Best states for a cosmetologist

Q: What is the best state for cosmetologists?

The best state to be a cosmetologist is West Virginia based on cosmetologist salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for cosmetologists?

The highest paying state for cosmetologists is New Mexico based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for cosmetologists?

The worst state for cosmetologists is New Mexico, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

Rank 1 - 10
11 - 20
21 - 30
31 - 40
41 - 51

Cosmetologist opportunities vary in different parts of the country. In order to help you determine the best states for cosmetologists, we ranked all fifty states from best to worst for cosmetologists.Although there are abundant cosmetologist jobs in the United States, a large number of them are in the South. West Virginia is the best state in the country for cosmetologist jobs.

In order to get you the best states for cosmetologists, we looked at our data on jobs and wages -- specifically the average annual wage and the number of available jobs per capita.If you are currently seeking employment as a cosmetologist, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.

10 best states for cosmetologists in 2026

1. West Virginia
Total cosmetologist jobs: 81
Average annual salary: $46,021
Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $63,000
Location Quotient:
1.31
Cosmetologist jobs in West Virginia
2. Wisconsin
Total cosmetologist jobs: 316
Average annual salary: $41,838
Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $55,000
Location Quotient:
1.41
Cosmetologist jobs in Wisconsin
3. Washington
Total cosmetologist jobs: 246
Average annual salary: $51,978
Lowest 10 percent earn: $42,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $64,000
Location Quotient:
0.83
Cosmetologist jobs in Washington
4. Montana
Total cosmetologist jobs: 28
Average annual salary: $47,783
Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $59,000
Location Quotient:
0.6
Cosmetologist jobs in Montana
5. South Dakota
Total cosmetologist jobs: 37
Average annual salary: $42,131
Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $55,000
Location Quotient:
0.85
Cosmetologist jobs in South Dakota
6. North Dakota
Total cosmetologist jobs: 20
Average annual salary: $47,552
Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $59,000
Location Quotient:
0.53
Cosmetologist jobs in North Dakota
7. Wyoming
Total cosmetologist jobs: 23
Average annual salary: $41,068
Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $53,000
Location Quotient:
0.95
Cosmetologist jobs in Wyoming
8. Nebraska
Total cosmetologist jobs: 87
Average annual salary: $40,131
Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $53,000
Location Quotient:
0.97
Cosmetologist jobs in Nebraska
9. Indiana
Total cosmetologist jobs: 349
Average annual salary: $38,348
Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $52,000
Location Quotient:
1.31
Cosmetologist jobs in Indiana
10. Minnesota
Total cosmetologist jobs: 176
Average annual salary: $44,809
Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $58,000
Location Quotient:
0.65
Cosmetologist jobs in Minnesota

Cosmetologist jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a cosmetologist

You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.

