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Beauticians and Cosmetologist Training and Jobs


Schools and Degrees

A high school diploma or GED is required for beauticians and cosmetologists. Full-time programs in cosmetology usually last for 9 months and may lead to an associate’s degree. Beauticians and cosmetologists may also opt for advanced courses in skin care, hairstyling and other personal appearance services. Programs in sales and marketing are particularly beneficial for those wishing to operate their own businesses. To excel in this profession it is also necessary to be aware of the latest trends.

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Training and Education

A postsecondary vocational award is often necessary for working in the field. About 6% of beauticians and cosmetologists have earned a degree. Some college, below a 4-year degree, is sufficient for 42% of workers. Employees with only a high school education represent about 51% of all.


Job Overview

Beauticians and cosmetologists provide hair care and a wide range of beauty services to their customers. Their main focus is on enhancing the appearance of those consumers. Beauticians and cosmetologists may offer services like manicures, pedicures and scalp and facial treatments. Makeup analysis and cleaning and styling of wigs and hairpieces are also part of a beautician and cosmetologist’s job. Those who have their own salons handle managerial duties including the hiring, supervising and firing workers, ordering supplies, keeping business and inventory records, as well as arranging for advertising.


Job Requirements

All states in the US require beauticians and cosmetologists to be licensed. The requirements for a license vary from one state to the other, but it is generally mandatory for one to have a high school diploma or GED, be at least 16 years old and have graduated from a state-licensed cosmetology school. Before graduating, students are required to pass a state licensing examination.

Beauticians and cosmetologists should have an understanding of fashion, art and technical design. Since their work requires them to deal with clients, a lot of importance is given to interpersonal skills, image and attitude. Beauticians and cosmetologists should also be effective salespersons as client retention and retail sales are an important part of a salon’s revenue.


Nature of Work

The basic activities performed by beauticians and cosmetologists include the offering of beauty services such as shampooing, cutting, coloring and styling hair. They also apply makeup, dress wigs, perform hair removal and provide nail and skin care services. Beauticians and cosmetologists usually work in clean, pleasant surroundings with good lighting and ventilation. They may suffer from irritation from exposure to hair and nail chemicals, and should wear protective gloves or aprons.

Beauticians and cosmetologists usually work for 40 hours a week, but longer hours are common, especially for those who run their own business. They generally work on weekends since beauty shops and salons are frequented by customers on these days. Some beauticians and cosmetologists also work part time.


Area Job Conditions

Beauticians and cosmetologists appear most common in Mansfield (Ohio), Sheboygan (Wisconsin), and Ocean City (New Jersey), and least common in Albany (Georgia), Jackson (Mississippi), and Salinas (California).

Durham (North Carolina), Corvallis (Oregon), and Honolulu (Hawaii) offer the highest pay. Longview (Texas), Farmington (New Mexico), and Valdosta (Georgia) offer the lowest salaries.


Part-Time and Self Employment

Government statistics report that 31% of beauticians and cosmetologists are employed part-time. Workers who work for themselves total about 45%.


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Beauticians and Cosmetologists by Metropolitan Area (city and its surroundings)

In the table below, a Job Density near 0% means the area has an average number of people in this occupation, for its population. A higher or lower Job Density (e.g., +22% or -45%) tells you there are that many more or fewer workers of that type there than in the average US metro area. So, the higher the number, the more common the occupation.

Alabama

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Anniston $20,000 80 -28%
Auburn $21,000 40 -63%
Birmingham $27,000 550 -60%
Decatur $23,000 60 -54%
Dothan $23,000 280 +94%
Gadsden $35,000 40 -51%
Huntsville $24,000 530 -6%
Mobile $24,000 440 -7%
Montgomery $29,000 410 -6%
Tuscaloosa $22,000 240 +3%

Alaska

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Anchorage $22,000 390 -13%

Arizona

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Flagstaff $28,000 60 -57%
Phoenix $24,000 4,690 -5%
Tucson $25,000 1,060 +13%
Yuma $23,000 120 -12%

Arkansas

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Fayetteville $32,000 540 -2%
Fort Smith $25,000 190 -41%
Hot Springs $22,000 70 -18%
Jonesboro $19,000 140 +24%
Little Rock $31,000 760 -20%

California

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Bakersfield $19,000 100 -86%
Chico $23,000 90 -49%
Fresno $20,000 270 -69%
Hanford $19,000 30 -62%
Los Angeles $26,000 5,030 -56%
Merced $21,000 80 -43%
Modesto $21,000 390 -6%
Oakland $29,000 1,710 -39%
Oxnard $25,000 410 -50%
Redding $19,000 120 -19%
Riverside $21,000 2,550 -24%
Sacramento $27,000 1,350 -44%
Salinas $24,000 270 -37%
San Diego $25,000 2,940 -20%
San Francisco $36,000 1,300 -53%
San Jose $23,000 1,850 -26%
San Luis Obispo $25,000 160 -33%
Santa Ana $24,000 2,400 -41%
Santa Barbara $23,000 260 -42%
Santa Cruz $32,000 220 -1%
Santa Rosa $23,000 450 -4%
Stockton $22,000 270 -52%
Vallejo $21,000 170 -46%
Visalia $19,000 90 -75%
Yuba City $22,000 100 +10%

