Paramedical Esthetician: Career and Salary Facts

Research what it takes to become a paramedical esthetician. Learn about job duties, career preparation and potential salary to find out if this is the career for you.

What Does A Paramedical Esthetician Do?

Paramedical estheticians are skin care professionals who work with patients who have been affected by illness or injury. They work in medical offices that specialize in dermatology, plastic surgery and oncology. Their responsibilities include applying makeup, waxing, giving a facial, and preparing a patient's skin for treatment. These specialists may assess patients to detect skin conditions and may teach patients how to perform skin care at home. Strong communication skills are essential as they work closely with medical staff and patients.

According to O*Net, as of 2020, 87% of skin care specialists had a postsecondary certificate, 10% had some postsecondary training and 2% had an associate's degree. Paramedical estheticians must have training and may also complete supervised clinicals to prepare for their career. Below is a chart providing more details about this career.

Degree Required	Certificate; associate's degree
Education Field of Study	Biology; anatomy; advanced skin treatment
Key Responsibilities	Help patients with skin problems; administer facials; recommend skin care products
Licensure	Requirements vary by state
Job Growth (2020-2030)	29%* (all skincare specialists)
Average Salary (2021)	$39,523**

Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, **PayScale.com

What Is a Paramedical Esthetician?

A paramedical esthetician, also referred to as an aesthetician or medical aesthetician, is a skin care specialist who assists doctors in treating people with skin problems caused by medical problems or trauma. As a licensed specialist, you could find yourself working in a medical skin spa or in the office of a doctor, such as a plastic surgeon or a dermatologist, helping people take care of their skin.

How Does This Job Help People?

A paramedical esthetician may help a cancer patient deal with hair loss and skin problems that may result from treatment. As an esthetician, you may also care for patients before and after plastic surgery. Someone who has suffered severe skin burns may look to a paramedical esthetician for help in proper self-care of scarred skin. If you were an esthetician at a medical skin spa, you may be administering facials or other skin care techniques, or you might be helping people select products to improve the look of their skin.

How Do I Prepare for This Job?

If you're interested in a career as a paramedical esthetician, you can prepare by completing an academic program. Community colleges and technical schools offer certificate and associate's degree programs for estheticians, which include coursework in diseases of the skin, care before and after cosmetic surgery, laser hair removal and advanced skin treatments. Look for programs with biology and anatomy coursework to help transition into the medical field.

Medical estheticians are also usually licensed as cosmetologists, and their requirements may vary by state, reports the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) (www.bls.gov). Typically, licensing requires the completion of a cosmetology program at an approved school. Check with your state for details specific to where you live. The American Academy of Aesthetic Medicine offers resources and educational programs for paramedical estheticians, in addition to doctors and other health care professionals (www.aaamed.org).

How Is The Pay?

PayScale.com reported that the national annual salary for medical estheticians ranged from $22,000-$69,000 as of December 2021, with the median salary being $39,523. The BLS states that jobs for all skincare specialists are projected to increase by 29% from 2020 to 2030 (www.bls.gov).

What Are Some Related Alternative Careers?

Hairdressers, manicurists and massage therapists all have careers with similarities to paramedical estheticians. Like paramedical estheticians they all need some postsecondary training. Hairdressers and manicurists are involved in assisting their clients to improve their appearance. Hairdressers style and cut hair. Manicurists shape, clean and paint fingernails. Massage therapists help reduce pain and heal injuries through therapeutic touch that can improve circulation and reduce stress.