"How long does esthetician in New York 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 New York?"

"Yes. New York requires state-level licensing or registration for estheticians, administered by the NYS Department of State - One Commerce Plaza. See the licensing section above for credential types and current requirements."

"What apprenticeships are available for estheticians in New York?"

"In New York, registered apprenticeships are administered through the New York Office of Apprenticeship, 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 New York

Q: "How much do estheticians earn in New York?"

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), estheticians in New York earned a median annual wage of approximately $42,910. Employment concentration in New York is roughly 0.77 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 New York?"

"New York currently employs approximately 3,510 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

New York skincare specialists earn a median annual wage of $42,910 ($20.63/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 3,510 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -5.3% below the national median of $45,330 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $42,910 ($20.63/hr)
25th percentile: $36,780 per year
75th percentile: $63,280 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $77,550 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $33,510 per year
Workers employed in New York: 3,510
Versus national median: -5.3% below the U.S. median of $45,330
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.77 - this occupation is less concentrated in New York than the national average

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

New York employs approximately 3,510 estheticians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $42,910 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 New York, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About How to Become an Esthetician in New York

How to become an esthetician in New York? New York requires credentials such as Cosmetologist, Natural Hairstylist, Esthetician, Nail Specialist, Waxing. The licensing authority is the NYS Department of State - One Commerce Plaza 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 New York? Yes. New York has licensing or registration requirements for estheticians. The NYS Department of State - One Commerce Plaza oversees licensing ³. See the licensing section below for details.

What do estheticians earn in New York? The median annual wage for estheticians in New York is $42,910 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $33,510 and experienced professionals can earn $77,550 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: NYS Department of State - One Commerce Plaza
Median wage (New York): $42,910 per year ¹

Esthetician License Requirements in New York

The NYS Department of State - One Commerce Plaza oversees esthetician licensing in New York ³.

License Types

License	Requirements
Cosmetologist, Natural Hairstylist, Esthetician, Nail Specialist, Waxing	The practice of “cosmetology” means providing service to the hair, head, face, neck or scalp of a human being, including but not limited to shaving, trimming, and cutting the hair or beard either by h…

License information sourced from CareerOneStop ⁴.

Esthetician Wages by Metro Area in New York

Skincare Specialists Wages by Metro Area in New York

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
New York-Newark-Jersey City	4,600	$46,490	$52,670	$35,290	$77,550
Buffalo-Cheektowaga	300	$34,770	$42,070	$32,240	$67,020
Rochester	160	$34,960	$43,700	$32,240	$72,950
Albany-Schenectady-Troy	150	$38,370	$48,340	$32,750	$80,010
Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh	70	$51,540	$55,610	$34,050	$85,740
Syracuse	40	$43,250	$47,390	$35,090	$64,980

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 New York

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
New York-Newark-Jersey City	4,600	$46,490
Buffalo-Cheektowaga	300	$34,770
Rochester	160	$34,960
Albany-Schenectady-Troy	150	$38,370
Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh	70	$51,540

Explore esthetician programs in New York, Buffalo, and Rochester.

Explore More Trades in New York

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for estheticians in New York? New York currently employs approximately 3,510 estheticians ¹. Nationally, esthetician employment is projected to grow 6.7% from 2024 to 2034 ².

Can I work as an esthetician in New York with an out-of-state license? Contact the NYS Department of State - One Commerce Plaza for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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

How much do estheticians earn in New York compared to the national average? The median annual wage for estheticians in New York is $42,910, which is $1,350 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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
NYS Department of State - One Commerce Plaza - Licensing Information: https://www.dos.ny.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)