Colorado

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Boulder $40,000 380 -7%
Colorado Springs $26,000 750 +9%
Denver $28,000 3,560 +2%
Fort Collins $23,000 410 +24%
Grand Junction $22,000 240 +70%
Greeley $20,000 250 +36%
Pueblo $21,000 120 -15%

Connecticut

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Bridgeport $30,000 2,220 +88%
Danbury $28,000 400 +133%
Hartford $28,000 1,320 -17%
New Haven $30,000 1,080 +45%
Norwich $24,000 760 +136%
Waterbury $21,000 230 +35%

Delaware

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Dover $31,000 150 +19%
Wilmington $29,000 1,310 +46%

District of Columbia

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Washington $31,000 6,230 -9%

Florida

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Cape Coral $26,000 1,000 +92%
Fort Lauderdale $31,000 1,580 -19%
Fort Walton Beach $22,000 250 +29%
Gainesville $25,000 380 +19%
Jacksonville $29,000 1,650 -1%
Lakeland $26,000 330 -35%
Miami $24,000 2,140 -22%
Naples $36,000 340 +16%
Ocala $22,000 360 +60%
Orlando $25,000 3,090 +9%
Palm Bay $29,000 870 +63%
Palm Coast $23,000 170 +388%
Panama City $20,000 170 -2%
Pensacola $26,000 360 -9%
Port St Lucie $28,000 560 +79%
Punta Gorda $25,000 120 +29%
Sarasota $28,000 790 +18%
Sebastian $27,000 150 +31%
Tallahassee $27,000 410 -5%
Tampa $23,000 3,160 -1%
West Palm Beach $33,000 2,340 +63%

Georgia

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Athens $28,000 150 -16%
Atlanta $24,000 5,430 -16%
Augusta $24,000 330 -41%
Brunswick $26,000 70 -29%
Columbus $25,000 130 -55%
Dalton $17,000 50 -71%
Gainesville $23,000 160 -9%
Macon $23,000 90 -61%
Savannah $29,000 270 -32%
Valdosta $21,000 120 -1%
Warner Robins $23,000 130 -1%

Hawaii

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Honolulu $36,000 870 -29%

Idaho

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Boise $24,000 630 -12%
Idaho Falls $23,000 50 -56%
Lewiston $19,000 50 -4%
Pocatello $18,000 80 +15%

Illinois

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Bloomington $26,000 210 +18%
Champaign $28,000 130 -51%
Chicago $29,000 11,510 +9%
Decatur $25,000 80 -27%
Kankakee $30,000 70 -29%
Peoria $26,000 280 -39%
Rockford $22,000 290 -22%
Springfield $32,000 330 +17%

Indiana

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Anderson $22,000 90 0%
Bloomington $30,000 80 -54%
Columbus $22,000 90 0%
Elkhart $24,000 250 -11%
Evansville $26,000 450 -2%
Fort Wayne $25,000 410 -26%
Gary $24,000 1,170 +59%
Indianapolis $30,000 2,070 -17%
Kokomo $23,000 90 -3%
Lafayette $24,000 310 +62%
Muncie $22,000 130 +18%
South Bend $25,000 470 +38%

Iowa

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Ames $22,000 100 +13%
Cedar Rapids $23,000 270 -27%
Davenport $21,000 390 -22%
Des Moines $27,000 1,090 +20%
Iowa City $28,000 170 -5%
Sioux City $21,000 220 +20%
Waterloo $24,000 150 -32%

Kansas

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Lawrence $23,000 250 +140%
Manhattan $22,000 220 +72%
Topeka $23,000 250 -13%
Wichita $25,000 700 -11%

Kentucky

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Bowling Green $23,000 150 +9%
Elizabethtown $21,000 70 -35%
Lexington $24,000 540 -18%
Louisville $23,000 1,130 -33%
Owensboro $20,000 120 +4%

Louisiana

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Alexandria $21,000 140 -13%
Baton Rouge $26,000 450 -56%
Houma $19,000 80 -67%
Lafayette $23,000 310 -18%
Lake Charles $22,000 160 -30%
New Orleans $28,000 790 -46%
Shreveport $21,000 290 -40%

Maine

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Bangor $26,000 130 -15%
Lewiston $22,000 130 +5%
Portland $26,000 790 +46%

