# Skincare Specialists

US SOC code 39-5094. Markdown version of https://futurehistory.earth/timeline/39-5094

Also called: Esthetician, Aesthetician, Facialist, Skincare therapist, Medical esthetician.

## In brief

In May 2025, [BLS](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm25nat.zip) counted **72,890** US skincare specialists, with median pay of **$45,330** a year. Of the BLS counts since 2012, the May 2025 count is the highest. The earliest figure here is [an estimate](https://www.ogleschool.edu/blog/a-history-of-beauticians/) of **30,000** from 1930, not measured the same way as today's count. The last full technology era for skincare specialists: Laser hair removal + electrology, 1997 to 2015.

## What the sources say

### Official outlook

BLS projects employment to grow 8.8% from 2025 to 2035. Source: [BLS Employment Projections 2025-35](https://data.bls.gov/projections/nationalMatrix?queryParams=39-5094&ioType=o).

### AI exposure studies

- **10.6%** of this job's tasks are exposed to large language models. Not a forecast of job losses. [Eloundou and others, 2023](https://github.com/openai/GPTs-are-GPTs/blob/main/data/occ_level.csv)

Data as of BLS OEWS May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025-35. BLS publishes these counts as yearly survey snapshots and cautions against reading them as a precise trend. In May 2021 BLS changed how it estimates these counts (a model-based method using three years of survey data) and moved fully to the 2018 occupation codes, so part of a change across 2021 can come from the method rather than the work.

## Skincare Specialists employment and pay by year

- On record since: 1910
- Latest US employment: 72,890 (May 2025). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 [4]
- Latest US median pay: $45,330 (May 2025). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 [6]
- Outlook: +8.8% by 2035. Source: BLS Employment Projections 2025-35 [16]

### All 26 years of cited US data

| Year | US employment | Annual pay (median unless marked) | Source |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1930 | 30,000 (estimate) | n/a | Est., Ogle School [1] |
| 1970 | 55,000 (estimate) | n/a | Est., Louisville Beauty Academy [2] |
| 2000 | 13,420 | $22,000 (estimate) | BLS OEWS 2000 (employment) [3]; Est., IPUMS USA (pay) [5] |
| 2003 | 16,820 | $23,050 | BLS OEWS May 2003 [4] |
| 2004 | 19,650 | $24,010 | BLS OEWS May 2004 [4] |
| 2005 | 22,740 | $23,340 | BLS OEWS May 2005 [4] |
| 2006 | 22,620 | $26,170 | BLS OEWS May 2006 [4] |
| 2007 | 24,960 | $27,190 | BLS OEWS May 2007 [4] |
| 2008 | 26,300 | $28,730 | BLS OEWS May 2008 [4] |
| 2009 | 28,210 | $28,580 | BLS OEWS May 2009 [4] |
| 2010 | 30,230 | $28,920 | BLS OEWS May 2010 [4] |
| 2011 | 31,450 | $29,190 | BLS OEWS May 2011 [4] |
| 2012 | 31,810 | $28,640 | BLS OEWS May 2012 [4] |
| 2013 | 33,680 | $28,940 | BLS OEWS May 2013 [4] |
| 2014 | 38,290 | $29,050 | BLS OEWS May 2014 [4] |
| 2015 | 40,190 | $30,090 | BLS OEWS May 2015 [4] |
| 2016 | 43,980 | $30,270 | BLS OEWS May 2016 [4] |
| 2017 | 44,940 | $30,080 | BLS OEWS May 2017 [4] |
| 2018 | 50,740 | $31,290 | BLS OEWS May 2018 [4] |
| 2019 | 56,660 | $34,090 | BLS OEWS May 2019 [4] |
| 2020 | 46,640 | $36,510 | BLS OEWS May 2020 [4] |
| 2021 | 50,580 | $37,300 | BLS OEWS May 2021 [4] |
| 2022 | 61,990 | $38,060 | BLS OEWS May 2022 [4] |
| 2023 | 65,270 | $43,200 | BLS OEWS May 2023 [4] |
| 2024 | 70,240 | $41,560 | BLS OEWS May 2024 [4] |
| 2025 | 72,890 | $45,330 | BLS OEWS May 2025 [4] |

