Your Responsibility Starts Today

Whether you’re still in high school, about to start esthetic’s school, halfway through a cosmetology program, or already licensed and ready to level up — you need to hear this:

• Your school is just the beginning.
• Your professionalism is the foundation.
• Your attitude is the deciding factor.
• ​Your drive determines your success.

Aesthetics Academy of Idaho exists to take you deeper. To elevate you. To prepare you for the real world of aesthetics. But we cannot fix a lack of effort. We cannot teach drive. We cannot install discipline. Those must come from you.

If You’re Ready To Take Responsibility For Your Future, We’d Love To Train You

We are here for the hungry. The driven. The focused. The ones who want to rise above average. The ones who are ready to take responsibility for their education and their future. If that’s you, we’d love to see you in class.

Like many of you, I’m a mom. I have an 8-year-old daughter who’s already asking questions about skincare—and let me tell you, she’s not the only one. Whether you’re a parent or an esthetician, you’ve likely noticed that young girls (and boys!) are getting more and more interested in skincare at younger ages.

It’s fun, it’s trendy, and let’s be honest—it’s everywhere. From YouTube to TikTok to the aisles of Sephora and Ulta, these kids are being marketed to like never before. But here’s the thing:

Just because something is popular doesn’t mean it’s appropriate.

And that’s why we, as professionals and parents, need to understand what young skin really needs—and what it doesn’t.

The Skin Is Smarter Than We Think
Our skin is brilliant. It has its own microbiome, its own natural oils, and its own built-in intelligence. Especially in children, the skin is still developing and finding balance. It knows how to protect itself, regulate itself, and thrive—as long as we don’t get in its way.

Unfortunately, the beauty industry doesn’t always prioritize science over sales. And young, impressionable kids are being targeted with products that were never intended for their age group.

What Pre-Teen Skin Does Not Need:

• Retinol or retinoids
• AHAs, BHAs, or any other exfoliating acids
• Brightening serums (like vitamin C)
• Heavy moisturizers or occlusive barrier creams
• Anti-aging anything
• Clay masks and pore strips

These products can disrupt a child’s natural skin barrier, throw off their microbiome, and even create issues where none existed before.

So What Does Pre-Teen Skin Need?
Simple, gentle, and supportive routines. That’s it.

Here’s a safe starting point for most 7–11-year-olds:

• Gentle cleanser (preferably sulfate-free and pH balanced)
• Light moisturizer (without active ingredients like acids or retinoids)
• Optional facial mist with hyaluronic acid or soothing botanicals
• Mineral sunscreen for daily sun protection (especially for outdoor kids)

That’s all. Truly. The goal at this age is not correction, it’s education. We’re not trying to treat acne, fight aging, or brighten anything—we’re simply teaching them how to care for their skin, keep it clean, and respect it.

Why We Want Our Kids to Start Now—But Start Right
There’s a reason we encourage skincare routines early on. It’s not about vanity. It’s about teaching:

• Consistency
• Self-care
• Awareness of what they put on and in their bodies
• How to listen to their skin and treat it with kindness

But none of that works if we’re unintentionally damaging their skin barrier in the process.

A Note on Gut Health and Acne
While hormones certainly play a role in breakouts as kids get older, the truth is that gut health plays a massive role in skin issues too. The foods they eat, their digestion, and even their stress levels can show up on their skin long before puberty kicks in. Harsh skincare isn’t going to fix what starts from within.

Final Thoughts: Keep It Simple. Keep It Safe.

• Parents—your daughters (and sons) don’t need the $400 Sephora haul.
• Estheticians—your clients’ kids need education, not exfoliation.
• Professionals—we have a duty to speak truth over trends.

Let’s teach our kids the why behind skincare, not just the how. Let’s raise a generation that doesn’t need to repair the damage—because they never did the damage in the first place.

Let’s talk about 4 ingredients that get dragged through the mud in the skincare world but actually have research-backed benefits when used correctly.

1. Petrolatum (aka petroleum jelly):

• You’ve heard it’s bad because it’s petroleum-derived. But here’s the truth: USP-grade petrolatum is one of the most effective skin protectants available. It’s an FDA-approved healing ointment, safe for babies, and essential in wound care. It sits on the surface of your skin to lock in moisture and protect a damaged barrier.
• No, it doesn’t clog pores.
• No, your skin doesn’t “breathe” — that’s not a thing.
• Yes, it can be used post-procedure or on chapped skin to aid repair.
• Just make sure it’s cosmetic or pharmaceutical grade, not what you’d find in an auto shop.

2. Mineral Oil:

• Another petroleum-derived ingredient that freaks people out for no reason.
• It’s actually one of the most hypoallergenic ingredients in skincare.
• Why? Because it’s inert, doesn’t penetrate, doesn’t irritate, and doesn’t go rancid.
• Mineral oil creates an occlusive layer, helping skin retain water and heal.
• Also: It’s non-comedogenic. Yep. The ingredient you’ve been told causes breakouts… doesn’t.
• What does? Poor formulation or comedogenic ingredients mixed with it.

3. Parabens:

• Let’s clear this up: parabens are not the enemy.
• They’re preservatives — and effective ones.
• They’ve been used for decades to keep products stable and mold-free.
• The fear came from one flawed study that has since been disproven.
• Regulatory bodies in the U.S., Canada, and EU all agree: in low concentrations, parabens are safe.
• Plus, they cause fewer allergic reactions than many “natural” alternatives.
• What’s the alternative to parabens? Often essential oils or newer preservatives that aren’t as well-studied.
  
• Spoiled skincare is dangerous. Parabens help prevent that.

4. Hydroquinone (HQ):

• This one stirs up a lot of fear, but let’s get clear on the facts.
• Hydroquinone is one of the most effective ingredients we have for fading stubborn pigmentation, melasma, and sun damage.
• It works by inhibiting tyrosinase, the enzyme involved in melanin production.
• Hydroquinone isn’t a villain — it’s just a powerful tool that needs proper use. If it’s within your scope, or you’re working under a provider, it can deliver real results. Just don’t let fear-based marketing write the narrative.

So why the bad rap?

• It was banned in some countries due to over-the-counter misuse (not under medical guidance).
• It can cause irritation or rebound pigmentation if used improperly or long-term without breaks.
• There are reports of ochronosis (a rare side effect that causes darkening), but it’s extremely rare and usually associated with unregulated or long-term use, especially in non-U.S. markets without quality control.

What the science says:

• Under physician supervision, 2%–4% HQ is considered safe and effective for short-term use.
• Most U.S. dermatologists still use it as the gold standard for melasma.
• Clients should use it in cycles, often with a break or under medical guidance to avoid overuse.
• SPF is non-negotiable when using HQ — the skin becomes more vulnerable to sun damage during treatment.