Cosmetologist Training and Jobs
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
Part-Time and Self Employment
Part-time cosmetologists are 26% of all surveyed. Some workers, about 38%, work for themselves.
Career Videos
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.
Arizona
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix | $25,000 | 560 | -9% |
California
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fresno | $23,000 | 100 | -9% |
| Los Angeles | $19,000 | 3,000 | +112% |
| Oakland | $20,000 | 1,530 | +340% |
| Oxnard | $23,000 | 30 | -70% |
| Riverside | $19,000 | 1,260 | +200% |
| Sacramento | $21,000 | 570 | +89% |
| Salinas | $21,000 | 40 | -25% |
| San Diego | $20,000 | 2,140 | +368% |
| San Francisco | $24,000 | 1,030 | +198% |
| San Jose | $21,000 | 660 | +111% |
| Santa Ana | $20,000 | 1,990 | +292% |
| Stockton | $18,000 | 190 | +169% |
| Vallejo | $18,000 | 220 | +461% |
Colorado
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denver | $24,000 | 360 | -17% |
Connecticut
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgeport | $20,000 | 490 | +233% |
| Norwich | $21,000 | 130 | +224% |
Delaware
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wilmington | $25,000 | 200 | +79% |
District of Columbia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $22,000 | 990 | +16% |
Florida
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Lauderdale | $22,000 | 440 | +82% |
| Jacksonville | $27,000 | 170 | -18% |
| Miami | $21,000 | 510 | +49% |
| Orlando | $22,000 | 290 | -18% |
Illinois
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $26,000 | 1,700 | +29% |
| Springfield | $29,000 | 50 | +43% |
Indiana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gary | $26,000 | 60 | -35% |
Kansas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wichita | $22,000 | 40 | -59% |
Kentucky
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville | $22,000 | 80 | -62% |
Louisiana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans | $24,000 | 120 | -35% |
Maryland
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore | $25,000 | 600 | +31% |
| Bethesda | $23,000 | 500 | +149% |
Massachusetts
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | $28,000 | 1,190 | +96% |
| Framingham | $26,000 | 30 | -45% |
| Springfield | $23,000 | 70 | -31% |
Michigan
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit | $27,000 | 120 | -48% |
| Lansing | $21,000 | 60 | -10% |
| Warren | $19,000 | 360 | -4% |
Minnesota
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis | $23,000 | 690 | +11% |
Missouri
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City | $24,000 | 140 | -60% |
| St Louis | $21,000 | 370 | -21% |
Nevada
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas | $22,000 | 260 | -12% |
New Hampshire
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nashua | $22,000 | 130 | +187% |
New Jersey
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Camden | $22,000 | 710 | +290% |
| Edison | $27,000 | 1,760 | +391% |
| Newark | $24,000 | 790 | +126% |
| Trenton | $22,000 | 140 | +82% |
New York
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albany | $26,000 | 110 | -29% |
| Buffalo | $19,000 | 110 | -43% |
| Nassau | $21,000 | 1,840 | +316% |
| New York | $21,000 | 4,600 | +152% |
| Poughkeepsie | $22,000 | 140 | +67% |
Ohio
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Akron | $18,000 | 50 | -55% |
| Cincinnati | $22,000 | 330 | -7% |
| Cleveland | $25,000 | 410 | +15% |
| Columbus | $22,000 | 330 | +3% |
| Toledo | $22,000 | 60 | -40% |
| Youngstown | $20,000 | 50 | -35% |
Oregon
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland | $27,000 | 50 | -86% |
Pennsylvania
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Erie | $19,000 | 50 | +18% |
| Harrisburg | $23,000 | 100 | -9% |
| Lancaster | $19,000 | 130 | +63% |
| Philadelphia | $19,000 | 2,300 | +244% |
Rhode Island
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Providence | $26,000 | 220 | +14% |
Tennessee
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis | 220 | +3% |
Texas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas | $33,000 | 170 | -77% |
| Fort Worth | $26,000 | 40 | -87% |
| Houston | $24,000 | 550 | -40% |
Virginia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lynchburg | $22,000 | 60 | +87% |
| Virginia Beach | $26,000 | 80 | -70% |