## Sources (78)

### Employment series

1. [Ogle School — "A History of Beauticians" (beauty industry employment history, 1920s-1950s)](https://www.ogleschool.edu/blog/a-history-of-beauticians/), Ogle School
2. [Louisville Beauty Academy — "The Journey to Professionalism: Evolution of Cosmetology, Esthetics, and Nail Technology" (1970s esthetics licensing emergence)](https://louisvillebeautyacademy.net/the-journey-to-professionalism-a-look-at-the-evolution-of-cosmetology-esthetics-and-nail-technology/), Louisville Beauty Academy
3. [BLS OES 2000 national estimates (flat file)](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oes00nat.zip), Bureau of Labor Statistics
4. BLS OEWS, national cross-industry estimates (flat file), Bureau of Labor Statistics. Editions: [2003](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm03nat.zip), [2004](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm04nat.zip), [2005](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm05nat.zip), [2006](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm06nat.zip), [2007](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm07nat.zip), [2008](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm08nat.zip), [2009](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm09nat.zip), [2010](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm10nat.zip), [2011](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm11nat.zip), [2012](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm12nat.zip), [2013](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm13nat.zip), [2014](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm14nat.zip), [2015](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm15nat.zip), [2016](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm16nat.zip), [2017](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm17nat.zip), [2018](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm18nat.zip), [2019](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm19nat.zip), [2020](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm20nat.zip), [2021](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm21nat.zip), [2022](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm22nat.zip), [2023](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm23nat.zip), [2024](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm24nat.zip), [2025](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm25nat.zip)

### Wage series

5. [IPUMS USA — Occupation and Industry Codes: beauty culture / personal care worker wage context (year 2000)](https://usa.ipums.org/usa/volii/occ_ind.shtml), IPUMS / University of Minnesota
6. BLS OEWS, national cross-industry estimates (flat file), Bureau of Labor Statistics. Editions: [2003](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm03nat.zip), [2004](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm04nat.zip), [2005](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm05nat.zip), [2006](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm06nat.zip), [2007](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm07nat.zip), [2008](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm08nat.zip), [2009](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm09nat.zip), [2010](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm10nat.zip), [2011](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm11nat.zip), [2012](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm12nat.zip), [2013](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm13nat.zip), [2014](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm14nat.zip), [2015](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm15nat.zip), [2016](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm16nat.zip), [2017](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm17nat.zip), [2018](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm18nat.zip), [2019](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm19nat.zip), [2020](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm20nat.zip), [2021](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm21nat.zip), [2022](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm22nat.zip), [2023](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm23nat.zip), [2024](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm24nat.zip), [2025](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm25nat.zip)

### Tool eras

7. [Cosmetics and Skin — Helena Rubinstein 1915-1930 (salon services history)](https://cosmeticsandskin.com/companies/helena-rubinstein-1915.php), Cosmetics and Skin
8. [Jewish Women's Archive — Helena Rubinstein (microscopic skin analysis and treatment methods)](https://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/rubinstein-helena), Jewish Women's Archive
9. [Louisville Beauty Academy — "Journey to Professionalism: Evolution of Esthetics" (1970s state licensing emergence)](https://louisvillebeautyacademy.net/the-journey-to-professionalism-a-look-at-the-evolution-of-cosmetology-esthetics-and-nail-technology/), Louisville Beauty Academy
10. [Wikipedia — Day spa (US locations doubled 2002-2004 to 8,734)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Day_spa), Wikipedia
11. [Bloom Med Spa MN — Microdermabrasion: History of the Procedure (US introduction 1996)](https://bloommedspamn.com/microdermabrasion-background-history-of-the-procedure/), Bloom Med Spa MN
12. [Wikipedia — Laser hair removal (FDA clearance 1997; 2000 comparative study vs. electrolysis)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laser_hair_removal), Wikipedia
13. [Wikipedia — Electrology (galvanic electrolysis 1875; thermolysis developed 1920s)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrology), Wikipedia
14. [Cosmetics Business — Best AI skin analysis tools in 2026 (OBSERV 520x, Perfect Corp., Haut.AI)](https://cosmeticsbusiness.com/best-ai-skin-analysis-tools-in-2026), Cosmetics Business
15. [Pabau Echo AI — AI consultation transcription and SOAP notes for estheticians](https://pabau.com/features/ai-medical-scribe/), Pabau

