Wowza… if I had a dollar for every time I was asked this question.
I hate to say it, but I legally cannot give you a straight answer. As a school owner, there are very strict laws about making ‘claims’ as they related to salaries of estheticians, massage therapists, electrologists, cosmetologists, or nail technicians. Why? Because in the past, schools oversold the dream and underdelivered in a big way.
So instead, I’m going to be brutally honest with you. This is not your typical career path.
Most careers are simple—you go to school, you graduate, and you step into a job that pays a set salary. Maybe it’s $65,000. Maybe it’s $100,000. This industry? Nope, it doesn’t work like that.
There are always exceptions, of course, but for the most part, your income is going to depend on how hard you hustle, where you work, and how long you stay at your job. Let’s break it down.
Commission-Based Pay
This is the most common pay structure in the spa industry.
What this means is you’re paid per service—either a flat rate or a percentage. For example, you might make $25 per facial, or 40% per facial. In these scenarios, you are also making tips. Let’s do some math here… don’t be scared, it’s easy math.
Let’s say Mrs. Smith buys a $100 facial. If you’re commission, you’re making $40 plus a $20 tip.
If you’re getting paid flat rate, you’re making $25 for that facial with a $20 tip.
Not bad, right? That’s pretty good money to me. But here’s the real question… Can you keep that pace?
Can you do five facials a day, at least $100 each, five days a week, fifty weeks a year? See what I did there? I gave you two weeks off—because even esties deserve a break.
There’s no denying that this industry can be incredibly lucrative. But are you going to walk out of school with that many clients? Prrrrrobably not. You might not even make it past your second year with that many clients.
However, if you put in the time, build your clientele, and grow your reputation year after year, something really cool happens. One day you look around and think: Wow… I did it. I’m here.
Hourly Pay
This is a whole different animal. Some employers will pay you an hourly rate—say $20 to $25 an hour—This can be really helpful, especially in seasonal areas like Southwest Florida.
Is it the highest earning potential? Not always. You might have estie friends making $3000 pay checks in season and here you are with your little $20 per hour. But, you know what, over the summer when everyone’s on the struggle bus because season has ended, guess who’s making money? You’re making money!
This type of position provides stability, which matters most to people. If you go this route, here are a few smart questions to ask:
Hourly and Commission (Hybrid)
This is a mix of both worlds. In this scenario, you might earn a lower hourly rate, plus a small commission on services. It might look like $16 per hour plus a flat rate of $10 per service, or a 10% commission on the service. It might not sound like much at first, but it gives you a safety net and earning potential. Plus, don’t forget about them tips!
So… What’s Best?
I wish I could give you a straight answer. But the truth is—you have to decide what works best for you. You see why there’s no set salary for Estheticians. It’s impossible. There are too many scenarios out there. My best advice would be to figure out how much you need to make each month, how you prefer to work, and what kind of lifestyle you want.
Then find a position that aligns with that.
Things You Need to Ask in an Interview
This part matters more than people think.
When you don’t have clients, do you stay or go?
If you’re hourly, staying is obviously how you’re going to make your money.
If you’re commission, leaving might make more sense.
If you’re staying between clients, what are you doing during downtime?
Front desk? Social media? Laundry? Cleaning? Staying when you’re hourly makes sense, but if you’re a commission-based employee just remember: WE DON’T WORK FOR FREE!
Are you a W2 employee or a 1099 contractor? This is a big one. A lot of places want the control of a W2 employee, but the cost savings of a 1099. What’s the big whoop? Well, as an employee, that means they set your schedule, control your pricing, and handle your bookings and payments, provide you with training and uniforms, and everything an employee gets. But they pay your payroll taxes. Now, as a 1099, you pay your own taxes and write off your business expenses you little free bird, you. You’re a contractor. You make your own time, book your own services, buy your own scrubs and set your own prices… see how this is a problem if an employer is treating you like a w2—but are actually using you as a 1099? Not to mention the funny little thing that happens WHEN THEY DON’T HAVE TO PAY PAYROLL TAXES!
Final Thoughts
I could talk about this for hours, and honestly, I probably will in another post. I know I didn’t give you a specific number—and I wish I could—but what I did give you is something way more valuable:
A real understanding of how money is made in this industry.
From here, you can do the math, set your goals, and build a career that actually works for you. And trust me… it’s absolutely possible. You can make exactly what you want to make in this industry, you just have to follow the right recipe.
Find the right fit for a job, stay for several years, roll out the red carpet for every client, upsell, sell retail, and be a good human (oh, and don’t forget to take your vacation). You got this!