Why are so many estheticians leaving the industry?
When I attended esthetician school (almost a decade ago…), the majority of my peers never graduated. Out of the handful that succeeded, only three of us are still in the industry. Very few estheticians stay in the beauty industry, yet many fantasize about this career. Where is the disconnect? At the risk of sounding like a bitter old hag, let’s take a real look at some of the difficulties estheticians face.
To become a licensed esthetician, you must attend an accredited trade school, clock in for a minimum set of hours, and then pass a practical and written exam. The training required to become a legal esthetician varies DRASTICALLY by state. Massachusetts and Pennsylvania come in with the lowest hours of education required at 300. California, on the other hand, requires 1,600 hours! The disparity is wild and does not correlate with increased average pay. The dedication required to become an esthetician in a state like California versus Massachusetts requires much more forethought and money.
Similarly to the different education requirements between the states, each state has a different scope. Some states, like Washington, allow estheticians to perform more advanced modalities such as micro-needling as long as they have a master esthetician license (don’t even get me started on advanced licensing). California, even with its 1,600 required hours, doesn’t allow micro-needling AT ALL. The services that we can offer vary drastically from state to state and do not correlate with education requirements.
The common consensus among those in our field is that esthetician school does not teach you ANYTHING. Most programs teach the basics and then throw estheticians on the floor to learn about clients. A multitude of schools teach the education portion of school within the first few weeks and the remaining months are working on clients and weekly tests that just ensure memorization. The entire program tends to feel like drinking from a fire hydrant and is extremely self-led. High-quality education tends to happen on the job which can be nerve-wracking and lead estheticians to feel underprepared for their careers.
Most careers come with options for 401Ks, shares of stock, or at least health insurance. It is rare to find an esthetician job that comes with ANY benefits. Pair the lack of benefits with inconsistent pay due to commission and life becomes hard to plan for.
Speaking of commission… Most jobs in this field pay us a percentage of each service performed. The esthetician also keeps the tips paid for the service. Usually, 30-50% of the service is paid out as commission depending on the spa along with the length of employment.
Let’s run a math problem: You work at Spa and receive an unlikely 50% commission. You perform a service for $100 along with a $20 tip. You receive $70 for your time and energy while Spa receives $50 for giving you the tools and customers necessary to do your job. That math problem is best best-case scenario if you work for someone else and it still makes working independently look mighty tempting.
Working independently is most estheticians wet dream. You decide your services and your rates. You have control and keep the profits. Why are more estheticians not working for themselves? $$$! The minimum start-up cost is a few grand which is a huge barrier to most. The long process of building up clientele for steady income is too arduous for many.
There are many barriers to entry in becoming an esthetician, but staying the course is sometimes even more challenging. Educational and scope differences between states paired with a lack of financial stability are only part of the issues we face. Most estheticians leave the industry within the first three years.
The moral of the story? SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL ESTHETICIAN! Can’t afford to get a service from them this month? Follow their socials, share their cards, post their stories, and tell your friends! Also, give your local esthetician a hug (or a drink) they could probably use it.