### Forecasts and exposure studies

16. [BLS Employment Projections 2025-35, National Employment Matrix: 39-5094 Skincare specialists (2025: 104.2 thousand; 2035: 113.3 thousand; +8.8%)](https://data.bls.gov/projections/nationalMatrix?queryParams=39-5094&ioType=o), Bureau of Labor Statistics
17. [Eloundou, Manning, Mishkin & Rock (2023), "GPTs are GPTs", occupation-level exposure data occ\_level.csv (O\*NET-SOC 39-5094.00, human-rated β 0.106)](https://github.com/openai/GPTs-are-GPTs/blob/main/data/occ_level.csv), OpenAI

### Historical notes

18. [Wikipedia — Elizabeth Arden (Red Door salon founding 1910)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Arden), Wikipedia
19. [Cosmetics and Skin — Helena Rubinstein 1915-1930 (New York salon opening and national expansion)](https://cosmeticsandskin.com/companies/helena-rubinstein-1915.php), Cosmetics and Skin
20. [Louisville Beauty Academy — "Journey to Professionalism: Evolution of Cosmetology, Esthetics, and Nail Technology" (1970s professionalization)](https://louisvillebeautyacademy.net/the-journey-to-professionalism-a-look-at-the-evolution-of-cosmetology-esthetics-and-nail-technology/), Louisville Beauty Academy
21. [Bloom Med Spa MN — Microdermabrasion: History of the Procedure (US introduction 1996; European development 1985)](https://bloommedspamn.com/microdermabrasion-background-history-of-the-procedure/), Bloom Med Spa MN
22. [Wikipedia — Day spa (doubling of US locations 2002-2004 to 8,734; Bliss spa as format pioneer)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Day_spa), Wikipedia
23. [BLS — "Recovering from the pandemic: A bright outlook for the personal care service industry" (Beyond the Numbers, vol. 11)](https://www.bls.gov/opub/btn/volume-11/recovering-from-the-pandemic-a-bright-outlook-for-the-personal-care-service-industry.htm), Bureau of Labor Statistics

### Predecessors & successors

24. [Cosmetics and Skin — Helena Rubinstein 1915-1930 (origin of professional skin treatment as distinct from general hairdressing)](https://cosmeticsandskin.com/companies/helena-rubinstein-1915.php), Cosmetics and Skin
25. [Louisville Beauty Academy — "Journey to Professionalism" (1970s esthetics branching from cosmetology)](https://louisvillebeautyacademy.net/the-journey-to-professionalism-a-look-at-the-evolution-of-cosmetology-esthetics-and-nail-technology/), Louisville Beauty Academy

### Present-day analysis

- [BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Skincare Specialists (2024)](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/personal-care-and-service/skincare-specialists.htm), accessed 2026-06-05
- [BLS OEWS May 2024: Skincare Specialists (39-5094) (national flat file)](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm24nat.zip), accessed 2026-10-07
- [Eloundou et al. 2024 — GPTs are GPTs (Science)](https://arxiv.org/abs/2303.10130), accessed 2026-06-05
- [O\*NET 30.3 — Skincare Specialists (39-5094.00)](https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/39-5094.00), accessed 2026-06-05
- [Cosmetics Business: Best AI skin analysis tools in 2026](https://cosmeticsbusiness.com/best-ai-skin-analysis-tools-in-2026), accessed 2026-06-05
- [GlossGenius Esthetician Software — AI Analyst and Genius Forms (2026)](https://glossgenius.com/customers/esthetician-software), accessed 2026-06-05
- [SpaSphere solo esthetician management: AI rebooking tools](https://spasphere.ai/esthetician-spa-management), accessed 2026-06-05
- [Pabau Echo AI: consultation transcription and SOAP notes](https://pabau.com/features/ai-medical-scribe/), accessed 2026-06-05
- [Haut.AI — skin analysis and product recommendation platform](https://haut.ai/), accessed 2026-06-05

How to read these figures: https://futurehistory.earth/methodology. Every figure links to its own source; gaps stay gaps.