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Boston Career Explorer

Personal Care and Service

Skincare Specialists

Provide skincare treatments to face and body to enhance an individual's appearance. Includes electrologists and laser hair removal specialists.

Also called: Aesthetician, Clinical Esthetician, Electrologist, Esthetician, Facialist, Medical Esthetician

Median pay in Greater Boston
$47,480
$22.83/hr
Jobs in Greater Boston
1,180
Massachusetts 2024–2034
+4.3%
200 openings a year
Typical U.S. entry requirement
Postsecondary nondegree award

Greater Boston: Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, May 2025. Growth and openings: Massachusetts statewide projection.

Pay range in Greater Boston

Yearly pay in Greater Boston by percentile
10th25thMedian75th90th
$36,020$43,880$47,480$52,640$68,670

10% of workers earn less than the first figure and 10% earn more than the last.

What you’d do

  • Sterilize equipment and clean work areas.
  • Cleanse clients' skin with water, creams, or lotions.
  • Demonstrate how to clean and care for skin properly and recommend skin-care regimens.
  • Determine which products or colors will improve clients' skin quality and appearance.
  • Keep records of client needs and preferences and the services provided.
  • Treat the facial skin to maintain and improve its appearance, using specialized techniques and products, such as peels and masks.

AI and this job

AI exposure: how much of this job’s work AI tools can do or help with, based on national research. It is not a forecast of job loss.

Moderate exposure37 of 100

The index averages three national research measures, each shown as a percentile of all jobs:

  • AIOE 40
  • Language-model AIOE 47
  • GPTs-are-GPTs 24

Observed AI use today: Little or none (Anthropic Economic Index)

Skincare specialists have moderate AI exposure, and observed AI use is little or none. AI tools may help with client records and with product or regimen suggestions. Treatments, hands-on skin care, and sterilizing equipment still rely on trained people.

Likely to change

  • Keeping client records and preferences
  • Suggesting products and skin-care routines

Still relies on people

  • Hands-on facial and skin treatments
  • Building trust and listening to clients

Written with AI from the data on this page. Check with a career coach before making a decision.

Next steps from here

Related jobs that build on what you already do.

  • Massage Therapists

    Hands-on client care and knowing how touch affects skin carry over. Pay is much higher, with 12.1% projected growth.

    Pay difference
    +$27,680 median
    AI exposure
    Lower
    MA growth
    +12.1%
    To get started
    Postsecondary nondegree award

  • Surgical Technologists

    Sterilizing equipment and keeping clean work areas carry over. Pay is higher, and the training level is similar.

    Pay difference
    +$34,020 median
    AI exposure
    Lower
    MA growth
    +1.9%
    To get started
    Postsecondary nondegree award

  • Medical Equipment Preparers

    Checking and caring for sterile equipment builds on your cleaning skills. Pay is higher, and projected growth is 8.8%.

    Pay difference
    +$13,360 median
    AI exposure
    Lower
    MA growth
    +8.8%
    To get started
    High school diploma or equivalent

Training near Boston

College and school programs in the Boston metro area that lead to this job, with 2023-24 completions (IPEDS).

16 programs near Boston

Related occupations

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