Cosmetologist

BLS reports the typical entry point for cosmetologist as a postsecondary nondegree award. That is a short, focused credential program rather than a full degree, and it is usually completed in well under two years.

A degree is not required, but education still shifts the odds. Certificate and associate programs provide a concrete credential that signals the skills employers care about, and the credits they earn usually stack toward a later degree.

The directory's finder routes for trade & skilled trades set up a general program search, so you can compare what is actually available online before committing to a level.

Nationally, the occupation this career is grouped with reported a median of $35,790 per year in the May 2025 OEWS estimate. BLS derives an hourly figure from a standard 2,080-hour year, which puts this career at about $17 per hour.

Most published earnings for the occupation fall between $27,040 and $71,190 per year. Half of all reported workers earn between $30,120 and $48,830, and local markets move within that wider band, so use it when you compare regions and employers.

Across the country, the published occupation counts 305,710 workers for the 2025 reference year. A national median is a snapshot of the whole occupation, not a promise for one job, offer, or region.

The direct route in matches the published entry level: a postsecondary nondegree award. From there, most progression happens on the job, and pay typically rises with experience within the band above.

Careers that sit next to cosmetologist in the same field are worth comparing before you commit, including Hair Stylist at $35,790 per year, Beautician at $35,790 per year, Nail Technician at $35,760 per year. Each has its own page with the same published-source pay band, so the comparison is apples to apples.

Already thinking about switching? The degree finder asks what you enjoy and what you want from a career, then returns programs that match your answers. Nothing in the results is ordered by payment, and no school can buy a higher position.

Every figure on this page comes from published BLS data or the career directory behind the site; nothing is estimated, interpolated, or inflated. Verify anything that matters to your decision against the sources linked above, then run the finder to see which online programs fit your level, field, and timeline.