Aesthetician: What is the cost of hiring?

What is an aesthetician?

An aesthetician is a skincare professional who specialises in facial treatments to improve the health and appearance of the skin. They perform specialised treatments such as deep cleansing, exfoliation, extractions and facials, and often recommend at-home regimes and products to maintain skin health. Some aestheticians may also provide advanced, non-surgical cosmetic procedures depending on their training and local regulations.

Why recruit an aesthetician?

A skilled aesthetician can enhance your salon or spa’s reputation and improve the overall client experience. Experienced aestheticians may help you attract new clients, sometimes bringing some of their existing client base while helping you retain current ones. Because they are trained in advanced skincare treatments, such as chemical peels or microneedling (where permitted), employing an aesthetician can also allow your business to expand its service offerings.

Contributions of a great aesthetician:

• Ability to assess skin concerns and recommend appropriate treatments and products
• In-depth knowledge of the skin and how to administer treatments safely, effectively and hygienically
• A calm and professional manner, with the ability to put clients at ease

Defining your recruitment needs for an aesthetician

To define your recruitment needs, consider the size of your establishment, daily client volume and whether you need expertise in specific treatments or equipment, such as chemical peels or laser devices. Factor in your budget and decide if the job should be full-time, part-time or seasonal, and whether the new recruit will expand your services or provide extra cover during busy periods. Other common names for this role are skincare specialist or facialist, but it’s distinct from similar positions like beauty therapist, who usually offer a broader range of treatments.

What are the types of aestheticians?

Aestheticians may work in different settings and provide varying levels of treatment, depending on their training, qualifications and experience. They are generally grouped into two categories:

• Medical aestheticians: found in dermatology clinics, medical spas or cosmetic practices, they may hold specialist certifications and sometimes work alongside doctors or nurses to support treatments or patient recovery.
• Non-medical aestheticians: the most common type, usually based in salons or spas, addressing everyday skin concerns such as dryness, pigmentation, acne or sun damage.

Similar positions to an aesthetician include:

• Beauty therapist: provides a broader range of services, including massage, waxing and nail care, in addition to facial treatments
• Dermatologist: a medical skin doctor who is required to have a medical degree in order to practise. They diagnose and treat skin conditions, including serious illnesses like skin cancers.
• Massage therapist: works in spas or clinics to relieve muscle tension, pain and stress through massage techniques

When writing your aesthetician job description, consider including some or all of the following keywords to improve the visibility of your job posting. These are the most popular search terms leading to clicks on aesthetician jobs, according to Indeed data:

• Aesthetician
• Beauty
• Beauty therapist
• Aesthetic
• Aesthetic practitioner
• Spa
• Laser therapist

Want more recruitment insights for your aesthetician? Sign in or create your free Indeed account.

Where to find aestheticians?

To find the right aesthetician for your business, consider trying out a few different recruitment strategies:

• Beauty and wellness job boards: posting on specialist sites may help you attract candidates already working in the beauty industry
• Training academies: partnering with beauty schools or colleges that offer aesthetician qualifications can connect you with graduates looking for entry-level roles
• Professional associations: membership organisations for beauty and skincare professionals often have career boards or offer networking opportunities that business owners in the industry can attend
• Post your job online: try posting your aesthetician job on Indeed to find and attract quality aesthetician candidates

Skills to look for in an aesthetician

A successful aesthetician candidate will typically have the following skills and competencies, which may be gained through a variety of experiences, training or education:

• Comprehensive knowledge of skincare treatments and techniques
• Strong customer service skills to build lasting relationships with clients
• Sales skills for recommending products or additional services that may benefit the client
• Good communication skills for explaining procedures and aftercare instructions
• Manual dexterity, precision and attention to detail
• Professionalism and discretion when dealing with sensitive skin concerns

Writing an aesthetician job description

Now that you know the key skills, salary expectations, popular jobseeker search terms and recruitment insights for an aesthetician, you’re ready to write a job description.

An aesthetician job description typically includes a compelling summary of the role, a detailed list of duties and responsibilities and the required and preferred skills for the position. You may also want to include information about your company culture, benefits and perks to attract candidates to your open role.

Ready to get started? See our full guide for writing aesthetician job descriptions.

Interviewing aesthetician candidates

Strong candidates for aesthetician positions will be confident answering questions regarding:

• Their experience with different skincare treatments, techniques and equipment
• Their knowledge of facial anatomy, skin types and common skin concerns
• How they approach customer service and build loyalty
• Examples of handling skin-related issues, dissatisfied clients or coworker conflict
• Their knowledge of health and safety, hygiene standards and any relevant regulations

Need help coming up with interview questions? See our list of aesthetician interview questions for examples (with sample answers).