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How to hire a lead esthetician

Lead esthetician hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring lead estheticians in the United States:

  • In the United States, the median cost per hire a lead esthetician is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • Human Resources use 15% of their expenses on recruitment on average.
  • On average, it takes around 12 weeks for a new lead esthetician to become settled and show total productivity levels at work.

How to hire a lead esthetician, step by step

To hire a lead esthetician, you should create an ideal candidate profile, determine a budget, and post and promote your job. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to hire a lead esthetician:

Here's a step-by-step lead esthetician hiring guide:

  • Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
  • Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
  • Step 3: Make a budget
  • Step 4: Write a lead esthetician job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new lead esthetician
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    First, determine the employments status of the lead esthetician you need to hire. Certain lead esthetician roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    A lead esthetician's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, lead estheticians from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

    This list shows salaries for various types of lead estheticians.

    Type of Lead EstheticianDescriptionHourly rate
    Lead EstheticianSkincare specialists cleanse and beautify the face and body to enhance a person’s appearance. $11-28
    Skin TherapistA skin therapist is a licensed professional who specializes in recommending and implementing treatments to improve skin health. Their responsibilities revolve around meeting with clients to identify their needs and skin conditions, conduct assessments and evaluations, suggest skincare products, and perform treatments such as hair removal, facial cleansing, and other techniques, ensuring client satisfaction... Show more$9-20
    Esthetician SpaA spa esthetician is someone who specializes in skin esthetics. As a spa esthetician, you will perform various cosmetic skin treatments and procedures such as body treatments and facials... Show more$12-29
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Product Knowledge
    • Spa Services
    • Spa Management
    • Product Inventory
    • Repeat Business
    • Product Line
    • Client Education
    • Treatment Rooms
    • Chemical Peels
    • Cleanliness
    • Customer Service
    • Skin Care Products
    • Body Treatments
    • Product Sales
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Schedule effectively to manage payroll costs and ensure staff productivity are attained.
    • Manage the aesthetics department and perform consultations with patients regarding aesthetic and facial surgery procedures.
    • Perform advanced waxing techniques such as Brazilian bikini waxing and brow design.
    • Preform skincare treatments with the highest quality in cleanliness and attention to detail.
    • Participate in the folding/storage of linens as well as general cleanliness of salon.
    • Offer lash extensions, semi permanent mascara, brow and eyelash tinting services.
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your lead esthetician job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A lead esthetician can vary based on:

    • Location. For example, lead estheticians' average salary in indiana is 58% less than in washington.
    • Seniority. Entry-level lead estheticians 62% less than senior-level lead estheticians.
    • Certifications. A lead esthetician with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
    • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a lead esthetician's salary.

    Average lead esthetician salary

    $37,692yearly

    $18.12 hourly rate

    Entry-level lead esthetician salary
    $23,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 11, 2025
  4. Writing a lead esthetician job description

    A job description for a lead esthetician role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a lead esthetician job description:

    Lead esthetician job description example

    Job DescriptionHand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa at Polaris is looking for a Lead Esthetician to take our facial and hair removal program to new heights. We're looking for a dynamic leader who can drive product sales and service upgrades while motivating our estheticians to continue their education through advanced certifications. Hand & Stone provides high quality, results-driven facial services delivered in a beautiful environment. Our menu includes the latest advancements in skin care, including Dermalinfusion, LED Skin Phototherapy, NuFACE microcurrent, microdermabrasion and chemical peels, and specialized facials designed to treat specific conditions.

    Our estheticians have the opportunity to build treatment plans for their clients that may incorporate one or more of these progressive treatment options. Professionals have the ability to build repeat business quickly with our membership model. Our location is the busiest Hand & Stone in central Ohio. Located adjacent to the Polaris Fashion Place Mall, we attract dozens of new clients weekly, providing an excellent opportunity to build your own client base and benefit from the sales of other estheticians.

