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Esthetician salary in California

Updated October 30, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Published by Humblebee.

$38,770median pay per year in California, or $18.64 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $34,650lowest 10% earn less
  2. $36,29025th percentile
  3. $38,770median
  4. $54,11075th percentile
  5. $77,160top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[2]US median for this job, $45,330[3]

The median wage for estheticians in California was $38,770 a year in May 2025[1]. That was $6,560 lower than the US median[6].

Jobs in CA
11,360[4]
Rank by median pay
39 of 49[5]
Compared with US median
−14.5%[6]

How much do estheticians make in California?

Half of estheticians in California earned more than $38,770 a year, and half earned less[1]. That works out to $18.64 an hour[1]. The average was higher, at $49,910 a year[7].

Across the US, the median for estheticians was $45,330[3]. California came in $6,560 (14.5%) lower[6]. The state ranked 39th out of 48 states and DC with a published median[5]. Compared with all jobs in California, the median for estheticians was $19,470 lower than the $58,240 all-jobs median[8][9].

The lowest-paid 10% of estheticians in California earned less than $34,650[2]. The highest-paid 10% earned more than $77,160[2]. By metro area, San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont had the highest median, at $52,350[10]. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim was the metro with the largest job count, and its median was $37,560[11].

OEWS counts wage and salary workers, part time and full time. It leaves out the self-employed and owners and partners in unincorporated firms. It also leaves out bonuses and the cost of benefits such as health insurance[12].

California vs US pay

Pay for estheticians in California next to the national figures[1][3].

CAUS
Median per year$38,770[1]$45,330[3]
Median per hour$18.64[1]$21.79[3]
Lowest 10% earn less than$34,650[2]$29,580[13]
Top 10% earn more than$77,160[2]$82,050[13]
Jobs11,360[4]72,890[3]

Pay by metro area in California

Metro areas in California with the most jobs for estheticians, and the median pay in each[11].

Metro areaMedian per yearJobs
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA[11]$37,5604,500
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$52,3501,920
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$37,6401,130
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA$44,2301,000
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$38,180550
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$43,420500
Fresno, CA$40,360220
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA$36,680190

Pay in nearby states

Median pay for estheticians in the states that border California, highest first[14].

StateMedian per yearJobs
Oregon[14]$52,1101,070
Arizona$50,4701,710
Nevada$38,6601,540

Median pay for estheticians in every state

Job outlook and training

Across the US, jobs for estheticians are projected to grow 8.8% from 2025 to 2035[15]. BLS does not publish this projection by state. The typical education for entry is: postsecondary nondegree award[16].

How to become one: steps, training and duties

Frequently asked questions

How much does an esthetician make in California?
The median wage for estheticians in California was $38,770 a year in May 2025[1]. The average was $49,910[7].
How much does an esthetician make an hour in California?
The median hourly wage was $18.64[1]. At the 10th percentile the hourly wage was $16.66, and at the 90th it was $37.10[17].
Which city in California pays estheticians the most?
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont had the highest median annual wage of the metro areas with a published figure, at $52,350[10].
Is California a good state for estheticians?
California ranked 39th out of 48 states and DC for median annual pay for estheticians[5]. Its median was 14.5% lower than the US median[6].
What do you need to become an esthetician in California?
This is a US figure, not a California one. Across the US, the typical entry education is a postsecondary nondegree award, with no related work experience or on-the-job training typically needed[16].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Skincare Specialists in California was $38,770 per year and $18.64 per hour. Half of these workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Skincare Specialists in California: 10th percentile $34,650, 25th percentile $36,290, 75th percentile $54,110, 90th percentile $77,160. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less, the 90th means 10% earned more. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Skincare Specialists in the US as a whole was $45,330 per year and $21.79 per hour, with about 72,890 jobs nationwide. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 11,360 people worked as Skincare Specialists in California (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: California had the 39th highest median annual wage for Skincare Specialists out of the 48 states and DC with a published median. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Skincare Specialists in California ($38,770) was $6,560 (14.5%) lower than the US median ($45,330). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Skincare Specialists in California was $49,910 per year and $24.00 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Skincare Specialists in California was $19,470 lower than the median for all occupations in the state ($58,240). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in California was $58,240. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025: of the 19 metro areas in or partly in California with a published median for Skincare Specialists, San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA had the highest median annual wage, $52,350. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. Metro areas with the most jobs in this occupation, with median annual wage, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Skincare Specialists in the US: 10th percentile $29,580, 25th percentile $36,040, 75th percentile $59,700, 90th percentile $82,050. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, median annual wage for Skincare Specialists in states that border California (highest first): Oregon $52,110; Arizona $50,470; Nevada $38,660. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state): employment of Skincare Specialists is projected to grow 8.8% nationwide from 2025 to 2035, with about 14,200 openings a year on average. All occupations are projected to grow 3.5%. BLS Employment Projections
  16. BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state), typical path into Skincare Specialists: education needed for entry: Postsecondary nondegree award; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
  17. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Skincare Specialists in California: 10th percentile $16.66, 25th percentile $17.45, 75th percentile $26.02, 90th percentile $37.10. BLS OEWS, May 2025

State figures cover only California. Job outlook and entry requirements are national (US) figures: BLS does not publish them by state in our sources. Figures labelled “CareerFacts calculation” are simple differences between the BLS numbers shown.