Cosmetologist Salary
Cosmetologists provide beauty services including haircutting, coloring, skincare, and makeup application.
Cosmetologist Salary by Experience Level
Entry-level cosmetologists earn around $24,000 per year, while mid-career professionals earn $36,000. Senior-level cosmetologists can earn $55,000 or more.
Salary Percentile Breakdown
The salary range for cosmetologists varies significantly. The bottom 10% earn $22,000, while the top 10% earn $58,000.
| Percentile | Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $22,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $27,000 |
| 50th Percentile (Median) | $35,080 |
| 75th Percentile | $46,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $58,000 |
Cosmetologist Salary by State
Cosmetologist salaries vary significantly by state due to cost of living, demand, and industry concentration. The highest paying state is Hawaii at $59,636, while Mississippi offers the lowest at $29,116.
| State | Median | |
|---|---|---|
| #1 Hawaii | $59,636 | Details → |
| #2 California | $48,410 | Details → |
| #3 Massachusetts | $47,358 | Details → |
| #4 Alaska | $43,499 | Details → |
| #5 New York | $42,798 | Details → |
| #6 New Jersey | $40,342 | Details → |
| #7 Washington | $40,342 | Details → |
| #8 Connecticut | $39,290 | Details → |
| #9 Maryland | $38,588 | Details → |
| #10 Oregon | $38,588 | Details → |
| #11 Colorado | $36,834 | Details → |
| #12 New Hampshire | $36,834 | Details → |
| #13 Rhode Island | $36,834 | Details → |
| #14 Virginia | $36,483 | Details → |
| #15 Delaware | $35,431 | Details → |
| #16 Vermont | $35,431 | Details → |
| #17 Florida | $34,378 | Details → |
| #18 Maine | $34,378 | Details → |
| #19 Arizona | $34,028 | Details → |
| #20 Minnesota | $34,028 | Details → |
| #21 Nevada | $34,028 | Details → |
| #22 Utah | $34,028 | Details → |
| #23 Pennsylvania | $33,677 | Details → |
| #24 Illinois | $33,326 | Details → |
| #25 Montana | $33,326 | Details → |
| #26 Idaho | $32,975 | Details → |
| #27 Georgia | $32,624 | Details → |
| #28 New Mexico | $32,624 | Details → |
| #29 North Carolina | $32,274 | Details → |
| #30 Texas | $32,274 | Details → |
| #31 Wisconsin | $32,274 | Details → |
| #32 Wyoming | $32,274 | Details → |
| #33 Louisiana | $31,923 | Details → |
| #34 Indiana | $31,572 | Details → |
| #35 Michigan | $31,572 | Details → |
| #36 Nebraska | $31,572 | Details → |
| #37 North Dakota | $31,572 | Details → |
| #38 Ohio | $31,572 | Details → |
| #39 Iowa | $31,221 | Details → |
| #40 South Carolina | $31,221 | Details → |
| #41 Tennessee | $31,221 | Details → |
| #42 Missouri | $30,870 | Details → |
| #43 South Dakota | $30,870 | Details → |
| #44 Alabama | $30,520 | Details → |
| #45 Kansas | $30,520 | Details → |
| #46 Kentucky | $30,520 | Details → |
| #47 Oklahoma | $30,169 | Details → |
| #48 Arkansas | $29,467 | Details → |
| #49 West Virginia | $29,467 | Details → |
| #50 Mississippi | $29,116 | Details → |
Key Responsibilities
- ● Cut, color, and style hair
- ● Perform skincare treatments
- ● Recommend products
- ● Maintain salon stations
- ● Build clientele
Top Skills
Education Required
Postsecondary nondegree award
Job Outlook
Faster than average — projected 8% growth over the next decade