A Beautiful Job Outlook
Throughout the spa and beauty industries, you can pamper yourself with the knowledge that your services are much needed. In fact, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, overall employment of barbers, cosmetologists, and other personal appearance workers is projected to grow about as fast as the average for all occupations through 2012 because of increasing population, income levels, and demand for such personal appearance services.

As of 2003, there were over 1.6 million professionals working in more than 312,000 beauty salons, skin care salons, nail salons, and barber shops, as reported by the NACCAS (National Accrediting Commission of Cosmetology Arts and Sciences) 2003 Job Demand Survey. In other words, you can choose from a vast selection of specialties in your spa career pursuit.

Depending on where you are employed, both the NACCAS and the Department of Labor report that salon professionals usually earn up to $50,000 (including tips), and have virtually no risk of unemployment because the demand for licensed salon pros is so high.

A more in-depth look reveals that hairdressers, hairstylists, cosmetologists, skin care specialists, and shampooers will see a projected growth of up to 20 percent through year 2010. Manicurists and pedicurists can also expect to nail down a job as up to a 35 percent increase is expected over the same period in those fields.