Cosmetologist demographics and statistics in the US
Cosmetologist demographics research summary. Zippia estimates cosmetologist demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our cosmetologist estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Zippia's data science team found the following key facts about cosmetologists after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 149,230 cosmetologists currently employed in the United States.
- 92.6% of all cosmetologists are women, while 7.4% are men.
- The average cosmetologist age is 40 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of cosmetologists is White (60.8%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (14.6%), Black or African American (11.5%) and Asian (7.5%).
- Cosmetologists are most in-demand in Brighton, MI.
- The health care industry is the highest-paying for cosmetologists.
- 12% of all cosmetologists are LGBT.
On this page
Cosmetologist demographics by:
Cosmetologist gender statistics
92.6% of cosmetologists are women and 7.4% of cosmetologists are men.
- Female, 92.6%
- Male, 7.4%
Cosmetologist gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Female | 92.6% |
| Male | 7.4% |
Cosmetologist gender pay gap
Women earn 92¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$40,673
Female income
$37,268
Cosmetologist gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in cosmetologist positions over time. Currently, 92.6% of cosmetologists are female.
Cosmetologist gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 6.93% | 93.07% |
| 2011 | 7.61% | 92.39% |
| 2012 | 7.45% | 92.55% |
| 2013 | 7.75% | 92.25% |
| 2014 | 7.61% | 92.39% |
| 2015 | 7.63% | 92.37% |
| 2016 | 8.14% | 91.86% |
| 2017 | 7.56% | 92.44% |
| 2018 | 8.48% | 91.52% |
| 2019 | 8.93% | 91.07% |
| 2020 | 7.86% | 92.14% |
| 2021 | 7.35% | 92.65% |
Cosmetologist related jobs gender ratio
We compared cosmetologists with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, barber apprentice and master barber have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Electrologist | 1% | 99% |
| Medical Esthetician | 4% | 96% |
| Licensed Esthetician | 5% | 95% |
| Cosmetologist | 7% | 93% |
| Barber | 75% | 25% |
| Master Barber | 78% | 22% |
| Barber Apprentice | 79% | 21% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Cosmetologist demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among cosmetologists is White, which makes up 60.8% of all cosmetologists. Comparatively, 14.6% of cosmetologists are Hispanic or Latino and 11.5% of cosmetologists are Black or African American.
- White, 60.8%
- Hispanic or Latino, 14.6%
- Black or African American, 11.5%
- Asian, 7.5%
- Unknown, 4.8%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
Cosmetologist race
| Cosmetologist race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 60.8% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 14.6% |
| Black or African American | 11.5% |
| Asian | 7.5% |
| Unknown | 4.8% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.8% |
Cosmetologist race and ethnicity over time
See how cosmetologist racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Cosmetologist race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 67.28% | 11.97% | 5.93% | 12.04% |
| 2011 | 66.99% | 12.12% | 5.70% | 12.37% |
| 2012 | 65.95% | 12.42% | 5.77% | 13.19% |
| 2013 | 66.25% | 12.36% | 5.82% | 12.98% |
| 2014 | 66.18% | 12.20% | 5.55% | 12.97% |
| 2015 | 66.05% | 11.44% | 6.16% | 13.43% |
| 2016 | 64.92% | 11.55% | 6.52% | 13.89% |
| 2017 | 64.38% | 11.14% | 7.43% | 13.82% |
| 2018 | 65.59% | 11.22% | 6.72% | 13.45% |
| 2019 | 65.23% | 11.00% | 7.19% | 13.52% |
| 2020 | 62.60% | 10.75% | 7.12% | 14.41% |
| 2021 | 60.84% | 11.47% | 7.52% | 14.62% |
Cosmetologist wage gap by race
According to our data, white cosmetologists have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Hispanic or latino cosmetologists have the lowest average salary at $39,147.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $41,317 |
| White | $42,398 |
| Black or African American | $39,945 |
| Asian | $40,634 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $39,147 |
Average cosmetologist age
See how the average age of cosmetologists varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Cosmetologist age by race and gender
| Race | Male age | Female age |
|---|---|---|
| Black or African American | 42 | 40 |
| Unknown | 39 | |
| Asian | 44 | 46.5 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 43 | 37 |
| White | 41 | 38 |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 42 |
Cosmetologist age breakdown
The average age of cosmetologists is 40+ years years old, representing 49% of the cosmetologist population.