Detailed list of the best states for a cosmetologist

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	West Virginia	$46,021	$33,000	1,815,857	81
2	Wisconsin	$41,838	$31,000	5,795,483	316
3	Washington	$51,978	$42,000	7,405,743	246
4	Montana	$47,783	$38,000	1,050,493	28
5	South Dakota	$42,131	$32,000	869,666	37
6	North Dakota	$47,552	$37,000	755,393	20
7	Wyoming	$41,068	$31,000	579,315	23
8	Nebraska	$40,131	$30,000	1,920,076	87
9	Indiana	$38,348	$28,000	6,666,818	349
10	Minnesota	$44,809	$34,000	5,576,606	176
11	Michigan	$38,360	$28,000	9,962,311	602
12	Iowa	$39,313	$29,000	3,145,711	154
13	Vermont	$42,365	$31,000	623,657	22
14	Illinois	$39,861	$29,000	12,802,023	490
15	Massachusetts	$42,205	$30,000	6,859,819	278
16	Ohio	$37,242	$27,000	11,658,609	570
17	South Carolina	$37,986	$27,000	5,024,369	187
18	Missouri	$38,171	$28,000	6,113,532	260
19	Pennsylvania	$36,770	$26,000	12,805,537	548
20	Arizona	$37,052	$26,000	7,016,270	475
21	Utah	$37,429	$28,000	3,101,833	148
22	North Carolina	$37,981	$27,000	10,273,419	338
23	Colorado	$39,831	$29,000	5,607,154	227
24	New York	$41,721	$29,000	19,849,399	346
25	New Jersey	$39,568	$28,000	9,005,644	274
26	Rhode Island	$37,483	$26,000	1,059,639	47
27	Maryland	$41,339	$29,000	6,052,177	114
28	Oregon	$39,433	$30,000	4,142,776	135
29	California	$40,351	$29,000	39,536,653	913
30	Alaska	$41,557	$37,000	739,795	8
31	Tennessee	$34,384	$24,000	6,715,984	309
32	Idaho	$37,579	$29,000	1,716,943	55
33	Alabama	$34,843	$25,000	4,874,747	196
34	Florida	$35,699	$25,000	20,984,400	777
35	Connecticut	$37,208	$26,000	3,588,184	134
36	Hawaii	$36,155	$30,000	1,427,538	35
37	Virginia	$37,604	$26,000	8,470,020	303
38	District of Columbia	$39,595	$28,000	693,972	7
39	New Hampshire	$33,719	$24,000	1,342,795	78
40	Mississippi	$34,503	$24,000	2,984,100	80
41	Kentucky	$31,487	$22,000	4,454,189	179
42	Oklahoma	$30,824	$22,000	3,930,864	204
43	Louisiana	$32,540	$23,000	4,684,333	133
44	Nevada	$31,761	$23,000	2,998,039	90
45	Kansas	$32,249	$23,000	2,913,123	118
46	Texas	$31,670	$22,000	28,304,596	823
47	Maine	$33,518	$25,000	1,335,907	39
48	Delaware	$31,331	$22,000	961,939	51
49	Arkansas	$28,251	$20,000	3,004,279	101
50	Georgia	$30,331	$21,000	10,429,379	313
51	New Mexico	$24,715	$17,000	2,088,070	50

Highest paying states for cosmetologists

Rank	State	Avg. Cosmetologist Salary
1	West Virginia	$46,021
2	Wisconsin	$41,838
3	Washington	$51,978
4	Montana	$47,783
5	South Dakota	$42,131
6	North Dakota	$47,552
7	Wyoming	$41,068
8	Nebraska	$40,131
9	Indiana	$38,348
10	Minnesota	$44,809
11	Michigan	$38,360
12	Iowa	$39,313
13	Vermont	$42,365
14	Illinois	$39,861
15	Massachusetts	$42,205
16	Ohio	$37,242
17	South Carolina	$37,986
18	Missouri	$38,171
19	Pennsylvania	$36,770
20	Arizona	$37,052
21	Utah	$37,429
22	North Carolina	$37,981
23	Colorado	$39,831
24	New York	$41,721
25	New Jersey	$39,568
26	Rhode Island	$37,483
27	Maryland	$41,339
28	Oregon	$39,433
29	California	$40,351
30	Alaska	$41,557
31	Tennessee	$34,384
32	Idaho	$37,579
33	Alabama	$34,843
34	Florida	$35,699
35	Connecticut	$37,208
36	Hawaii	$36,155
37	Virginia	$37,604
38	District of Columbia	$39,595
39	New Hampshire	$33,719
40	Mississippi	$34,503
41	Kentucky	$31,487
42	Oklahoma	$30,824
43	Louisiana	$32,540
44	Nevada	$31,761
45	Kansas	$32,249
46	Texas	$31,670
47	Maine	$33,518
48	Delaware	$31,331
49	Arkansas	$28,251
50	Georgia	$30,331
51	New Mexico	$24,715

Cosmetologist best states FAQs

What is the best state for cosmetologists?

What is the highest paying state for cosmetologists?

What is the worst state for cosmetologists?

Have more questions? See all answers to common personal care and attendants questions.

Search for cosmetologist jobs

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse personal care and attendants jobs

Total cosmetologist jobs:	81
Average annual salary:	$46,021
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$33,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$63,000
Location Quotient:	1.31

Best states for a cosmetologist

10 best states for cosmetologists in 2026

1. West Virginia

2. Wisconsin

3. Washington

4. Montana

5. South Dakota

6. North Dakota

7. Wyoming

8. Nebraska

9. Indiana

10. Minnesota