Medical Esthetician Salary in the United States

How much does a Medical Esthetician make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Medical Esthetician in the United States is $59,938 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $29.

However, a Medical Esthetician's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $72,583
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $49,180 to $66,557
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $39,385

Key Factors That Influence Medical Esthetician Salaries

A Medical Esthetician's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Medical Esthetician Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Medical Esthetician's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $55,603
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $56,406
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $57,208
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $58,332
  • Expert (over 8 years): $60,432
Levels Salary
Entry Level Medical Esthetician$55,603
Intermediate Level Medical Esthetician$56,406
Senior Level Medical Esthetician$57,208
Specialist Level Medical Esthetician$58,332
Expert Level Medical Esthetician$60,432

Top Paying Cities for Medical Esthetician

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $75,600
  • San Francisco: $74,772
  • Oakland: $73,196

What Skills Can Increase a Medical Esthetician's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 11.23% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
  • Credit Card (Mentioned in 2.19% Job Postings): A credit card is a type of credit facility, provided by banks that allow customers to borrow funds within a pre-approved credit limit.
  • Point of Sale (Mentioned in 0.78% Job Postings): Accepting payments from customers for goods and services either in person or online.
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 11.23%
Credit Card 2.19%
Point of Sale 0.78%

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Medical Esthetician's salary.

  • Leadership: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
  • Empathy: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • Selling Skills: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Leadership $66,531
11%
Empathy $64,134
7%
Selling Skills $64,134
7%

Medical Esthetician Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Medical Esthetician salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $65,299. While startup companies pay approximate $55,500.

Medical Esthetician Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $55,500
Growth Stage 51~500 $58,617
Established 501~5000 $63,116
Enterprise 5000+ $65,299

Medical Esthetician Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Medical Esthetician's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on August 01, 2026
$49,180
Average $59,938/year
$66,557
$4,098
Average $4,995/month
$5,546
$946
Average $1,153/week
$1,280
$24
Average $29/hour
$32
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $66,557 $5,546 $1,280 $32
Average $59,938 $4,995 $1,153 $29
25th Percentile $49,180 $4,098 $946 $24

Medical Esthetician Salary Growth & Career Path

For a Medical Esthetician, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Fitness Instructor I role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $41,441 - a projected growth of -31% over your current level.

Most common benefits for Medical Esthetician

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Medical Esthetician

Here are companies hiring for Medical Esthetician and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Medical Esthetician

1. Where can a Medical Esthetician earn the most?

A Medical Esthetician's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Medical Esthetician earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Medical Esthetician is $75,600.

2. What is the highest pay for Medical Esthetician?

The highest pay for Medical Esthetician is $72,583.

3. What is the lowest pay for Medical Esthetician?

The lowest pay for Medical Esthetician is $39,385.

4. What are the responsibilities of Medical Esthetician?

Delivers skin care treatments and provides consultations with makeup applications and purchases. Performs procedures such as skin evaluation, facial massages, and hair removal. Supports dermatologists and plastic surgeons on patients preoperative and postoperative exams. May require an associate degree. Typically reports to a supervisor. Requires a state license to practice. Years of experience may be unspecified. Certification and/or licensing in the position's specialty is the main requirement.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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