"How long does esthetician in Kentucky training take?"

"Most paths into the esthetician field take 1 to 5 years, depending on whether you complete a trade school program, a registered apprenticeship, or a combination of both."

"Do estheticians need a license in Kentucky?"

"Yes. Kentucky requires state-level licensing or registration for estheticians, administered by the Commonwealth of Kentucky - Board of Cosmetology. See the licensing section above for credential types and current requirements."

"What apprenticeships are available for estheticians in Kentucky?"

"In Kentucky, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Kentucky Office of Apprenticeship and Training, which works with employers and trade union locals to register programs. See the apprenticeship section above for office contact details."

How to Become An Esthetician in Kentucky

Q: "How much do estheticians earn in Kentucky?"

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), estheticians in Kentucky earned a median annual wage of approximately $38,580. Employment concentration in Kentucky is roughly 0.89 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 Kentucky?"

"Kentucky currently employs approximately 830 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

Kentucky employs approximately 830 estheticians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $38,580 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 Kentucky, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About How to Become an Esthetician in Kentucky

How to become an esthetician in Kentucky? Kentucky requires credentials such as Esthetician, Dual Cosmetologist/Esthetician. The licensing authority is the Commonwealth of Kentucky - Board of Cosmetology 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 Kentucky? Yes. Kentucky has licensing or registration requirements for estheticians. The Commonwealth of Kentucky - Board of Cosmetology oversees licensing ³. See the licensing section below for details.

What do estheticians earn in Kentucky? The median annual wage for estheticians in Kentucky is $38,580 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $26,340 and experienced professionals can earn $81,610 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: Commonwealth of Kentucky - Board of Cosmetology
Median wage (Kentucky): $38,580 per year ¹
Exam requirement: State exam required

Esthetician License Requirements in Kentucky

The Commonwealth of Kentucky - Board of Cosmetology oversees esthetician licensing in Kentucky ³.

License Types

License	Requirements
Esthetician	Contact the regulatory agency for specific information.
Dual Cosmetologist/Esthetician	Contact the regulatory agency for specific information.

Additional Requirements

Background check: No criminal record prohibitions
Exam: State exam required
Experience: Work experience required

License information sourced from CareerOneStop ⁴.

Esthetician Wages by Metro Area in Kentucky

Skincare Specialists Wages by Metro Area in Kentucky

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Cincinnati	540	$43,570	$48,070	$25,160	$75,920
Louisville/Jefferson County	330	$38,750	$46,750	$26,360	$85,090
Lexington-Fayette	180	$38,580	$41,610	$27,520	$58,250
Clarksville	70	$36,300	$44,510	$27,090	$78,480
Bowling Green	40	$39,090	$42,070	$23,300	$64,780
Huntington-Ashland	40	$30,930	$36,660	$23,610	$53,360

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 .

Top Metros for Estheticians in Kentucky

The metropolitan areas listed below report the highest esthetician employment within Kentucky according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025).

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Louisville/Jefferson County	330	$38,750
Lexington-Fayette	180	$38,580
Bowling Green	40	$39,090

Explore esthetician programs in Lexington and Bowling Green.

Explore More Trades in Kentucky

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for estheticians in Kentucky? Kentucky currently employs approximately 830 estheticians ¹. Nationally, esthetician employment is projected to grow 6.7% from 2024 to 2034 ².

Can I work as an esthetician in Kentucky with an out-of-state license? Contact the Commonwealth of Kentucky - Board of Cosmetology for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

What training programs are available in Kentucky? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for accredited programs in Kentucky.

How much do estheticians earn in Kentucky compared to the national average? The median annual wage for estheticians in Kentucky is $38,580, which is $2,980 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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Commonwealth of Kentucky - Board of Cosmetology - Licensing Information: http://kbc.ky.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)