Aesthetic Nurse Practitioner Salary: How Much Do They Make?

Due to the increasing popularity of aesthetic procedures, the great pay, regular working hours, and the less stressful environment, becoming an aesthetic nurse practitioner is a good career choice. They are medical professionals that help people achieve their dreams and make life-changing decisions.

Therefore, in this article, we'll elaborate on what an aesthetic NP does, what skills are necessary, and particularly, how much they earn.

What Is an Aesthetic Nurse Practitioner?

Aesthetic nurse practitioners are highly specialized professionals who work in clinical cosmetology with the goal of helping patients be happy with their physical appearance, either by counseling or treatment. They either work independently or collaborate with other professionals to provide the best treatment for their patients. Some of those treatments are:

  • Dermal fillers (botox) - this is the most common procedure an aesthetic NP does. It's a prescription medicine injected in the areas in which the patient wants to reduce their wrinkles. However, dermal fillers, botox, in particular, have medical uses like preventing migraines, upper limb spasticity, eyelid spasms, etc. 

  • Laser treatment - this treatment helps with tattoo removal, photo facials, moles and birthmarks removal, scars and wrinkles fading, etc.

  • Chemical peels - during this treatment, chemical solutions are applied to the skin to help peel an old layer of the skin and a new layer to emerge. It helps with acne scars, sun damage, wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, etc.

  • Sclerotherapy - this treatment helps reduce the appearance and symptoms associated with varicose veins by injecting sclerosing agents into the veins.

What Does an Aesthetic Nurse Practitioner Do?

Aesthetic nurse practitioners have a wide range of duties and responsibilities. Primarily, they make sure their patients are satisfied with the results of the procedures. The other main duties they have are:

  • Performing different procedures and treatments (botox, laser treatment) independently or alongside other professionals

  • Counseling with patients

  • Ordering tests and examinations

  • Maintaining and updating patients' records

  • Attending each stage of patient care

  • Keeping inventory for supplies and chemicals

  • Extending their clientele

  • Assisting in performing surgeries

  • Educating patients on the procedure or treatment, etc.

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Other additional aesthetic nurse practitioners' duties can include:

  • Giving solicited suggestions for hair, make-up, and clothing that best suit their patients

  • Developing treatment plans with patients

  • Researching the medical records of patients to find the best-suited treatment

  • Researching new findings on treatments and equipment

How Much Does an Aesthetic Nurse Practitioner Make?

In general, aesthetic nurse practitioners have a middle-class or upper-class income. However, we still have to consider factors like experience, location, education, and additional skills that determine an aesthetic NP salary. Below, we'll explore different salaries based on different information sites, states, and levels of experience. 

Average aesthetic nurse practitioner salary

According to the information provided by aesthetic nurse practitioners across the country, the average salary varies on different salary information sites.

The average aesthetic nurse practitioner salary, according to Salary.com, is $95,221, with salaries ranging from $88,356 to $103,441. 

Glassdoor reports that the average salary for aesthetic NPs is $129,008, the base salary being $110,323, and the additional pay is $18,685, with salaries ranging from $88k to $212k.

Lastly, consulting the data on PayScale, the average aesthetic NP salary is $85,360 or $47.92 per hour, with salaries ranging from $81k to $100k.

Aesthetic nurse practitioner salary based on experience

Generally, the estimated salary is dependent on the years of experience, which doesn't exclude aesthetic nurse practitioners' salaries. Their salaries based on experience are:

  • The starting level salary of an aesthetic NP is $62,130,

  • L2 Nurse Practitioner - $118,184,

  • L3 Senior Nurse Practitioner - $123,881,

  • L4 Adjunct Nurse Practitioner - $125,664.

Highest- and lowest-paying states for aesthetic nurse practitioners

One of the main factors that affect the aesthetic NP salary is location, which in turn is affected by other factors. For example, the aesthetic nurse practitioner nurse salary in California is affected by the demand for cosmetic practices and clinics and the expensive cost of living. 

Following, we'll list the top 10 highest-paying states:

  1. Alaska - $106,194

  2. California - $105,815

  3. District of Columbia - $105,370

  4. New Jersey - $104,736

  5. Massachusetts - $103,068

  6. Connecticut - $102,500

  7. New York - $101,647

  8. Washington - $101,174

  9. Rhode Island - $99,847

  10. Delaware - $99,468

And the top 10 lowest-paying states for aesthetic nurse practitioners are:

  1. South Dakota - $81,090

  2. Mississippi - $82,417

  3. West Virginia - $83,932

  4. Wyoming - $84,311

  5. Montana - $85,874

  6. Tennessee - $86,064

  7. New Mexico - $86,585

  8. Nebraska - $86,869

  9. Arkansas - $87,367

  10. South Carolina - $88,669

Where Do Aesthetic Nurse Practitioners Work?

Usually, aesthetic nurse practitioners work in private practices, spas, and hospitals. They can also open their own cosmetic practices, depending on the state in which they operate. 

Several states allow aesthetic NPs to fully practice, which means they can diagnose patients, order and interpret tests, and prescribe medication. Some of those states are Nevada, Arizona, New York, Kansas, Oregon, or Idaho.

Whereas, in some other states, licensure laws reduce their ability to practice their profession without collaborating with another health provider. Some of these states are Utah, Mississippi, Arkansas, Illinois, or Kentucky.

Lastly, some state laws restrict their practice without supervision or management by other health providers. Some of those states are Texas, California, Florida, Missouri, or Virginia.

Skills Needed for a Successful Aesthetic Nurse Practitioner

Aesthetic nurse practitioners are professionals with an extensive skill set. They have to be empathic and understanding, friendly, have strong morals, protect their patients' confidentiality, be organized, and overall professional.

Additionally, some of the skills necessary for an aesthetic NP are:

  • Anatomical knowledge - they must have a thorough understanding of the anatomy of the face and neck and how age affects them.

  • Communication skills - explaining the procedures to patients simply, making them feel at ease, and recommending the best treatment for them is a vital part of an aesthetic NP’s work.

  • Technical skills - knowing how to work with the equipment, perform clinical procedures, and keep up-to-date with new treatments are important to an aesthetic NP’s work.

  • Attention to detail - a proficient aesthetic NP pays attention to all aspects of procedures to ensure safe and flawless treatment for their patients. 

  • Teamwork - to provide the best service to patients, NPs must collaborate with an array of medical professionals like clinical staff, medical office administrators, nurses, doctors, etc.

Aesthetic Nurse Practitioner Career Outlook

Due to the growth of the clinical cosmetics industry, job openings and vacancies are expected to increase. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a job outlook for nurse practitioners (including aesthetic nurse practitioners) of 45% (much faster than average) this decade, which makes for a promising career in the field.

Becoming an aesthetic nurse practitioner also comes with opportunities for furthering your career. You can do so by:

  • Opening your own practice, if the laws of your state allow it

  • Becoming a writer and writing on blogs, columns, and forums

  • Becoming an events speaker

Conclusion

As explored in the article, there are many benefits to becoming an aesthetic nurse practitioner. However, they're still part of a stigmatized field, considered shallow and exploitative by nature. Though that may be true for a few individuals, the majority help patients regain their confidence and be pleased with their appearance. 

So, if you're considering a career as an aesthetic nurse practitioner, this is the perfect time to start.

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