Cosmetologist age breakdown
| Cosmetologist Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 49% |
| 30-40 years | 29% |
| 20-30 years | 22% |
Cosmetologist educational attainment
The most common degree for cosmetologists is associate degree, with 28% of cosmetologists earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are high school diploma degree at 23% and high school diploma degree at 17%.
- Associate, 28%
- High School Diploma, 23%
- Bachelor's, 17%
- Diploma, 16%
- Other Degrees, 16%
Cosmetologists by degree level
| Cosmetologist degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Associate | 28% |
| High School Diploma | 23% |
| Bachelor's | 17% |
| Diploma | 16% |
| Other Degrees | 16% |
Cosmetologist jobs you might like
Cosmetologist wage gap by degree level
According to the data, cosmetologists with a Bachelor's degree earn more than those without, at $43,893 annually. With a Associate degree, cosmetologists earn a median annual income of $41,205 compared to $38,845 for cosmetologists with an High School Diploma degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or Less | $38,845 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $43,893 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $41,205 |
Cosmetologist employment statistics
Most cosmetologists work for a private in the retail industry.
Company size where cosmetologists work
Below, you can see the size of companies where cosmetologists work.
Cosmetologist jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 14% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 27% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 24% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 9% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 15% |
| > 10,000 employees | 11% |
Cosmetologist jobs by company type
Employees with the cosmetologist job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most cosmetologists prefer to work at private companies over public companies.
Cosmetologist jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 7% |
| Public | 13% |
| Private | 80% |
Cosmetologist jobs by industry
The most common industries for cosmetologists are retail, professional and manufacturing.
Cosmetologist industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Retail | 16% |
| Professional | 10% |
| Manufacturing | 10% |
| Start-up | 9% |
| Media | 8% |
| Health Care | 8% |
| Hospitality | 8% |
| Education | 7% |
| Technology | 7% |
| Fortune 500 | 5% |
| Internet | 3% |
| Finance | 2% |
| Energy | 2% |
| Construction | 2% |
| Transportation | 1% |
| Non Profits | 1% |
| Real Estate | 1% |
| Automotive | 1% |
| Telecommunication | 1% |
Cosmetologist turnover and employment statistics
Cosmetologist unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for cosmetologists between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Cosmetologist unemployment rate by year
| Year | Cosmetologist unemployment rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 3.68% |
| 2011 | 3.78% |
| 2012 | 4.14% |
| 2013 | 3.57% |
| 2014 | 3.48% |
| 2015 | 2.63% |
| 2016 | 2.46% |
| 2017 | 2.31% |
| 2018 | 2.10% |
| 2019 | 1.86% |
| 2020 | 5.43% |
| 2021 | 6.02% |
Average cosmetologist tenure
The average cosmetologist stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 24,653 cosmetologists resumes in Zippia's database.
Cosmetologist tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 17% |
| 1-2 years | 29% |
| 3-4 years | 13% |
| 5-7 years | 17% |
| 8-10 years | 7% |
| 11+ years | 17% |
Cosmetologist LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of cosmetologists that are members of the LGBT community. You can see how this compares to similar jobs in the chart below.
| Job title | LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Pedicurist | 5.12% | 8,505 |
| Tonsorial Artist | 8.10% | 3,596 |
| Licensed Esthetician | 8.70% | 13,427 |
| Cosmetologist | 11.87% | - |
| Body Make-Up Artist | 12.20% | 7,899 |
Similar cosmetologist jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Pedicurist | 5.12% | 8,505 |
| Tonsorial Artist | 8.10% | 3,596 |
| Licensed Esthetician | 8.70% | 13,427 |
| Body Make-Up Artist | 12.20% | 7,899 |
Foreign languages spoken by cosmetologists
The most common foreign language among cosmetologists is Spanish at 72.4%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 6.6% and Vietnamese is the third-most popular at 3.7%.
- Spanish, 72.4%
- French, 6.6%
- Vietnamese, 3.7%
- Portuguese, 2.2%
- German, 2.2%
- Other, 12.9%
Cosmetologist languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 72.4% |
| French | 6.6% |
| Vietnamese | 3.7% |
| Portuguese | 2.2% |
| German | 2.2% |
| Other | 12.9% |
