Career comparison
Esthetician vs. Massage Therapist
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Massage therapists earn more at the median ($58,450 vs. $45,330), while estheticians usually get to work faster (4–9 months of training). Estheticians care for clients’ skin with facials, treatments and expert advice. Massage therapists relieve pain and stress with therapeutic massage.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Esthetician | Massage Therapist | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $45,330 ($21.79/hr) | $58,450 ($28.10/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $29,580 – $82,050 | $33,640 – $100,200 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +8.8% (much faster than average) | +15.3% (much faster than average) |
| Openings per year | 14,200 | 20,400 |
| Typical entry education | Postsecondary nondegree award | Postsecondary nondegree award |
| Training time | 4–9 months | 6–12 months |
| Key credential | State esthetician license | State massage therapy license |
| Work setting | Estheticians work in spas, salons, medical spas and dermatology offices, in calm treatment rooms.. | Massage therapists work in spas, clinics, gyms, offices and clients’ homes, in calm treatment rooms. |
What each job does
Esthetician
- Analyze clients’ skin
- Perform facials and treatments
- Exfoliate and apply masks
- Remove hair by waxing
- Recommend products and routines
Massage Therapist
- Review client health history
- Assess areas of pain or tension
- Perform therapeutic massage
- Use techniques such as Swedish and deep tissue
- Suggest stretches and self-care
How they’re similar
Both careers involve working with people, hands-on work, helping others, and indoor work. Both are part of the beauty, fitness & personal care field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose esthetician if…
- I love skincare
- I’m gentle and detail-oriented
- I enjoy one-on-one client work
Choose massage therapist if…
- I want to help people feel better
- I’m comfortable with touch-based work
- I have good stamina
Still torn? Take the Esthetician fit quiz and the Massage Therapist fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, esthetician or massage therapist?
Massage Therapists earn more at the median: $58,450 versus $45,330 for estheticians, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Estheticians typically train faster (4–9 months) than massage therapists (6–12 months).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects massage therapists to grow +15.3% from 2025–35, compared with +8.8% for estheticians.