Maryland

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Baltimore $28,000 4,780 +30%
Bethesda $32,000 2,230 +39%
Cumberland $24,000 180 +106%
Hagerstown $24,000 480 +91%
Salisbury $25,000 200 +52%

Massachusetts

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Barnstable Town $31,000 420 +63%
Boston $31,000 5,240 +7%
Brockton $34,000 440 +90%
Framingham $31,000 660 +51%
Haverhill $22,000 360 +71%
Lawrence $27,000 240 +62%
Leominster $26,000 50 -59%
Lowell $26,000 430 +36%
New Bedford $33,000 280 +73%
Peabody $36,000 460 +74%
Pittsfield $28,000 150 +99%
Springfield $26,000 830 +1%
Taunton $24,000 130 +20%
Worcester $29,000 580 -16%

Michigan

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Ann Arbor $30,000 530 +18%
Battle Creek $23,000 110 -13%
Bay City $25,000 80 +5%
Detroit $24,000 1,710 -8%
Flint $25,000 300 -13%
Grand Rapids $24,000 1,510 +45%
Holland $29,000 390 +56%
Jackson $23,000 170 +43%
Kalamazoo $24,000 410 +14%
Lansing $24,000 430 -20%
Monroe $22,000 60 -30%
Niles $33,000 130 -10%
Warren $25,000 4,270 +41%

Minnesota

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Duluth $26,000 480 +40%
Mankato $25,000 160 +15%
Minneapolis $27,000 6,990 +40%
Rochester $28,000 320 +20%
St Cloud $25,000 270 +9%

Mississippi

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Gulfport $20,000 160 -43%
Hattiesburg $21,000 170 +20%
Jackson $24,000 220 -68%

Missouri

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Columbia $26,000 350 +71%
Jefferson City $31,000 110 -41%
Joplin 150 -26%
Kansas City $25,000 2,850 +0%
Springfield $21,000 520 +1%
St Joseph $21,000 150 +20%
St Louis $22,000 3,750 +0%

Montana

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Great Falls $29,000 130 +50%
Missoula $35,000 60 -53%

Nebraska

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Lincoln $20,000 510 +19%
Omaha $29,000 1,160 -11%

Nevada

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Carson City $20,000 50 -16%
Las Vegas $21,000 2,050 -14%
Reno $18,000 470 -9%

New Hampshire

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Manchester $24,000 170 -37%
Nashua $31,000 580 +59%
Portsmouth $26,000 160 +12%
Rochester $22,000 240 +82%

New Jersey

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Atlantic City $32,000 480 +24%
Camden $29,000 2,680 +84%
Edison $29,000 5,360 +86%
Newark $30,000 3,400 +21%
Ocean City $27,000 260 +164%
Trenton $31,000 970 +57%
Vineland $26,000 270 +81%

New Mexico

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Albuquerque $27,000 990 -7%
Farmington $18,000 80 -34%
Las Cruces $21,000 150 -6%
Santa Fe $41,000 200 +29%

New York

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Albany $28,000 1,100 -12%
Binghamton $25,000 220 -26%
Buffalo $26,000 1,770 +15%
Elmira $22,000 90 -1%
Glens Falls $29,000 70 -45%
Ithaca $25,000 90 -8%
Kingston $22,000 280 +86%
Nassau $25,000 4,730 +33%
New York $31,000 15,740 +8%
Poughkeepsie $28,000 980 +45%
Rochester $23,000 1,690 +20%
Syracuse $27,000 820 -5%
Utica $27,000 210 -36%

North Carolina

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Asheville $22,000 300 -37%
Burlington $21,000 70 -50%
Charlotte $27,000 2,280 -5%
Durham $32,000 430 -43%
Greensboro $23,000 590 -40%
Greenville $21,000 140 -18%
Jacksonville $27,000 160 +56%
Raleigh $30,000 1,470 +2%
Rocky Mount $20,000 40 -72%
Winston Salem $27,000 450 -21%

North Dakota

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Bismarck $22,000 210 +28%
Fargo $24,000 390 +21%
Grand Forks $24,000 180 +53%

Ohio

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Akron $26,000 1,380 +56%
Canton $24,000 760 +70%
Cincinnati $25,000 3,750 +32%
Cleveland $27,000 4,570 +59%
Columbus $24,000 3,030 +18%
Dayton $23,000 1,070 +1%
Lima $20,000 240 +87%
Mansfield $22,000 320 +152%
Sandusky $20,000 120 +47%
Springfield $31,000 270 +131%
Steubenville $22,000 170 +71%
Toledo $21,000 910 +13%
Youngstown $21,000 700 +13%

Oklahoma

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Lawton $23,000 110 +13%
Oklahoma City $26,000 730 -55%
Tulsa $23,000 650 -46%

Oregon

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Bend $21,000 110 -30%
Corvallis $25,000 110 +78%
Eugene $23,000 240 -36%
Medford $23,000 110 -44%
Portland $29,000 1,950 -32%
Salem $29,000 300 -25%

