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Cosmetologists Job Overview

Cosmetologists provide appearance enhancing services to their customers. They may be required to perform jobs related to makeup, hair styling and cutting, and even manicuring.

Cosmetologists Schools and Degrees

A high school diploma is required to become a cosmetologist. A GED also suffices. Most states, however, look for a cosmetologist to have completed a program in the subject from a state-licensed school. Many high schools and vocational schools have curricula in personal appearance services, skincare and hairstyling. A full-time program in the subject takes usually about 9 months to complete, and leads to an associates degree in the subject.

Job Requirements

Training is extremely essential in order to excel in this profession. New entrants need to be trained to sharpen the skills learned at cosmetology schools. In general, cosmetologists need to attend training sessions throughout their professional life at industry trade shows and cosmetology schools to keep abreast on the latest trends.

Cosmetologists are required to have a license in order to practice their trade. The specifications for licensure vary from one state to the other. In general, however, a cosmetologist needs to be at least sixteen years of age.

Apart from the academic qualifications, cosmetologists need to have a very good understanding and sense of the current fashion trends. It is important for them to keep their wok area clean and own personal appearance clean and neat. People and public relations skills are an added bonus.

Nature of Work

Cosmetologists offer facial and scalp treatment as well as manicures and pedicures. They offer hair styling, coloring, trimming and cutting to their customers. They conduct make-up sessions for their customers and also provide an analysis of the make-up components that would suit their skin type.

Cosmetologists generally work for about forty hours a week. They are often required to work in the evenings and on weekends, as that is usually the time when customers find time to go to a cosmetologist. They usually work in a clean, well-lit and well-ventilated environment. Contact with hair and nail chemicals may sometimes cause allergic reaction, for which they need to wear protective gloves.

Cosmetologists Jobs and Outlook

Cosmetologists have median hourly earnings of about $ 10.25. According to research in 2006, the jobs for cosmetologists are expected to grow by about twelve percent in the next ten years.

Job Numbers and Growth

About 78,000 cosmetologists are employed nationally. Workers can expect a very low level of unemployment, if history can be used as a guide. In 2008, 3% of employees could not find jobs.

Area Job Conditions

Popular locations for cosmetologists include Punta Gorda (Florida), Naples (Florida), and Camden (New Jersey). Fewer are found in Dallas (Texas), Portland (Oregon), and Fort Worth (Texas).

Workers looking for high salaries should look at Durham (North Carolina), Wichita (Kansas), and Bethesda (Maryland), and should avoid Denver (Colorado), Kansas City (Missouri), and Warren (Michigan).

Training and Education

Employees often obtain a postsecondary vocational award before starting. The percentage of cosmetologists with college degrees is 10%. Workers with some college (less than a bachelor's degree) represent about 31% of the total. Some employees, about 60%, had a high-school education. Recommended schools are shown in the column to the right; request information from them to help you decide which if any could help you with this career.

Part-Time Work and Self-Employment

Part-time cosmetologists are 26% of all surveyed. Some workers, about 38%, work for themselves.

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

Arizona

California

Colorado

Connecticut

Delaware

District of Columbia

Florida

Georgia

Illinois

Indiana

Kansas

Kentucky

Maryland

Massachusetts

Michigan

Missouri

Nevada

New Jersey

New York

North Carolina

Ohio

Oregon

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

South Carolina

Texas

Virginia

Wisconsin