Cosmetology Career Guide
How much do cosmetologists make?
Cosmetologists are beauty professionals with a holistic skillset in the beautification of the hair, skin and nails. Some cosmetologists specialize in one of these areas while others may offer a mixture of all kinds of services, from haircuts and coloring to facials and manicures.
Estimating how much you could earn as a cosmetologist can be tricky when you consider the many different elements at play that contribute to someone’s earning potential. Cosmetologists can earn a wide range of salaries depending on things like their location, experience and area of expertise.
Self-employment and how many hours you work per week also affect someone’s overall salary. Read on to learn more about how much cosmetologists make and how you could boost your earning potential.
In This Article
Cosmetologist salary—yearly median for every state
According to the 2023 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics from the BLS, the median annual salary for hairdressers, hair stylists and cosmetologists is $34,970. Although that figure is nearly half of the annual mean wage across all occupations, it’s important to understand some context to that data.
First, the BLS doesn’t have data on the earnings of self-employed workers. Since many cosmetologists are self-employed, their earnings are not reflected in this data. Second, many people are drawn to the field of cosmetology because it offers flexible scheduling and is conducive to part-time work. These wages, therefore, may not entirely reflect what you could earn if you worked full-time (i.e. 40 hours per week). Finally, customers often tip cosmetologists for their services which can provide a significant boost to your earning potential, and tips are not usually factored into the data from the BLS.
In any event, here are median salaries across the country as reported by the BLS:
10%$23,520
25%$28,850
50%$34,970Median
75%$47,420
90%$63,310
Median Hourly Wage$17
Job growth7.7%
Total Employment294,840
| State | Median Salary | Bottom 10% | Top 10% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $30,240 | $20,790 | $57,700 |
| Alaska | $37,190 | $24,680 | $55,260 |
| Arizona | $34,020 | $29,170 | $62,440 |
| Arkansas | $26,860 | $23,680 | $61,700 |
| California | $37,170 | $33,050 | $64,000 |
| Colorado | $36,010 | $29,970 | $96,290 |
| Connecticut | $35,170 | $30,060 | $65,910 |
| Delaware | $33,650 | $24,440 | $62,830 |
| District of Columbia | $50,000 | $33,490 | $77,010 |
| Florida | $33,910 | $23,390 | $60,090 |
| Georgia | $29,290 | $21,730 | $76,250 |
| Hawaii | $28,690 | $24,960 | $62,010 |
| Idaho | $30,990 | $18,500 | $44,960 |
| Illinois | $35,940 | $28,330 | $61,180 |
| Indiana | $30,220 | $18,780 | $49,790 |
| Iowa | $30,050 | $22,270 | $72,800 |
| Kansas | $33,600 | $17,850 | $61,520 |
| Kentucky | $30,420 | $20,330 | $137,440 |
| Louisiana | $26,590 | $17,970 | $48,070 |
| Maine | $47,050 | $30,340 | $71,920 |
| Maryland | $34,990 | $28,660 | $60,650 |
| Massachusetts | $46,410 | $33,950 | $82,000 |
| Michigan | $33,640 | $23,760 | $64,580 |
| Minnesota | $34,770 | $22,600 | $61,530 |
| Mississippi | $25,060 | $16,630 | $50,530 |
| Missouri | $33,420 | $24,960 | $55,620 |
| Montana | $34,830 | $21,600 | $55,540 |
| Nebraska | $40,370 | $22,640 | $70,540 |
| Nevada | $28,600 | $23,290 | $58,640 |
| New Hampshire | $34,580 | $23,350 | $57,010 |
| New Jersey | $36,560 | $29,390 | $75,410 |
| New Mexico | $27,380 | $24,960 | $60,690 |
| New York | $32,930 | $30,040 | $62,830 |
| North Carolina | $36,020 | $22,800 | $74,210 |
| North Dakota | $35,610 | $22,480 | $72,420 |
| Ohio | $33,920 | $22,900 | $62,100 |
| Oklahoma | $34,450 | $22,710 | $51,660 |
| Oregon | $35,080 | $28,290 | $73,890 |
| Pennsylvania | $31,170 | $19,560 | $63,000 |
| Rhode Island | $34,530 | $27,230 | $45,120 |
| South Carolina | $28,910 | $18,500 | $53,190 |
| South Dakota | $38,070 | $31,510 | $59,090 |
| Tennessee | $31,500 | $20,800 | $64,500 |
| Texas | $29,270 | $21,820 | $62,660 |
| Utah | $35,740 | $23,990 | $58,470 |
| Vermont | $47,200 | $29,260 | $57,570 |
| Virginia | $36,200 | $24,960 | $70,800 |
| Washington | $50,330 | $36,940 | $82,940 |
| West Virginia | $29,480 | $22,210 | $55,280 |
| Wisconsin | $36,200 | $22,160 | $59,810 |
| Wyoming | $28,860 | $23,170 | $49,010 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 2023 median salary; projected job growth through 2032. Actual salaries vary depending on location, level of education, years of experience, work environment, and other factors. Salaries may differ even more for those who are self-employed or work part time.