Pennsylvania

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Allentown $24,000 1,840 +92%
Altoona $20,000 350 +131%
Erie $24,000 600 +77%
Harrisburg $26,000 1,360 +54%
Johnstown $23,000 270 +94%
Lancaster $23,000 970 +51%
Lebanon $22,000 200 +82%
Philadelphia $28,000 7,240 +35%
Pittsburgh $22,000 5,280 +64%
Reading $26,000 800 +79%
Scranton $24,000 1,030 +44%
State College $21,000 140 -11%
Williamsport $23,000 170 +34%
York $25,000 780 +64%

Rhode Island

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Providence $29,000 1,990 +28%

South Carolina

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Anderson $37,000 40 -71%
Charleston $36,000 820 +4%
Columbia $28,000 830 -14%
Florence $32,000 60 -70%
Greenville $28,000 480 -42%
Myrtle Beach $30,000 260 -9%
Spartanburg $27,000 140 -54%

South Dakota

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Rapid City $26,000 190 +19%
Sioux Falls $25,000 440 +19%

Tennessee

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Chattanooga $26,000 410 -34%
Jackson $20,000 80 -45%
Johnson City $20,000 120 -34%
Kingsport $25,000 210 -34%
Knoxville $25,000 1,090 +19%
Memphis $26,000 1,520 -12%
Nashville $26,000 1,900 -8%

Texas

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Abilene $22,000 180 +14%
Austin $27,000 2,150 -2%
Beaumont $25,000 260 -40%
Brownsville $22,000 220 -36%
College Station $25,000 290 +22%
Corpus Christi $28,000 340 -29%
Dallas $29,000 5,600 -5%
El Paso $22,000 630 -16%
Fort Worth $26,000 2,460 +2%
Houston $26,000 7,010 -5%
Killeen $24,000 340 0%
Laredo $19,000 170 -15%
Longview $23,000 200 -19%
Lubbock $23,000 240 -28%
Midland $21,000 130 -17%
San Antonio $23,000 2,640 +8%
Sherman $41,000 30 -70%
Texarkana $22,000 60 -55%
Tyler $27,000 160 -31%
Victoria $22,000 120 +3%
Waco $25,000 180 -31%
Wichita Falls $23,000 150 +10%

Utah

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Logan $31,000 130 +13%
Ogden $23,000 610 +13%
Provo $32,000 490 +7%
Salt Lake City $27,000 1,740 +3%
St George $21,000 110 -1%

Vermont

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Burlington $36,000 280 -4%

Virginia

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Charlottesville $28,000 330 +48%
Harrisonburg $23,000 150 +8%
Lynchburg $28,000 180 -30%
Richmond $28,000 1,930 +13%
Roanoke $25,000 430 +3%
Virginia Beach $23,000 2,960 +40%
Winchester $26,000 150 +23%

Washington

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Bellingham $33,000 190 +2%
Bremerton $30,000 300 +41%
Kennewick $24,000 200 -23%
Olympia $23,000 200 -22%
Seattle $37,000 5,290 +34%
Spokane $35,000 350 -37%
Tacoma $27,000 920 +27%
Wenatchee $22,000 150 +62%
Yakima $33,000 140 -35%

West Virginia

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Charleston $18,000 470 +21%
Huntington $25,000 230 -23%
Morgantown $22,000 180 +37%
Parkersburg $22,000 130 -24%
Wheeling $22,000 260 +59%

Wisconsin

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Appleton $29,000 630 +109%
Eau Claire $26,000 360 +92%
Fond $22,000 230 +124%
Green Bay $23,000 430 -5%
Janesville $19,000 330 +109%
La Crosse $24,000 250 +38%
Madison $24,000 1,180 +26%
Milwaukee $27,000 3,080 +32%
Oshkosh $25,000 290 +28%
Racine $21,000 260 +37%
Sheboygan $26,000 380 +175%
Wausau $23,000 170 +2%

Wyoming

City and Area Median Salary Employees Job Density
Casper $29,000 120 +40%
Cheyenne $23,000 90 -12%
*FOOTNOTES: Job Facts salary and numbers data is based on US Department of Labor Statistics data for 2011. Other data on page may be from earlier years. Typical salary is given as median salary, where 50% in the job make more and 50% less. Salary range is Job Hunt's estimates of typical starting salary as being at the 10th percentile of reported pay and typical top end salary, for the most senior workers, as being at the 90th. Job openings is an estimate of new jobs every year due to growth plus those leaving the field. Where NA is given data is not available. Suggested studies is based on Job Hunt research, suggesting a minimum degree level that is judged to offer the best opportunities for entry-level employment. This Hairdressers and Cosmetologists schools and career page was originally researched by CityTownInfo.com.