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The differences between licensed estheticians and licensed cosmetologists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a licensed esthetician has an average salary of $40,911, which is higher than the $36,637 average annual salary of a licensed cosmetologist.
The top three skills for a licensed esthetician include customer service, product knowledge and spa services. The most important skills for a licensed cosmetologist are retail sales, customer service, and product sales.
| Licensed Esthetician | Licensed Cosmetologist | |
| Yearly salary | $40,911 | $36,637 |
| Hourly rate | $19.67 | $17.61 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 11% |
| Number of jobs | 13,427 | 52,740 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 37% | Associate Degree, 29% |
| Average age | 35 | 40 |
| Years of experience | - | 2 |
Licensed Estheticians are responsible for cleaning and maintaining a client's skin. They normally provide services such as facials, pore cleansing, exfoliating, chemical peels, waxing, aromatherapy, and body wraps at a salon or spa. They are also trained to identify skin problems and can advise on a proper skin cleansing regimen. Estheticians can use their license to teach clients how to make up, such as learning proper shading to create the best skin tones and accentuating bone structure. Specialized services include eyebrow tinting and sculpting. A medical esthetician works in dermatology or plastic surgery, assisting with procedures and helping with its recovery process.
A Licensed Cosmetologist provides various services, such as hairstyling, skincare, nail treatments, and makeup. They are responsible for complying with health and safety standards.
Licensed estheticians and licensed cosmetologists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Licensed Esthetician | Licensed Cosmetologist | |
| Average salary | $40,911 | $36,637 |
| Salary range | Between $27,000 And $61,000 | Between $24,000 And $53,000 |
| Highest paying City | Puyallup, WA | Montclair, NJ |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Washington |
| Best paying company | Equinox | The Lash Lounge |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Education |
There are a few differences between a licensed esthetician and a licensed cosmetologist in terms of educational background:
| Licensed Esthetician | Licensed Cosmetologist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 37% | Associate Degree, 29% |
| Most common major | Business | Cosmetology |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between licensed estheticians' and licensed cosmetologists' demographics:
| Licensed Esthetician | Licensed Cosmetologist | |
| Average age | 35 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 4.5% Female, 95.5% | Male, 7.9% Female, 92.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 5.1% Unknown, 6.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.3% Asian, 8.7% White, 63.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 12.6% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 14.8% Asian, 7.9% White, 59.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 12% |