Beauty industry statistics: the skincare workforce

Employment outlook

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects skincare specialist employment to rise from 104,200 jobs in 2025 to 113,300 in 2035, an increase of 9,100 jobs. The projected 9% growth rate is faster than the 3% average projected across all occupations.

That growth does not measure demand for any one beauty treatment. It does show a larger professional workforce around skin, grooming, and appearance services, which includes lash services in the BLS description of the occupation.

Where skincare specialists work

Personal care services accounted for 52% of skincare specialist employment in 2025, the largest listed employer category. Self-employed workers accounted for another 29%, reflecting how often beauty professionals build independent practices and private studios.

Other listed settings include physician offices, health and personal care retailers, and traveler accommodations. In May 2025, median hourly pay was $24.81 in physician offices and $20.15 in health and personal care retail. The mix is a useful reminder that skincare work spans boutique services, wellness settings, and medical-adjacent environments.

Pay snapshot

Median annual pay for skincare specialists was $45,330 in May 2025, or $21.79 per hour. In personal care services, the median hourly wage was $21.10. These are national occupational figures, so individual earnings vary with location, experience, scheduling, service mix, tips, commissions, and self-employment.

Pay range

In May 2025, the lowest-paid 10% of skincare specialists earned less than $14.22 an hour, while the highest-paid 10% earned more than $39.45 an hour. This range is not a price list for services or a prediction of any one professional’s income. It shows how earnings can differ across experience, roles, and work settings.