"How long does it take to become an esthetician in Mississippi?"

"The primary Mississippi license requires approximately 1,500 hours of qualifying experience, which is roughly 0.8 years of full-time work."

"Do estheticians need a license in Mississippi?"

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

"What apprenticeships are available for estheticians in Mississippi?"

"In Mississippi, apprenticeships are typically registered through state apprenticeship agencies and trade union locals. See the apprenticeship section above for current contact information."

How to Become An Esthetician in Mississippi

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

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), estheticians in Mississippi earned a median annual wage of approximately $41,160. Employment concentration in Mississippi is roughly 0.59 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 Mississippi?"

"Mississippi currently employs approximately 320 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

Mississippi skincare specialists earn a median annual wage of $41,160 ($19.79/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 320 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -9.2% below the national median of $45,330 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $41,160 ($19.79/hr)
25th percentile: $33,480 per year
75th percentile: $80,100 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $140,920 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $20,960 per year
Workers employed in Mississippi: 320
Versus national median: -9.2% below the U.S. median of $45,330
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.59 - this occupation is less concentrated in Mississippi than the national average

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

Mississippi employs approximately 320 estheticians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $41,160 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 Mississippi, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming An Esthetician in Mississippi

How do I become an esthetician in Mississippi? Mississippi requires credentials such as Esthetician, Esthetics Instructor. The licensing authority is the MS Board of Cosmetology ³. You also need to complete an approved training program or apprenticeship.

How long does it take? The primary license requires approximately 1,500 hours of experience (roughly 0.8 years of full-time work) ³.

Do I need a license in Mississippi? Yes. Mississippi has licensing or registration requirements for estheticians. The MS Board of Cosmetology oversees licensing ³. See the licensing section below for details.

What do estheticians earn in Mississippi? The median annual wage for estheticians in Mississippi is $41,160 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $20,960 and experienced professionals can earn $140,920 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: MS Board of Cosmetology
Median wage (Mississippi): $41,160 per year ¹
Exam requirement: State exam required

Esthetician License Requirements in Mississippi

The MS Board of Cosmetology oversees esthetician licensing in Mississippi ³.

License Types

License	Requirements
Esthetician	Practitioner means a licensed person who is practicing one of the professions regulated by the Mississippi State Board of Cosmetology, as defined in Section 73-7-2 of the Mississippi Code of 1972 as a…
Esthetics Instructor	Practitioner means a licensed person who is practicing one of the professions regulated by the Mississippi State Board of Cosmetology, as defined in Section 73-7-2 of the Mississippi Code of 1972 as a…

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 Mississippi

Skincare Specialists Wages by Metro Area in Mississippi

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025 OES data), skincare specialists wages in Mississippi vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Jackson	180	$43,880	$74,700	$31,200	$140,920
Memphis	180	$37,010	$42,080	$20,960	$79,860
Gulfport-Biloxi	60	$38,480	$51,230	$18,860	$113,750

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 Mississippi

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Jackson	180	$43,880
Gulfport-Biloxi	60	$38,480

Explore esthetician programs in Jackson and Gulfport.

Explore More Trades in Mississippi

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for estheticians in Mississippi? Mississippi currently employs approximately 320 estheticians ¹. Nationally, esthetician employment is projected to grow 6.7% from 2024 to 2034 ².

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

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

How much do estheticians earn in Mississippi compared to the national average? The median annual wage for estheticians in Mississippi is $41,160, which is $400 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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
MS Board of Cosmetology - Licensing Information: https://www.msbc.ms.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)