How to Become an Esthetician in Alaska (2026)

Q: How long does esthetician training take in Alaska?

Most people become an Esthetician in Alaska 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 Alaska?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), estheticians in Alaska earned a median annual wage of approximately $41,240. Employment concentration in Alaska is roughly 0.78 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 Alaska?

Alaska currently employs approximately 120 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

Alaska skincare specialists earn a median annual wage of $41,240 ($19.83/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 120 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -9.0% below the national median of $45,330 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $41,240 ($19.83/hr)
25th percentile: $35,780 per year
75th percentile: $45,760 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $47,980 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $33,600 per year
Workers employed in Alaska: 120
Versus national median: -9.0% below the U.S. median of $45,330
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.78 - this occupation is less concentrated in Alaska than the national average

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

Alaska employs about 120 estheticians earning a median $41,240 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.

Alaska employs approximately 120 estheticians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $41,240 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 Alaska, 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 (Alaska): $41,240 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become an Esthetician in Alaska

How to become an Esthetician in Alaska? 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 Alaska? Licensing varies. Confirm with the program and employer. See the licensing section below.

What do estheticians earn in Alaska? The median annual wage for estheticians in Alaska is $41,240 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $33,600 and experienced professionals can earn $47,980 or more ¹.

How to Become an Esthetician in Alaska

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 Alaska

Estheticians in Alaska 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 Alaska

Skincare Specialists Wages by Metro Area in Alaska

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Anchorage	90	$41,240	$40,910	$34,290	$47,890
La Crosse-Onalaska	50	$46,140	$47,270	$30,480	$87,100

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 Alaska? Alaska currently employs approximately 120 estheticians ¹. Nationally, esthetician employment is projected to grow 6.7% from 2024 to 2034 ².

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

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

How much do estheticians earn in Alaska compared to the national average? The median annual wage for estheticians in Alaska is $41,240, which is $320 below the national median of $41,560 according to BLS data ¹.

In Alaska

Best Trade Schools in Alaska (2026)

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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)