How to Become an Esthetician in Alabama (2026)

Q: How long does esthetician training take in Alabama?

Most people become an Esthetician in Alabama through a board-approved esthetics program that meets this state's hour requirement, written and practical exams, and an esthetician license.

Q: How much do estheticians earn in Alabama?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), estheticians in Alabama earned a median annual wage of approximately $39,260. Employment concentration in Alabama is roughly 0.60 of the national average, meaning fewer workers per capita than the U.S. as a whole.

Q: What is the job outlook for estheticians in Alabama?

Alabama currently employs approximately 590 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 6.7% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034.

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Alabama skincare specialists earn a median annual wage of $39,260 ($18.88/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 590 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -13.4% below the national median of $45,330 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $39,260 ($18.88/hr)
25th percentile: $31,960 per year
75th percentile: $46,170 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $73,180 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $26,540 per year
Workers employed in Alabama: 590
Versus national median: -13.4% below the U.S. median of $45,330
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.60 - this occupation is less concentrated in Alabama than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed June 8, 2026.

Alabama employs about 590 estheticians earning a median $39,260 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Training as an Esthetician here means completing a board-approved esthetics program that meets this state’s hour requirement, written and practical exams, and an esthetician license. Confirm credential rules with the program and employer.

Compare Esthetician Schools in Alabama

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Earnings are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single trade. Distance is measured from the page's primary location.
#	School	BOC Score (0–100)	Tuition	Median grad earnings (all majors)	Graduation rate	Online	Distance
1	Vaughn Beauty College	Not rated	Contact school for pricing	Not reported	Not reported	—	123 mi
2	Lurleen B Wallace Community College	59.2	Contact school for pricing	$40,116	42%	Yes*	104 mi
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3	Southern Crescent Technical College	54.3	Contact school for pricing	$47,009	55%	Yes*	148 mi
4	West Georgia Technical College	51.0	Contact school for pricing	$43,835	33%	Yes*	111 mi
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5	Alabama School of Nail Technology & Cosmetology	48.0	Contact school for pricing	$15,449	75%	—	111 mi
6	Atlanta Technical College	47.9	Contact school for pricing	$40,964	46%	Yes*	151 mi
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7	Columbus Technical College	47.2	Contact school for pricing	$43,818	24%	Yes*	110 mi
8	Paul Mitchell the School-Birmingham	32.4	Contact school for pricing	$23,564	60%	—	40 mi
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9	New Beginning College of Cosmetology	29.9	Contact school for pricing	$21,465	48%	—	107 mi
10	Rivertown School of Beauty Barber Skin Care and Nails	21.7	Contact school for pricing	$19,067	42%	—	110 mi
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Schools closest to the page's primary location are gathered first, then ranked by BOC Score; distance from the page's primary location is shown for reference. The BOC Score is an independent measure of school outcomes (graduation, earnings, net price, retention) expressed as a 0–100 percentile within each school's peer group; higher is better and advertising never affects it. *Online availability refers to coursework; hands-on trade training is completed in person. Read the full methodology.

Alabama employs approximately 590 estheticians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $39,260 ¹. Nationally, esthetician employment is projected to grow 6.7% from 2024 to 2034, with about 14,500 openings per year ². This page covers how to become an Esthetician in Alabama, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

Training paths: board-approved esthetics program (find programs)
Typical timeline: a board-approved esthetics program that meets this state’s hour requirement, written and practical exams, and an esthetician license
Exam: state written and practical exams (often NIC)
Median wage (Alabama): $39,260 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become an Esthetician in Alabama

How to become an Esthetician in Alabama? Complete a board-approved esthetics program that meets this state’s hour requirement, written and practical exams, and an esthetician license. Confirm credential rules with the program and employer.

How long does it take? Most people finish a board-approved esthetics program that meets this state’s hour requirement, written and practical exams, and an esthetician license. Confirm current hour totals with the program and employer.

Do I need a license in Alabama? Licensing varies. Confirm with the program and employer. See the licensing section below.

What do estheticians earn in Alabama? The median annual wage for estheticians in Alabama is $39,260 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $26,540 and experienced professionals can earn $73,180 or more ¹.

How to Become an Esthetician in Alabama

Meet board entry rules. Confirm age and education rules with the employer.
Complete a board-approved esthetics program. Finish the esthetics hour requirement the employer publishes. Confirm the current total with that board; do not copy another state’s hours. This is not a DAS registered apprenticeship.
Pass written and practical exams. Pass the exams the employer uses for estheticians, not the full cosmetology practitioner exam unless you want that license.
Apply for the esthetician license. Apply to the employer before taking paying skincare clients.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the state board before you apply.

Esthetician License Requirements in Alabama

Estheticians in Alabama complete board-approved esthetics hours, pass exams, and apply to the employer. Do not treat a cosmetology instructor row as the esthetician license.

Typical path

Meet board entry rules.
Complete a board-approved esthetics program.
Pass written and practical exams.
Apply to the employer.

Hour totals, fees, and reciprocity rules change. Confirm current requirements with the employer before you enroll.

Esthetician Wages by Metro Area in Alabama

Skincare Specialists Wages by Metro Area in Alabama

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), skincare specialists wages in Alabama vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Birmingham	190	$39,260	$45,880	$30,540	$63,060
Huntsville	100	$42,390	$45,650	$32,360	$76,610
Montgomery	50	$35,130	$42,770	$22,870	$66,090
Mobile	40	$31,070	$40,950	$18,720	$77,360
Tuscaloosa	40	$39,970	$48,520	$30,520	$84,330

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for estheticians in Alabama? Alabama currently employs approximately 590 estheticians ¹. Nationally, esthetician employment is projected to grow 6.7% from 2024 to 2034 ².

Can I work as an esthetician in Alabama with an out-of-state license? Confirm reciprocity rules with the program and employer.

What training programs are available in Alabama? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and state-approved training programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in Alabama.

How much do estheticians earn in Alabama compared to the national average? The median annual wage for estheticians in Alabama is $39,260, which is $2,300 below the national median of $41,560 according to BLS data ¹.

In Alabama

Best Trade Schools in Alabama (2026)

Top local programs

Explore More Trades in Alabama

Citations

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/.

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎

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)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)	U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)	O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)