Benefits and other perks
With salons and spas often offering cosmetology services in the evenings and on weekends, cosmetologists usually have flexible schedules that go beyond the traditional 40-hour work week. Part of that scheduling flexibility is also due to the fact that many cosmetologists work part time. This can be especially advantageous for people who have other obligations that make full-time work a challenge.
Depending on where they work, cosmetologists may be able to receive comprehensive benefits packages that include medical, dental and vision insurance, a retirement plan, paid time off and more. Larger salon companies tend to have more of the resources to offer these kinds of benefits, but this can vary from employer to employer.
With enough experience and business acumen, many cosmetologists choose to go into business for themselves. This could look like opening their own salon or spa or starting a mobile business. Another popular option is renting a private salon suite from which you offer your services independently.
Being a self-employed cosmetologist comes with a few advantages. As your own boss, you get to have more autonomy and authority, which can lead to more control over the cost of your services and your schedule. It has some drawbacks too, though. Running a business takes a lot of work, and you must pay for things like the rent on your salon space or employees’ wages if you hire others.
Factors affecting the salary of a cosmetologist
Several different variables can play a part in how much you as an individual could make as a cosmetologist. Location is a big one—cosmetologists working in metropolitan areas with high costs of living tend to make more, especially in places like Seattle, Boston, Washington D.C. and Los Angeles. At the state level, the places with the highest median annual wages for cosmetologists include Washington, Maine, Illinois, Minnesota and New Jersey.
Experience plays another big role. Cosmetologists who have been working in the field for longer, have accrued a steady client base and cultivated a positive reputation are usually more likely to land better-paying jobs and/or charge more for their services. Getting one or multiple cosmetology certifications—such as the NCEA Certified credential or becoming a Board Certified Haircolorist—could also help bolster your reputation in the long run.
Where you work can also affect your earning potential. Although this industry makes up only a fraction of the overall number of employees, the BLS states that the highest-paying industry for cosmetologists is the motion picture and video industry. Employees in this industry had an annual mean wage of $97,910 in 2022.
Getting one or multiple beauty certifications—such as the NCEA Certified credential or becoming a Board Certified Haircolorist—could also help bolster your reputation in the long run.
Increasing your earning potential
Besides choosing to work in a location that tends to have higher wages or getting specialty certifications to improve their credibility, there are a few other ways cosmetologists can increase their earning potential over time. For example, cosmetologists often have the chance to sell beauty products to clients on the job and earn a commission on what they sell.
“The career itself can be very entrepreneurial. That to me is super positive, especially for people today with how they think about working. It’s rewarding, it’s creative, it can be very lucrative, and it can be really anything that individual wants,” said Traci Sakosits, Vice President of Education and Creative Direction for the Aveda Arts & Sciences Institutes
One big thing that’s changed in the industry, Sakosits said, is the rise of social media with how and where you brand yourself. Today, cosmetologists should expect to establish a social media presence to reach and draw in potential clients.
But perhaps the most surefire way to earn more as a cosmetologist is to simply keep learning and put in your time. Sakosits emphasized that the more experience you acquire and the more you hone your craft, the better you’ll get, and the money should follow.
“Ongoing cosmetology education is the key to success—they have to have that mindset. That’s what this whole industry is made of,” Sakosits said. “That’s really the one thing that I think is most important and one thing that’s beautiful about the industry as well, that it’s an expectation to continually evolve with it and grow with it, and educate and elevate yourself.”
How do cosmetologist salaries compare to similar professions?
The median annual salary for cosmetologists is pretty similar to the median annual salary of other related professionals, including barbers, makeup artists, skincare specialists and manicurists and pedicurists. The biggest outlier is makeup artists for theatre and performance which we included because makeup application does fall under the cosmetologist’s purview and is taught in most cosmetology programs. These professionals had a median annual salary of $96,370, but that’s not entirely surprising considering the majority of employees in this category work in the motion picture and video industries.
Job outlook for cosmetologists
According to the BLS, the employment of barbers, hair stylists and cosmetologists is expected to grow 7.7% through 2032, faster than the average across all occupations. That comes out to nearly 90,000 new jobs, on average, each year in the coming decade. One major reason that the BLS cites for this growth is a growing demand for personal care services.
One possible driver of that demand is a significant uptick in recent years of male clients for beauty and personal care services. This male grooming boom is expected to continue expanding cosmetologists’ clientele in the years to come.
Final thoughts
With so many skills and specializations at their disposal, cosmetologists have the potential to make a solid living. Some locations and industries within the larger beauty industry can play a major role in what you earn, but there are some ways you can bolster your earning potential on your own by selling beauty products and investing in continuing education.
If you think you could thrive in this versatile and ever-changing beauty career, start by searching for cosmetology education programs today.
Published: March 20, 2024
Written and reported by:
Kendall Upton
Staff Writer
With professional insight from:
Traci Sakosits, Vice President of Education and Creative Direction
Aveda Arts & Sciences Institutes