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Skin therapist vs esthetician spa

The differences between skin therapists and esthetician spas can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an esthetician spa has an average salary of $39,390, which is higher than the $29,682 average annual salary of a skin therapist.

The top three skills for a skin therapist include booking, product knowledge and skin care products. The most important skills for an esthetician spa are PCA, product sales, and cleanliness.

Skin therapist vs esthetician spa overview

Skin TherapistEsthetician Spa
Yearly salary$29,682$39,390
Hourly rate$14.27$18.94
Growth rate17%17%
Number of jobs17,6835,113
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 32%Bachelor's Degree, 40%
Average age3535
Years of experience--

What does a skin therapist do?

A 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. There are also instances where they may refer clients to dermatologists and other specialists. Moreover, a skin therapist must establish rapport with clients to have a strong customer base.

What does an esthetician spa do?

A 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. Aside from these, you may perform other procedures including microdermabrasion, superficial chemical peels, and waxing. Other duties that you may perform include educating clients about proper skincare, preparing esthetics rooms for procedures, and selling skincare products. In addition, you may also perform housekeeping duties as requested, and assist other staff members.

Skin therapist vs esthetician spa salary

Skin therapists and esthetician spas have different pay scales, as shown below.

Skin TherapistEsthetician Spa
Average salary$29,682$39,390
Salary rangeBetween $20,000 And $42,000Between $25,000 And $61,000
Highest paying City--
Highest paying state--
Best paying company--
Best paying industry--

Differences between skin therapist and esthetician spa education

There are a few differences between a skin therapist and an esthetician spa in terms of educational background:

Skin TherapistEsthetician Spa
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 32%Bachelor's Degree, 40%
Most common majorCosmetologyBusiness
Most common college--

Skin therapist vs esthetician spa demographics

Here are the differences between skin therapists' and esthetician spas' demographics:

Skin TherapistEsthetician Spa
Average age3535
Gender ratioMale, 7.4% Female, 92.6%Male, 7.5% Female, 92.5%
Race ratioBlack 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, 5.1% Unknown, 6.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.3% Asian, 8.7% White, 63.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between skin therapist and esthetician spa duties and responsibilities

Skin therapist example responsibilities.

  • Provide direct assistance to patients in residential and intensive outpatient eating disorder programs.
  • Evaluate skin condition, budget, nutrition, possible allergies, and concerns to craft ideal plan for each customer.
  • Complete client record forms for each client including information such as treatments, procedures used, particular problems and or allergies.
  • Promote for companies that include Chanel, Donna Karan, Vera Wang, and Calvin Klein.

Esthetician spa example responsibilities.

  • Manage the aesthetics department and perform consultations with patients regarding aesthetic and facial surgery procedures.
  • Deliver informative education to patients regarding multiple skincare product lines and treatments/procedures offer within the medical practice.
  • Establish and expand dermalogica professional skin treatments and retail.

Skin therapist vs esthetician spa skills

Common skin therapist skills
  • Booking, 38%
  • Product Knowledge, 29%
  • Skin Care Products, 6%
  • Customer Service, 6%
  • Facial Treatments, 6%
  • Hair Removal, 2%
Common esthetician spa skills
  • PCA, 26%
  • Product Sales, 16%
  • Cleanliness, 12%
  • Product Knowledge, 9%
  • Body Treatments, 8%
  • Treatment Rooms, 6%

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