How to Become an Esthetician in California (2026)
California employs about 11,360 estheticians earning a median $38,770 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, then applying through California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology.
Compare Esthetician Schools in California
| # | School | BOC Score (0–100) | Tuition | Median grad earnings (all majors) | Graduation rate | Online | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Academy for Salon Professionals | 69.1 | Contact school for pricing | Not reported | 91% | — | 100 mi |
| 2 | Princess Institute of Beauty | 66.2 | Contact school for pricing | Not reported | 89% | — | 81 mi |
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| 3 | Lawrence & Company College of Cosmetology | 50.3 | Contact school for pricing | Not reported | 76% | — | 79 mi |
| 4 | Jama's Beauty & Barber College | Not rated | Contact school for pricing | Not reported | Not reported | — | 97 mi |
Sponsored Ad | |||||||
| 5 | Design's School of Cosmetology | 46.5 | Contact school for pricing | $23,711 | 75% | — | 66 mi |
| 6 | Academy of Esthetics and Cosmetology | 43.5 | Contact school for pricing | $27,915 | 59% | — | 100 mi |
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| 7 | Lu Ross Academy | 40.2 | Contact school for pricing | $30,475 | 70% | — | 81 mi |
| 8 | Milan Institute-Visalia | 35.5 | Contact school for pricing | $33,999 | 50% | — | 59 mi |
Sponsored Ad | |||||||
| 9 | Milan Institute-Clovis | 32.6 | Contact school for pricing | $29,355 | 60% | — | 96 mi |
| 10 | Milan Institute-Bakersfield | 29.7 | Contact school for pricing | $29,355 | 52% | — | 28 mi |
Sponsored Ad | |||||||
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.
California employs approximately 11,360 estheticians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $38,770 1. The state’s concentration of esthetician jobs is 1.33x the national average, indicating strong demand. 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 California, 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
- Licensing authority: California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology
- Exam: state written and practical exams (often NIC)
- Median wage (California): $38,770 per year 1
Quick Answers About How to Become an Esthetician in California
How to become an Esthetician in California? Complete a board-approved esthetics program that meets this state’s hour requirement, written and practical exams, and an esthetician license. Apply through California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology.
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 California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology.
Do I need a license in California? Yes. California credentials this role through California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology 3. See the licensing section below.
What do estheticians earn in California? The median annual wage for estheticians in California is $38,770 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $34,650 and experienced professionals can earn $77,160 or more 1.
How to Become an Esthetician in California
- Meet board entry rules. Confirm age and education rules with California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology.
- Complete a board-approved esthetics program. Finish the esthetics hour requirement California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology 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 California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology uses for estheticians, not the full cosmetology practitioner exam unless you want that license.
- Apply for the esthetician license. Apply to California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology 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 California
Estheticians in California complete board-approved esthetics hours, pass exams, and apply to California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology. Do not treat a cosmetology instructor row as the esthetician license. See California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology 3.
Typical path
Meet board entry rules.
Complete a board-approved esthetics program.
Pass written and practical exams.
Apply to California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology.
Hour totals, fees, and reciprocity rules change. Confirm current requirements with California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology before you enroll.
Esthetician Wages by Metro Area in California
Skincare Specialists Wages by Metro Area in California
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), skincare specialists wages in California vary by metro area.
| Metro Area | Employment | Median Annual Wage | Avg. Annual Wage | Entry Level (10th pctile) | Experienced (90th pctile) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | 4,500 | $37,560 | $47,430 | $34,650 | $84,060 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | 1,920 | $52,350 | $60,750 | $39,630 | $80,980 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | 1,130 | $37,640 | $48,050 | $36,050 | $77,160 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | 1,000 | $44,230 | $46,630 | $34,700 | $74,140 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | 550 | $38,180 | $46,890 | $36,130 | $69,160 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | 500 | $43,420 | $51,810 | $40,370 | $80,530 |
| Fresno | 220 | $40,360 | $47,170 | $34,320 | $71,030 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | 190 | $36,680 | $48,420 | $35,030 | $76,350 |
| Modesto | 90 | $37,200 | $43,310 | $35,830 | $47,550 |
| Napa | 90 | $39,020 | $48,810 | $35,270 | $79,790 |
| Salinas | 90 | $50,640 | $66,030 | $36,340 | $147,320 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | 90 | $39,120 | $49,520 | $36,660 | $76,140 |
| Stockton-Lodi | 90 | $36,420 | $45,350 | $35,200 | $62,760 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | 80 | $37,430 | $49,650 | $34,820 | $74,910 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | 60 | $45,200 | $46,530 | $35,570 | $74,290 |
| Vallejo | 50 | $39,000 | $45,540 | $37,510 | $56,090 |
| Visalia | 50 | $44,910 | $44,750 | $34,320 | $70,480 |
| Chico | 40 | $35,090 | $41,460 | $34,320 | $63,630 |
| Redding | 40 | $35,910 | $45,190 | $34,320 | $70,720 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | N/A | $41,960 | $50,280 | $34,920 | $77,810 |
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 California? California currently employs approximately 11,360 estheticians 1. Nationally, esthetician employment is projected to grow 6.7% from 2024 to 2034 2.
Can I work as an esthetician in California with an out-of-state license? Contact the California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.
What training programs are available in California? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and state-approved training programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in California.
How much do estheticians earn in California compared to the national average? The median annual wage for estheticians in California is $38,770, which is $2,790 below the national median of $41,560 according to BLS data 1.
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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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology - Licensing Information: https://www.barbercosmo.ca.gov/ ↩︎ ↩︎
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) |