How to Become An Esthetician in Washington
Washington employs approximately 2,200 estheticians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $79,320 1. The state’s concentration of esthetician jobs is 1.32x 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 Washington, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.
Quick Answers About How to Become an Esthetician in Washington
How to become an esthetician in Washington? Washington requires credentials such as Esthetician. The licensing authority is the Department of Licensing 3. You also need to complete an approved training program or apprenticeship.
How long does it take? The primary license requires approximately 1,600 hours of experience (roughly 0.8 years of full-time work) 3.
Do I need a license in Washington? Yes. Washington has licensing or registration requirements for estheticians. The Department of Licensing oversees licensing 3. See the licensing section below for details.
What do estheticians earn in Washington? The median annual wage for estheticians in Washington is $79,320 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $48,620 and experienced professionals can earn $119,040 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 Licensing
- Median wage (Washington): $79,320 per year 1
- Exam requirement: Third-party exam required
Esthetician License Requirements in Washington
The Department of Licensing oversees esthetician licensing in Washington 3.
License Types
| License | Requirements |
|---|---|
| Esthetician | Individuals must graduate from licensed and approved costetology school of at least 1,600 hours or successfully complete a state-approved apprenticeship training program of at least 2,000 hours in cos… |
Additional Requirements
- Background check: No criminal record prohibitions
- Exam: Third-party exam required
- Experience: Work experience required
License information sourced from CareerOneStop 4.
Esthetician Wages by Metro Area in Washington
Skincare Specialists Wages by Metro Area in Washington
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), skincare specialists wages in Washington vary by metro area.
| Metro Area | Employment | Median Annual Wage | Avg. Annual Wage | Entry Level (10th pctile) |
Experienced (90th pctile) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue | 1,330 | $80,510 | $86,140 | $51,800 | $139,160 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria | 1,300 | $46,620 | $57,460 | $36,940 | $107,050 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro | 800 | $57,930 | $65,870 | $38,420 | $106,190 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley | 160 | $91,000 | $90,650 | $47,800 | $129,190 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater | 90 | $81,490 | $101,000 | $49,120 | $180,960 |
| Bellingham | 80 | $64,830 | $72,510 | $48,280 | $128,910 |
| Kennewick-Richland | 80 | $76,520 | $74,640 | $48,550 | $99,970 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard | 40 | $75,970 | $77,000 | $49,670 | $112,340 |
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 Washington
The metropolitan areas listed below report the highest esthetician employment within Washington according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025).
| Metro Area | Employment | Median Annual Wage |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue | 1,330 | $80,510 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley | 160 | $91,000 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater | 90 | $81,490 |
| Bellingham | 80 | $64,830 |
| Kennewick-Richland | 80 | $76,520 |
Explore esthetician programs in Seattle, Spokane, and Olympia.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the job outlook for estheticians in Washington? Washington currently employs approximately 2,200 estheticians 1. Nationally, esthetician employment is projected to grow 6.7% from 2024 to 2034 2.
Can I work as an esthetician in Washington with an out-of-state license? Contact the Department of Licensing for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.
What training programs are available in Washington? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for accredited programs in Washington.
How much do estheticians earn in Washington compared to the national average? The median annual wage for estheticians in Washington is $79,320, which is $37,760 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
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Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
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Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎
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Department of Licensing - Licensing Information: https://dol.wa.gov/about/contact-us/business-and-professional-licensing-contact-information ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
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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) |