How to Become An Esthetician in Illinois
Illinois employs approximately 2,960 estheticians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $45,330 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 Illinois, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.
Quick Answers About Becoming An Esthetician in Illinois
How do I become an esthetician in Illinois? Illinois requires credentials such as ESTHETICIAN, ESTHETICIAN TEACHER. The licensing authority is the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation 3. You also need to complete an approved training program or apprenticeship.
How long does it take? Most paths take 1 to 5 years depending on whether you choose trade school, an apprenticeship, or a combination of both.
Do I need a license in Illinois? Yes. Illinois has licensing or registration requirements for estheticians. The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation oversees licensing 3. See the licensing section below for details.
What do estheticians earn in Illinois? The median annual wage for estheticians in Illinois is $45,330 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $31,200 and experienced professionals can earn $63,920 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: Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
- Median wage (Illinois): $45,330 per year 1
- Exam requirement: State exam required
Esthetician License Requirements in Illinois
The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation oversees esthetician licensing in Illinois 3.
License Types
| License | Requirements |
|---|---|
| ESTHETICIAN | An individual who engages in beautifying, massaging, cleansing, exfoliating the stratum corneum of the epidermis, or stimulating the skin of the human body, except the scalp, by the use of cosmetic pr… |
| ESTHETICIAN TEACHER | An individual who provides instruction in the theory and practice of esthetics to students in a cosmetology or barber school approved to teach esthetics or an approved esthetics school, and who is aut… |
Additional Requirements
- Background check: Specific type of conviction prohibited
- Exam: State exam required
- Experience: Work experience required
License information sourced from CareerOneStop 4.
Esthetician Wages by Metro Area in Illinois
Skincare Specialists Wages by Metro Area in Illinois
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025 OES data), skincare specialists wages in Illinois vary by metro area.
| Metro Area | Employment | Median Annual Wage | Avg. Annual Wage | Entry Level (10th pctile) | Experienced (90th pctile) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | 2,720 | $45,330 | $47,950 | $31,200 | $59,170 |
| St. Louis | 620 | $45,590 | $55,270 | $30,010 | $87,360 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | 80 | $37,080 | $51,650 | $22,120 | $77,650 |
| Champaign-Urbana | 40 | $49,440 | $64,420 | $31,850 | $107,790 |
| Rockford | 40 | $57,720 | $66,090 | $32,150 | $107,120 |
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 Illinois
The metropolitan areas listed below report the highest esthetician employment within Illinois according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025).
| Metro Area | Employment | Median Annual Wage |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | 2,720 | $45,330 |
| Champaign-Urbana | 40 | $49,440 |
| Rockford | 40 | $57,720 |
Explore esthetician programs in Chicago, Champaign, and Rockford.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the job outlook for estheticians in Illinois? Illinois currently employs approximately 2,960 estheticians 1. Nationally, esthetician employment is projected to grow 6.7% from 2024 to 2034 2.
Can I work as an esthetician in Illinois with an out-of-state license? Contact the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.
What training programs are available in Illinois? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for accredited programs in Illinois.
How much do estheticians earn in Illinois compared to the national average? The median annual wage for estheticians in Illinois is $45,330, which is $3,770 above 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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation - Licensing Information: https://www.idfpr.com/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
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) |