Pay rates/tipping/steady income/taxes
I'm an esthetics student right now, and for the life of me, I can't find any answers to my questions other than from my teacher who says I'll probably be making about $16-18 an hour. When I graduate I'll be doing facials and waxing, not any medical esthetics. I switched careers, I used to be a radiology technician (got sick from the radiation so had to leave the field after 10 years). Anyways, I was at the spa the other day, and I arrived very early, so I was able to listen to the receptionist say, "How much gratuity would you like to leave today?" I heard one say 10%, I heard another say $5 (These were both for facials, I felt bad for the esthetician.) THen I asked the esthetican myself how much downtime they have, they didn't want to talk down on their job so she just said she gets some free time every now and then.
When I have visited spas in the past, some of the ladies who have been in the field for about 17 years are always booked up with waxing and facials, but with the less experienced employees it seems like I can get in the same day.
So my question is: For those who work in a spa/salon, what is your pay rate really like, do you get $16-18 and hour PLUS tips, what happens if you only have 1 or 2 clients for the day? How do you get paid? How do clients tip? Would you say your pay checks are about the same every time or do they vary? I live (and will work) in a middle class neighborhood near Chicago if that matters at all.
Thanks for your input, ladies.
If you want to answer a tougher question: How does this line of work affect what you get back on your taxes at the end of the year, since so many clients leave your tips on their credit cards...
Tags: esthetican, gratuity, pay, taxes, tips
Views: 1798
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Cindy Greenwood on
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You are asking questions that have variable answers...answers that can vary due to MANY factors.
Saying that you will earn $16/hr is just a "guess-timate".
Most estheticians are not paid per hour but a percentage of the service.
I would call it a good day if I average $25/hr. for the day
Downtime is variable. In the beginning you may have NO appointments. Building clientele is a long process.
I have been employed at many places where my daily earnings were zero-$15 some days.
And for an entire week pay has varied from $0 to $800.
This is why many estheticians and massage therapists will have more than one job.
Location/Region can be a factor in tipping...when I worked in a high income/resort area tips were 20-30%.
Where my businss is currently located tips CAN be as low as $0 to 10%.
You are require to report all income - including tips.
Credit card tips might be included on your 1099 or W-2 from your employer. Cash tips should be reported by you as additional income
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Permalink Reply by Grace Riley on
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Hi Deb,
That is definitely just an estimate your teacher gave you. She can't say for sure exactly how much you will make. It depends on your working situation. I work in a Med-Spa as an independent contractor where I make 50/50 plus tips. So if a facial is $60.00 I get $30.00 plus tips. Some people tip really well and others don't. Most people tip at least 15% in my experience. I know some Wax Center Franchises might only pay say $8.00 per hour but you get tips plus product sale percentages. I earn pretty good tips.
Grace Riley: Esthetician & Author of Jump Start Your Esthetics Career: A Guide For Newly Licensed Estheticians
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Permalink Reply by Emilie Spruill on
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Hi there,
Have you finished school? Just saw this old post and thought I'd follow up to see how things are going for you! I wish you the best and I agree with the ladies below about so many varying factors.
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Permalink Reply by Teresa Ochoa on
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I'm on my own now, but years ago when I started out working in a day spa, my boss gave me 30% commission on
each facial, and we got tips, very few people didn't leave tips...she also gave us $10 downtime if we didn't have
an appt for an hour or two, then she stopped that. So I really didn't get paid by hour, and paychecks always varied
by week, no amount was the same for me...
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