Estheticians work hard to make people look their best while giving them the confidence to face the world.
For most estheticians,’ the field is fun and rewarding, but that doesn’t mean it’s the correct choice for all career-seekers.
Starting an esthetician business could be a great option, or working for an established business may be your best choice.
As a licensed esthetician, you have many different job types under the umbrella, so if you don’t like one area of the industry, it’s easy to shift to another that better suits your career goals.
If you’re unsure whether being an esthetician is the right choice, it’s important to understand the pros and cons.
Keep reading to learn more!
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Pros of Being an Esthetician
There are many benefits to being an esthetician, including the following:
One: Busy Days
Estheticians have busy days going from one client to the next with only minor breaks in between.
For many, this type of activity is a major benefit since they remain active most of the day.
Working as an esthetician requires you to use your hands and be on your feet constantly, thus allowing for direct engagement with clients.
Some enjoy this aspect of the job and are fully engaged with their customers and work for the entire workday.
Two: Emotional Satisfaction
One amazing and often overlooked benefit of being an esthetician is the emotional satisfaction of helping clients look their best.
Many leave the salon or sp with a new sense of confidence by looking younger with a fresh skin glow.
Since you are the person who helped them look and feel better, being an esthetician is a great return on emotional investment.
Three: Expert Knowledge
Estheticians boast expert skincare knowledge, so they are regularly consulted by friends and family about different products and routines.
Many professionals take pride in being a direct source of knowledge and being able to assist them with the best and most honest advice.
Estheticians also often get free or discounted products to share with their friends and family.
Four: High Demand
Per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, esthetician job growth is expected to increase by 17 percent by 2013.
This means adding 13,400 jobs within the 2020 decade.
These numbers are staggering compared to other occupations.
Therefore, new estheticians can take solace in the fact that they have robust job security.
Five: Range of Employment Options
Regardless of if you want to work at a local spa managing skin treatments, work at a dermatologist’s office, or become a medical esthetician, many employment options are available within this field.
This is a major benefit because those who do not like one position can easily transition into another without extra education or training.
Six: Short Educational Period
Unlike many other professions, estheticians must complete beauty school which only takes between four and six months with a full-time curriculum.
This is signifaicnatly shorter than the time to earn a bachelor’s or associate degree.
By finishing beauty school faster, estheticiains are able to begin working quickly and building their clientele while earning a salary.
A faster entrance into the workforce also allows estheticians to gain the necessary skills faster and become more effective.
Seven: Strong Independence
Many estheticians are independent workers who own a salon or have their own clients.
Some prefer the independence this career offers by allowing scheduling flexibility and regular vacations.
The independent nature of this career also allows estheticians to set a price and choose who they work with.
Those who work for a salon can also have private clients outside of their daily jobs to earn more income.
This option offers a mix of working for yourself while having the stability of an established business.
Eight: Work with a Diversity of People
Estheticians collaborate with different clients and customers daily.
For many, the chance to work with a diversity of individuals and help them look their best is a tremendous benefit of this career choice.
Estheticians make others feel better about themselves by improving their appearance.
This makes the position a rewarding work experience since they are improving another person’s life through their skills, education, and experience.
At the same time, estheticians are meeting clients from all walks of life.
Cons of Being an Esthetician
With any job, there are also downsides you must be aware of before entering the field, including the following:
One: Challenging to Build Up Clients
If you’re planning to work as an independent esthetician or at an employer, you are responsible for finding clients and building a list.
Unfortunately, this isn’t an easy situation, and it will take a great deal of time and patience to achieve.
Working at an established business helps find clients more than as an independent entrepreneur, but you must also follow their rules and requirements.
Working as an esthetician isn’t just about proper skincare treatments; it’s also heavily marketing, customer service, and outreach, and some advertising if you can afford it.
The best advice experts provide is to work for an established company full-time to gain experience and work part-time independently to gain a robust client list while earning extra money.
Two: Deal with Difficult Clients
Although working with a diverse group of clients can be a major benefit, there are often difficult clients that must also be managed.
It simply takes a single unsatisfied or difficult client to create a headache for your skincare company.
Estheticians must have excellent communication skills, be active listeners, and boast strong problem-solving skills to calm an irate customer.
Many estheticians also hold business insurance to protect their professional reputation from a single angry customer.
Three: Economy Dependent
The beauty field is highly economic dependent because it’s not a necessity.
When the economy falls on hard times, clients are less likely to spend money on skin and body treatments to put food on the table.
This can be a major drawback for estheticians, so it’s best to always be financially prepared for the work-case scenario.
Four: Low Starting Salary
The median starting salary for an esthetician is around $42,000 annually.
This figure is based on various factors like experience level and location, so it’s possible to make more, but this is a typical salary.
Many salons start entry-level estheticians at a lower salary until they gain experience.
Also, those planning to work independently must be prepared to charge lower rates to earn clients until their credibility is proven.
It’s best to focus on creating experience and try to work with clients outside of a full-time position.
Five: Must Maintain a Smile
Since you will be in the service business, you must put a smile on your face regardless of how difficult the workday was or any personal issues you are experiencing.
Not having a smile on your face can be detrimental to repeat clients and your overall business.
This can be incredibly difficult for those who wear their emotions on their face.
Every person has a bad day, so those days can be difficult to appear cheerful and happy.
Six: Non-Traditional Schedule
Those who work in spas or salons must follow the standard business hours of the establishment meaning working weekends and evening is common.
As the new hire gains experience, the scheduling flexibility could improve.
While those working independently can somewhat choose their hours, they are also at the mercy of their client’s schedule to be flexible and make money.
Seven: Physically Demanding
Being active and on your feet all day is beneficial for some, but not all.
Some view the physical demand as a drawback since estheticians are constantly servicing clients with little time for breaks to rest.
To keep up with the physical demands of the job, it’s important to wear comfortable shoes and attempt fitness outside of work.
Eight: Poor Career Advancement
One of the biggest downsides is there are few career advancement opportunities in this field.
Those working as estheticians either must develop new skills to transfer to another field with advancement or remain in this specialty their entire career.
For instance, an esthetician may experience working at a salon or spa and advance into a management position.
Another option is to open a business and lead a team of professionals.
16 Pros and Cons of Working an an Esthetician – Summary Table
| Pros of Being an Esthetician | Cons of Being an Esthetician |
|---|---|
| Busy Days | Challenging to Build Up Clients |
| Emotional Satisfaction | Deal with Difficult Clients |
| Expert Knowledge | Economy Dependent |
| High Demand | Low Starting Salary |
| Range of Employment Options | Must Maintain a Smile |
| Short Educational Period | Non-Traditional Schedule |
| Strong Independence | Physically Demanding |
| Work with a Diversity of People | Poor Career Advancement |
Should You Be an Esthetician?
Becoming an esthetician is a personal choice based on which career path you want to take.
On the one hand, this field is in high demand with many employment options, a short training period, and the opportunities to work with some amazing clients.
Those who enjoy being around people regularly will find this career fulfilling and exciting to meet various individuals from different backgrounds.
On the other hand, the starting pay is lower than most professions, you must find a regular stream of clients, you’re on your feet all day, may work with difficult clients, and there is little room for advancement.
Those who are looking for a robust career where they can move up in the company and make more money will have trouble in this field.