    Our estheticians are a critical link in creating an outstanding customer experience. Your expertise in skin care and product knowledge will motivate your estheticians advance their career knowledge, enhancing your income and theirs. We book your appointments and provide all supplies so you can focus on the client. Education is a huge focus and is offered on an ongoing basis through Education on Demand and in-person training.

    COMPANY OVERVIEW
    Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa is a national franchise that specializes in massage, skin care, and hair removal services. With more than 450 locations nationwide, the Hand & Stone brand is a leader in the membership-based spa service industry.

    As a Hand & Stone Lead Esthetician, your responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

    • Overseeing and managing the Esthetics Department.
    • Achieving all Esthetics and Retail Sales Goals as outlined by Spa Management.
    • Coordinating the marketing of skin care promotional services and products.
    • Training, monitoring and coaching performance of Estheticians and Sales Associates on Esthetics business and sales specifics.
    • Monitoring professional and retail product inventory and supply usage.
    • Providing excellent service to members and guests by performing top-level services.
    • Working 40 hours weekly at the spa, including one weekend day and an evening shift.
    • Participating in training programs, conferences and other opportunities for professional growth.
    • Assisting in planning events.
    • Meet monthly with the Spa Manager and/or Owner.
    • Meeting biweekly with the Esthetics staff.
    • Maintaining communications with the esthetics team to review prior month’s performance highlights and action plan for the month ahead.
    • Performing quarterly Licensed Esthetician evaluations
    Qualifications:

    • Strong retail and sales upgrade record.
    • Experienced Ohio-licensed esthetician with experience performing facials, microdermabrasion, peels, waxing and other skin care services.
    • Must carry liability insurance.
    • Knowledge and understanding of all spa services and product lines as they relate to Estheticians.
    • Previous training experience preferred.
    Company Benefits:

    • One free monthly massage or facial service
    • Employee medical and dental insurance
    • Commission-based pay with incentives for personal and team performance
    • Vacation and sick pay
    • Ongoing training
    • Reimbursement for professional liability insurance

    I acknowledge that I am applying for employment with an independently owned and operated Hand and Stone franchisee, a separate company and employer from Hand and Stone Franchise Corp. and any of its affiliates or subsidiaries. I understand that each independent franchisee is solely responsible for all decisions relating to employees including and without limitation hiring and termination, benefits, compensation, day to day activities, and terms or conditions of employment. Hand and Stone Franchise Corp. does not accept, review or store my application. Any questions about my application or the hiring process must be directed to the locally owned and operated Hand and Stone franchisee.

  5. Post your job

    To find lead estheticians for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

    • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
    • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any lead estheticians they would recommend.
    • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level lead estheticians with the right educational background.
    • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your lead esthetician job on Zippia to find and recruit lead esthetician candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    Recruiting lead estheticians requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

    It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

    The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

  7. Send a job offer and onboard your new lead esthetician

    Once you have selected a candidate for the lead esthetician position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

    You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

    Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new lead esthetician. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

  8. Go through the hiring process checklist

    • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
    • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
    • Define job responsibilities and requirements
    • Establish budget and timeline
    • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
    • Write job description
    • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
    • Promote the job internally
    • Process applications through applicant tracking system
    • Review resumes and cover letters
    • Shortlist candidates for screening
    • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
    • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
    • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
    • Conduct background checks on top candidates
    • Check references of top candidates
    • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
    • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
    • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
    • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
    • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
    • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
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How much does it cost to hire a lead esthetician?

There are different types of costs for hiring lead estheticians. One-time cost per hire for the recruitment process. Ongoing costs include employee salary, training, onboarding, benefits, insurance, and equipment. It is essential to consider all of these costs when evaluating hiring a new lead esthetician employee.

Lead estheticians earn a median yearly salary is $37,692 a year in the US. However, if you're looking to find lead estheticians for hire on a contract or per-project basis, hourly rates typically range between $11 and $28.

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