Best Esthetician Schools Near You (2026)
Esthetician training is offered by trade schools, community colleges and career institutes nationwide, and skincare Specialists earned a median of $45,330 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Use the program finder above to request information from schools that match your goals, or browse esthetician schools by state and metro area below.
Key Facts
- National median wage: $45,330/yr (Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025)
- Pay range (10th-90th pct): $29,580 - $82,050 (Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025)
- Projected growth (2024-2034): +6.7%, ~14,500 openings/yr (Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024-2034)
- U.S. employment: 72,890 workers (Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025)
How to Choose an Esthetician School
Start with accreditation: confirm the school holds recognized institutional or programmatic accreditation, because it affects credit transfer, eligibility for some certification exams and how employers view the credential. Then compare the credential awarded, total program length and schedule, and how much of the program is hands-on.
Esthetician programs award a certificate or diploma after the hours your state requires; the total varies by state, so confirm the program meets the rule where you plan to be licensed.
Look for a student clinic where you perform facials, waxing and skin analysis on real clients under supervision. Graduates usually work in salons, spas, dermatology offices and medical spas.
Before you enroll, ask each school what the schedule looks like week to week, how much time is spent in the lab, shop or clinic, which credential exams the curriculum covers, and how the school supports graduates in their job search. Outcomes vary by program and region, so ask for the school’s own completion figures and how they were measured.
Esthetician Schools by State
Each state link goes to the most specific esthetician page we publish for that state: a statewide esthetician program guide where one exists, otherwise the state’s esthetician career page or trade school directory.
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Top Metro Areas for Esthetician Training
Large metros usually offer the widest choice of esthetician schools and the most employers hiring graduates. These city guides list programs within driving distance and local wage data.
- Best Esthetician Schools in New York City, New York (2026)
- Best Esthetician Schools in New York, New York (2026)
- Best Esthetician Schools in Los Angeles, California (2026)
- Best Esthetician Schools in Chicago, Illinois (2026)
- Best Esthetician Schools in Houston, Texas (2026)
- Best Esthetician Schools in Phoenix, Arizona (2026)
- Best Esthetician Schools in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (2026)
- Best Esthetician Schools in San Antonio, Texas (2026)
- Best Esthetician Schools in San Diego, California (2026)
- Best Esthetician Schools in Dallas, Texas (2026)
- Best Esthetician Schools in San Jose, California (2026)
- Best Esthetician Schools in Austin, Texas (2026)
- Best Esthetician Schools in Jacksonville, Florida (2026)
- Best Esthetician Schools in Fort Worth, Texas (2026)
- Best Esthetician Schools in Columbus, Ohio (2026)
Related Careers and Guides
Disclaimer: Outcomes vary by location, experience, and local job market conditions. Employment or placement is not guaranteed. Program availability, admissions criteria, timelines, costs, and licensure requirements vary by school and state and may change without notice. Always verify details directly with the school and your state licensing board before enrolling.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does esthetician training take?
It depends on the credential. Esthetician programs award a certificate or diploma after the hours your state requires; the total varies by state, so confirm the program meets the rule where you plan to be licensed. Program length and schedule vary by school, so confirm the details with each program before you enroll.
How much do skincare Specialists earn?
According to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), skincare Specialists in the U.S. earned a median annual wage of about $45,330. The 10th-to-90th percentile range was about $29,580 to $82,050 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Pay varies with location, experience, certification and employer.
Do I need a license or certification?
Requirements vary by state, role and employer. Some fields require a state license earned by completing approved training and passing an exam; others rely on voluntary industry certifications. Always confirm current rules with the licensing board or credentialing body in the state where you plan to work.
What is the job outlook for skincare Specialists?
The BLS projects employment of skincare Specialists to change about +6.7% nationally from 2024 to 2034, with roughly 14,500 openings expected each year on average (BLS Employment Projections, 2024-2034). Local demand can differ from the national figure.
Can I take esthetician classes online?
Some coursework may be offered online, but most programs include hands-on lab, shop or clinical components that are completed in person. Ask each school how its program is delivered and what the in-person requirements are.
About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.
Data sources
Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.
| Data | Provider | Vintage |
|---|---|---|
| Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | May 2025 |
| Employment Projections | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | 2024-2034 |
| Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System | National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS) | 2024 |
| College Scorecard (school-level outcomes) | U.S. Department of Education | latest release |
| College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings) | U.S. Department of Education | latest release (updated 2026-06-12) |
| Occupational licensing requirements | CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor) | latest release (updated 2026-02-22) |
| Registered apprenticeship programs | CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor) | latest release (updated 2025-10-25) |