The lowest pay for Cosmetologist is $20,058.
Payscale reports that cosmetologists typically earn anywhere from $16,195 to $46,917 annually, with experienced, senior-level cosmetologists earning at the top of that pay range.
Cosmetologists make an average of $53,524 per year . This salary can vary based on the salon where you work, your location and your experience. Developing a network of returning clients can also help you increase your hours, which may boost your income.
Some of the cons of being a cosmetologist are low salaries, long hours, and difficult customers. It's also a job not suited to everyone who wants to work in the beauty industry – for some people, other careers might be a better fit.
According to industry data, the versatility in services offered by cosmetologists often translates to diverse income opportunities. According to Indeed Salaries, the average salary for a cosmetologist is $23.74 per hour in United States – around $8 more on average than an esthetician.
To make $100,000 a year as an esthetician, take the time to calculate clear revenue goals and then align your service offerings accordingly. For example, you can focus on offering high-ticket treatments or packages, such as monthly memberships for popular services, to help you reel in a six-figure esthetician salary.
Cosmetologists provide a broad range of services to treat and beautify hair, nails, and skin. Many go on to become hairstylists, hair colorists, barbers, or makeup artists. While they can provide basic skin services, they do not offer advanced treatments like microdermabrasion or chemical peels.
Estheticians and cosmetologists receive different licenses after undergoing specialized training. Estheticians are eligible to receive their licenses after approximately 600 hours of education. Comparatively, cosmetologists take about 1,500 hours of training courses.
Job Flexibility and Work-Life Balance
Cosmetology is one of the most flexible career paths available: Work Full-Time or Part-Time: Choose a schedule that fits your goals. Freelancing Opportunities: Work on your terms as a mobile stylist or makeup artist.
Creating Recurring Revenue as a Hairstylist
The most important step in your path to a 100k plus hair business is creating recurring revenue and regular repeat clients. One popular way to do this is to ensure that you have your clients book their next appointment while they are still in your chair.
One of the biggest hurdles in cosmetology school is learning diverse skills. You'll cover everything from: Hair Techniques: Precision is crucial when learning intricate haircutting, advanced coloring techniques, or complex styling. Every small detail counts.
The following list highlights some of the health risks cosmetologists could face on the job: Exposure to hazardous chemicals. Risk of infection. Repetitive motion injuries. Burns/cuts/scratches.
Additionally, a nurse has an average salary of $57,564, which is higher than the $38,221 average annual salary of a hair stylist. The top three skills for a hair stylist include cosmetology, clips and kids. The most important skills for a nurse are patients, home health, and CPR.
Cosmetologist Salary
While the average hourly wage for all cosmetologists is around $22 per hour, some cosmetologists earn as much as $80 per hour, which can equal a six-figure salary for cosmetology careers even when working less than full-time.
Those employed in the cosmetology industry usually work a five- or six-day week, which averages approximately 40–50 hours. Weekends and days preceding holidays may be especially busy. Cosmetologists are on their feet a lot and usually work in a small space.
While you are not paid for providing services in beauty school, that doesn't mean that there aren't other ways to attend classes and have enough revenue to pay your bills. Compared to most types of academia, beauty school is relatively inexpensive.
An associate degree in cosmetology includes two years of coursework and practical training. Alongside general education classes in English, the humanities, math, and science, students study cosmetology-specific topics, such as dermatology, color chemistry, and haircutting and styling.
However, on average, an esthetician can expect to make between $40,000 and $60,000 annually. The average salary for cosmetologists can fall between $25,000 and $40,000 annually.
Ask anyone who successfully graduated cosmetology school if it was easy or hard, and they will likely tell you it was both. Just because something is occasionally hard doesn't mean you won't love it—or flourish. Cosmetology school will likely challenge you—but in a good way.