How to Become An Esthetician in California
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.
Quick Answers About Becoming An Esthetician in California
How do I become an esthetician in California? California requires credentials such as Esthetician. The licensing authority is the Department of Consumer Affairs - Board of Barbering and Cosmetology 3. You also need to complete an approved training program or apprenticeship.
How long does it take? The primary license requires approximately 100 hours of experience (roughly 0.1 years of full-time work) 3.
Do I need a license in California? Yes. California has licensing or registration requirements for estheticians. The Department of Consumer Affairs - Board of Barbering and Cosmetology oversees licensing 3. See the licensing section below for details.
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.
At a Glance
- Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
- Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
- Licensing authority: Department of Consumer Affairs - Board of Barbering and Cosmetology
- Median wage (California): $38,770 per year 1
Esthetician License Requirements in California
The Department of Consumer Affairs - Board of Barbering and Cosmetology oversees esthetician licensing in California 3.
License Types
| License | Requirements |
|---|---|
| Esthetician | Persons offering esthetics (skin care) services for payment. Fees: Initial fee of $115 includes examination and licensing costs; Renewal: $50. |
License information sourced from CareerOneStop 4.
Esthetician Wages by Metro Area in California
Skincare Specialists Wages by Metro Area in California
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025 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 2025.
Top Metros for Estheticians in California
The metropolitan areas listed below report the highest esthetician employment within California according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025).
| Metro Area | Employment | Median Annual Wage |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | 4,500 | $37,560 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | 1,920 | $52,350 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | 1,130 | $37,640 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | 1,000 | $44,230 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | 550 | $38,180 |
Explore esthetician programs in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego.
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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 Department of Consumer Affairs - 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 apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for accredited 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.
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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Department of Consumer Affairs - Board of Barbering and Cosmetology - Licensing Information: https://www.barbercosmo.ca.gov/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
CareerOneStop - Licensed Occupations: https://www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Training/find-licenses.aspx ↩︎
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) |