CAREER OUTLOOK

Determining the career outlook for any industry is very challenging. The Spa, Massage, and Salon industries are particularly hard to identify due to the high degree of self employment in the industry.

The following are useful links although the information only shows part of the story. Since many people work part-time or seasonally, the compensation, compared to a 40 hour a week job, is frequently understated. Also, the statistics do not account for tips and product sales. In the case of an aesthetician or cosmetologists, the product sales can represent over 30% of your income in a private setting. Tips for all professions tend to be important and can account for up to 30% of a your income, particularly in Massage Therapy.

Another important factor to remember when looking at the data is that it is a summary for the entire state. What you will make in Portland, Maine or Cape Cod or Boston, Massachusetts can be generally different from what you will make in rural Maine, New Hampshire or Massachusetts. The same applies to most states. The large urban centers, resorts and upper income areas pay substantially more and have many more career opportunities than the rural areas.

The US Department of Labor site has information based primarily on W2 wage reporting which may not take into account those who are self-employed or work part-time.

The Career Outlook section of the DOL site allows you to search for the profession of choice, the percent and numeric job change information as well as wage projections.

Massachusetts Massage Therapy Career Fact Sheet is provided by Career One Stop

Maine Massage Therapy Career Fact Sheet is provided by Career One Stop

Massachusetts aesthetics Career Fact Sheet is provided by Career One Stop

Maine aesthetics Career Fact Sheet is provided by Career One Stop

Maine Barber Stylist Career Fact Sheet is provided by Career One Stop

Maine Manicurist Career Fact Sheet is provided by Career One Stop

These resources don't account for professionals that have dual or even triple licensing or have their own business and also doesn't factor in the location where you want to work. Some of the larger metropolitan areas have more specifics and are generally higher than the state wide average. Speaking to successful professionals will always be your most accurate source of information.