A common question I get asked by prospective and active students alike is, “how much do lash techs make?”
It is a bit of a loaded question because many variables can affect your earning potential as a lash technician. Things like:
- Your experience level
- The location of your studio
- Your studio itself
- Marketing efforts, etc
You get the idea! The good news is that the lash industry is growing every year and there’s no better time to start your career, take a lash course, and become a lash tech than now!
In fact, the lash market is expected to grow and become a $2.4billion industry by 2031. Let’s break it down further to find out what you can really earn as a lash tech.
Factors That Affect Your Income As A Lash Tech
Experience
It goes without saying, but the more experience you have in any profession the more money you will make.
When I started out as a lash tech, I was only charging $50 per session and it usually took me about 2 hours to complete a full set of classic lashes.
By breaking that into an 8-hour work day, that means I was only making about $200 per day.
I’ve now been a lash technician for over 5 years and with all that experience I’ve gained over the years, two things have changed:
- I feel confident in charging more because my skills and results are immensely better than when I started out.
- I can do a full set twice as fast – so I can see more clients every day.
So with more experience comes higher prices and shorter appointments! The earning possibilities are entirely dependent on you and your motivation to earn.
Studio Location
Where your studio is located can’t be overlooked. If you are centrally located in your city, the odds of clients making the trip to see you grow exponentially.
If you live on the outskirts of your city, in a rural town, etc then you naturally have a smaller client pool to service. This is especially true if there is already an established lash tech in your area.
Whether you are planning on building a home studio or working at one, it’s not a bad idea to do a quick Google search or “lash techs near me” to see just how much competition you are up against!
The Studio
Part of being able to charge more as a lash tech is having a glamorous studio that clients WANT to come to!
Think about it like this – If you were choosing between two studios to go to and one has a comfier lash bed, beautiful aesthetics, and pleasant lighting, which one would you choose?
Keep all of this in mind if you are applying to studios that charge you a monthly fee for studio space.
If you decide to build your studio at home you don’t need to break the bank either! Just choose a room that is strictly dedicated to the job, and if you are going to spend money make sure it’s on a high-quality lash bed.
YOU
Yes, YOU!
Your studio, the location, the supplies you use, etc all don’t matter if YOU aren’t willing to put in the work to max out your earning potential as a lash tech.
One of the most attractive parts of this career is the ability to become your own boss and work on your own time.
But you must have the discipline to put in the hours! If you do, it is not unreasonable to expect a 6-figure income from this career… Yes, $100,000 a year!
Are you willing to work 5 days a week and see 6 clients a day? If so, at a very modest $70/session, that’s $100,800 annually!
Further to that, you must be willing to invest in yourself and your business. Things like learning social media marketing, building a website, and client acquisition, are all unique skills you’ll need to develop to really maximize your earning potential. We touch on some of these marketing tactics in our lash masterclass!
But, if you decide these skills aren’t for you, are you going to hire somebody to do it for you?
So Just How Much Can You Make As A Lash Tech?
As a brand new lash tech that charges anywhere from $40-$80 an hour and sees 2-3 clients per day, you could possibly see an additional ~$3000 every month approximately.
But this is absolutely no guarantee!
As we’ve touched on, there are so many variables at play that will determine the lash techs that achieve these figures and the ones that don’t.
Luckily, you are in full control of nearly all of them!
As you grow in this industry, don’t be surprised if you approach that 6-figure per year mark. This will come after a few years of hard work and mastering your craft.