Career comparison
Cosmetologist vs. Esthetician
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Estheticians earn more at the median ($45,330 vs. $35,790), while estheticians usually get to work faster (4–9 months of training). Cosmetologists cut, color and style hair and help clients look and feel their best. Estheticians care for clients’ skin with facials, treatments and expert advice.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Cosmetologist | Esthetician | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $35,790 ($17.21/hr) | $45,330 ($21.79/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $27,040 – $71,190 | $29,580 – $82,050 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +7.7% (much faster than average) | +8.8% (much faster than average) |
| Openings per year | 73,400 | 14,200 |
| Typical entry education | Postsecondary nondegree award | Postsecondary nondegree award |
| Training time | 9–18 months | 4–9 months |
| Key credential | State cosmetology license | State esthetician license |
| Work setting | Cosmetologists work in salons, spas, barbershops and resorts, standing for long periods and working with chemicals.. | Estheticians work in spas, salons, medical spas and dermatology offices, in calm treatment rooms.. |
What each job does
Cosmetologist
- Consult with clients on styles and services
- Cut, color and style hair
- Perform chemical services such as perms and relaxers
- Recommend and sell hair care products
- Sanitize tools and stations
Esthetician
- Analyze clients’ skin
- Perform facials and treatments
- Exfoliate and apply masks
- Remove hair by waxing
- Recommend products and routines
How they’re similar
Both careers involve creative work, working with people, hands-on work, and indoor work. Both are part of the beauty, fitness & personal care field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose cosmetologist if…
- I love hair and fashion
- I enjoy talking with people
- I’m creative
Choose esthetician if…
- I love skincare
- I’m gentle and detail-oriented
- I enjoy one-on-one client work
Still torn? Take the Cosmetologist fit quiz and the Esthetician fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, cosmetologist or esthetician?
Estheticians earn more at the median: $45,330 versus $35,790 for cosmetologists, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Estheticians typically train faster (4–9 months) than cosmetologists (9–18 months).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects estheticians to grow +8.8% from 2025–35, compared with +7.7% for cosmetologists.